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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 21

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 13 Chapter 21 Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)

home heating/cooling and being without resources to eliminate the emergency. Clients must be informed that a past due bill, termination notice, or a low bulk fuel supply alone does not constitute an emergent need, and that fraudulent claims may result in fines and/or loss of future eligibility for LIEAP. Vendors may report when they have been unable to make a delivery because the client was not low on fuel. When determining if the client meets this eligibility requirement, no consideration will be given to whether or not a Regular LIEAP application was previously approved, unless it is determined the vendor has failed to credit the payment. When this happens, the Worker must contact the vendor to determine what must be done to correct the problem. In situations where the Regular LIEAP application is pending for additional information, the Worker must attempt to either approve or deny the Regular LIEAP application before taking action on the application for Emergency LIEAP. The Worker must also contact the vendor to determine if the amount of the Regular LIEAP payment will eliminate the emergency. If not, the Worker may approve an Emergency LIEAP payment in an amount equal to the balance needed to eliminate the emergency. Emergency Home Heating/Cooling Example 1: Application for Regular LIEAP is received on the day before the component closes. The application is pended for a copy of the heating/cooling bill to verify the account number. The client returns the information within the allotted period in the form of a past due bill or termination notice and states he wants to apply for Emergency LIEAP. The Worker contacts the vendor and learns that the past-due amount is $89.50. The client is eligible for a Regular LIEAP payment of $200. The vendor agrees to stop the termination. The Worker approves the Regular LIEAP application. No Emergency LIEAP application is processed. Emergency Home Heating/Cooling Example 2: Mr. Rose applies for Emergency LIEAP and has a past due bill or termination notice in the amount of $315. The Worker discovers that a Regular LIEAP application was approved within the last month in the amount of $210. The vendor has not yet credited the payment to Mr. Rose’s account. It is further discovered that an error in entering the account number has caused the delay. The Worker is able to give the vendor the correct number and the payment is credited. The Worker then processes an Emergency LIEAP application in the amount of $105, the amount the vendor verifies is now the past-due amount. Emergency Home Heating/Cooling Example 3: Ms. Sunflower applies for Emergency LIEAP and has a past due bill or termination notice in the amount of $400. The Worker had previously approved Regular LIEAP in the amount of $220 for her. Upon contacting the vendor, the Worker learns that the payment