2 HEATING ASSISTANCE

Eligibility, 2605(b)(2) - Assurance 2 2.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the heating component: Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 1 State Median Income 60.00% 2 8 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 2.2 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Heating Assistance? Yes No 2.3 Check the appropriate boxes below and describe the policies for each. Do you require an Assets test? Yes No If yes, describe: Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Yes No If yes, describe: If a subsidized renter does not have an energy burden and pays a reduced rental amount, those households may be excluded. Section 2603 of the LIHEAP Statutes states: The term "household" means any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economy for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent. Household in subsidized housing that pay their heat directly to a heat vendor/pay a surcharge to their landlord are considered vulnerable and are eligible for assistance. Renters applying for the Repair or Replacement Program would not be eligibe for RRP, but maybe eligible for LIHEAP assistance High Energy Burden is defined by the total amount spent on the primary heating source. Which is greater than 20% of the household's income. Renters Living in subsidized housing? Yes No If yes, describe: LIHEAP-Assistance groups that have utilities included in the rent but are not billed separately for heating costs must be evaluated for LIHEAP eligibility. If a client applies for LIHEAP and indicates that their utility is included in their rent, the worker will request verification of those said utilities. This can be done via phone call, rent receipt, lease, or contract. If a subsidized renter does not have an energy burden and pays a reduced rental amount, those households may be excluded . Section 2603 of the LIHEAP Statutes states: The term "household" means any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economy for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent. Household in subsidized housing that pay their heat directly to a heat vendor/pay a surcharge to their landlord are considered vulnerable and are eligible for assistance. Renters applying for Repair or Replacement Program would not be eligible for RRP, but maybe eligible for LIHEAP assistance Renters with utilities included in the rent? Yes No If yes, describe: Assistance groups that have utilities included in the rent but are not billed separately for heating costs must be evaluated for LIHEAP eligibility. If a client applies for LIHEAP and indicates that their utility is included in their rent, the worker will request verification of those said utilities. This can be done via phone call, rent receipt, lease, or contract. Renters applying for Repair or Replacement Program would not be eligilbe for RRP, but maybe eligible for LIHEAP assistance Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Yes No If yes, describe: West Virginia will give priority to households that have someone in the household that is elderly, disabled, or there is a young child in the home that is age five or younger as these are the most vulnerable to the cooler temperature in the winter. We also want to give priority to those that have higher energy burdens as they may not have the extra money to pay for the higher heating bills. Those that received LIHEAP last year that have someone that is aged, disable or a child in the home age five or under will be sent a notification and application at an earlier time than those that did not receive LIHEAP benefit last year, thus giving these individuals/household a better notification and opportunities to turn these application in. Applications can be made in different ways to make it easier for our older clients. Individuals with a disability? Yes No If yes, describe: We also want to give priority to households that have someone in the household that is elderly, disabled, or there is a young child in the home that is age five or younger as these are the most vulnerable to the cooler temperature in the winter. We also want to give priority to those that have higher energy burdens as they may not have the extra money to pay for the higher heating bills. Those that received LIHEAP last year that have someone that is aged, disable or a child in the home age five or under will be sent a notification and application at an earlier time than those that did not receive LIHEAP benefit last year, thus giving these individuals/household a better notification and opportunities to turn these application in. Applications can be taken in different ways to be able to assist our disabled clients. Young children? Yes No If yes, describe: We also want to give priority to households that have someone in the household that is elderly, disabled, or there is a young child in the home that is age five or younger as these are the most vulnerable to the cooler temperature in the winter. We also want to give priority to those that have higher energy burdens as they may not have the extra money to pay for the higher heating bills. Those that received LIHEAP last year that have someone that is aged, disable or a child in the home age five or under will be sent a notification and application at an earlier time than those that did not receive LIHEAP benefit last year, thus giving these individuals/household a better notification and opportunities to turn these application in. Households with high energy burdens? Yes No If yes, describe: High Energy Burden is defined by the total amount spent on the primary heating source. Which is greater than 20% of the households income. We also want to give priority to households that have someone in the household that is elderly, disabled, or there is a young child in the home that is age five or younger as these are the most vulnerable to the cooler temperature in the winter. We also want to give priority to those that have higher energy burdens as they may not have the extra money to pay for the higher heating bills. Those that received LIHEAP last year that have someone that is aged, disable or a child in the home age five or under will be sent a notification and application at an earlier time than those that did not receive LIHEAP benefit last year, thus giving these individuals/household a better notification and opportunities to turn these application in. Other? Repair or Replacement Yes No If yes, describe: For the Repair or Replacement portion of the LIHEAP assistance, the client would have to meet the income guidelines and have a non- working or unsafe heating source or have no heating source at all, to be eligible. For the Repair or Replacement of the air-conditioning units, The client would have to be income eligible, have a non-working or improperly functioning unit and have someone in the household that is age 60 or over, or someone that is disabled, or a child in the home that is age five or under. The Agency can accept a doctor's statement to verify the medical condition for the cooling repair or replacement assistance if the client is not considered disabled by the Social Security Administration. Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: Explained in each above already. Determination of Benefits 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 2.4 Describe how you prioritize the provision of heating assistance to vulnerable populations, e.g., benefit amounts, early application periods, etc. Those that received LIHEAP last year that have someone that is aged, disable or a child in the home age five or under will be sent an application at an earlier time than those that did not receive LIHEAP benefit last year, thus giving these individuals/household a longer time to turn these application in. In addition, West Virginia uses 60% of the State Median Income (SMI) for households up to size 7. Beginning with a household size of 8, we switch to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to help clients with income limits and make the program more accessible to a wider population. 2.5 Check the variables you use to determine your benefit levels. (Check all that apply): Income Family (household) size Home energy cost or need: Fuel type Climate/region Individual bill Dwelling type Energy burden (% of income spent on home energy) Energy need Other - Describe: 2.5 Dwelling – To receive LIHEAP you must reside in a Traditional Dwelling. Below are definitions of non-traditional and traditional dwellings. "Traditional Dwelling:" Traditional dwelling means a structure that provides a housing or residential environment that is affixed to a physical address. These structures include houses, apartments, townhomes, mobile homes, recreational vehicles (RV's), 5th Wheel's, and campers. "Non-Traditional Dwelling:" A non-traditional dwelling means a structure that provides housing that is not affixed to a permanent physical address and includes tents, lean-to's, cars, vans, or buses. Repair or Replacement requirements will be if a system can be repaired or would need to be replaced. To determine the benefit level. To determine eligibility, they can no longer use the heating source due to a medical condition, i.e., a client is now disabled and cannot load a wood stove, then the heat is considered unavailable and should be evaluated for the Repair or Replacement Program. Heating system repair services assistance is in demand during the winter crisis time frame, usually December - August, Allowing for more time for completion of the program. If a client has a non-working heating and or/cooling system, the agency will replace it at any time during the fiscal year, if funds are available. The Agency will provide funds for electrical upgrades to install replacement units for clients, if needed. Propane gas tank replacement services assistance is also available. Benefit Levels, 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 2.6 Describe estimated benefit levels for the fiscal year for which this plan applies. Please note: the maximum and minimum benefits must be shown in the payment matrix. Minimum Benefit $1 Maximum Benefit $10,000 2.7 Do you provide in-kind (e.g., blankets, space heaters) and/or other forms of benefits?2 Yes No If yes, describe. 2.6 1.00 is because supplement payments could be issued not on matrix and 10,000.00 for the max for Repair or Replace LIHEAP levels are $1.00 to $446.25, MAX Household x 1.75 (elect being the highest increment) up to LIHEAP max benefit of $2000. The 1.00 lowest being if any additional funding given as a supplement, and the amount being undetermined. Repair or Replace up to $10,000.00 If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.