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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 20

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 26 Chapter 20 Emergency and Special Assistance Programs

• Reconnection charges required by the utility provider when the service was terminated in the 30 days prior to the date of application. • Service charges required by the utility provider to start service in new living quarters when the applicant moved to new housing due to eviction, fire, condemnation, etc., or some other emergency that has forced the applicant to move. • Late fees added to delinquent or overdue payments are considered as part of the overdue bill and are not deducted from the overdue bill when computing the average daily amount. • Payments made by the client in an attempt to reduce or eliminate the overdue bill are not deducted from the ongoing overdue bill when computing the average daily amount. • The amount of any one-time payment, such as from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) or a community agency made or that will be made, but not yet credited to the account, is not deducted from the ongoing overdue bill when computing the average daily amount. It is subtracted from the minimum payment due before determining the amount the DOHS will pay through the EA program. The Worker must inform the company of the pending payment from the other source and determine if this will prevent the emergency. If so, the EA application is denied. However, the receipt of EA does not affect eligibility for Emergency LIEAP. • Regular monthly payments made on behalf of the client from other agencies, plus reductions from the 20% utility discount program are deducted from the ongoing overdue bill before computing the average daily amount. ➢ Payment Amount for Gas, Electric, Water and Sewage When the client is eligible to receive payment for any of the utility services indicated above, the Worker must consider the following: • When the overdue amount covers a billing period up to 30 days, the Worker shall authorize payment for the 30-day amount to the vendor. • When the overdue amount covers a billing period greater than 30 days, the Worker determines the average daily amount of the overdue bill. The average daily amount multiplied by 30 days is the maximum amount of the EA payment. Utility bills often have an overdue amount and an amount labeled "due.” The "due" amount is not considered for payment nor is this amount used to calculate the amount of the payment. NOTE: Utility deposits are not included as an item for payment by the EA program. NOTE: Sewage utility service does not include garbage pick-up service.