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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 21

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 9 Chapter 21 Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)

It is considered dangerous to AG members and detrimental to program goals to heat a dwelling with space heaters. Such use must not be encouraged. Exceptions require LIEAP Coordinator approval. 21.3.1.C.6 Public Housing Facilities AGs residing in subsidized public housing facilities can be considered vulnerable or invulnerable depending on how they pay their home heating/cooling costs: • Vulnerability exists when home heating/cooling costs are paid separately or directly to the utility, fuel supplier, or building operator. These costs usually reflect total monthly usage. • Vulnerability may also include those situations in which surcharges for excess usage are already added to the rent or the addition to the rent can be reasonably anticipated. • Invulnerability exists when home heating/cooling costs are included in the rent and based upon a fixed percentage of income or paid by the housing authority. 21.3.1.C.7 Zero Income Clients When zero income clients report that their home heating/cooling costs are being paid by someone else, vulnerability can be determined by the manner in which the heating costs are being paid. • Clients who report zero income but have someone else not living in the household who makes payment for the entire cost of home heating/cooling to the vendor on behalf of the client are considered invulnerable and therefore ineligible for LIEAP benefits. • Clients whose only income is a contribution for heating/cooling costs from an individual outside of the AG are considered vulnerable and are not considered zero income clients. NOTE: When a client for whom a third-party has been making home heating/cooling payments receives a past due bill or termination notice, the Worker must determine why the bill is no longer being paid, whether future bills will be paid, and whether or not the third-party intends to pay the disconnect if LIEAP is denied.