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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 20

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 51 Chapter 20 Emergency and Special Assistance Programs

20.4 SPECIAL REDUCED RESIDENTIAL SERVICE RATE (20% UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM) 20.4.1 GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANIES 20.4.1.A Introduction During the months of November through March, clients of one of the following benefits are eligible for a 20% discount from their gas and electric companies: • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and over age 60 • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and at least 18 years old • WV WORKS The Department of Human Services’ (DOHS) role is to send application packets to clients of the qualifying benefits and to supply the utility companies with lists of clients who have become ineligible for the discounts because they are no longer eligible for one of the qualifying benefits. 20.4.1.B Operation In October, application packets are mailed to SNAP clients who are age 60 or older, SSI recipients who are at least 18 years old, and WV WORKS clients. During the program months of November through March, application packets are mailed to new and reopened assistance groups (AG) that are approved for at least one of the qualifying benefits. In addition, an application will be mailed to a client upon request if he is a client of a qualifying benefit and has lost or failed to receive his original application packet. If he is not a client of a qualifying benefit, he will receive a notice from the Division of Family Assistance (DFA) explaining why he is not eligible for the discount. The client completes the application and submits it to the utility company. The utility company determines eligibility for the discount and applies the reduced rate to the eligible client's account. Approved applications are sent by the utility company to the DFA.