The Pennsylvania Utility Law Project has published the 2015-2016 LIHEAP Manual.
Key changes to the program this year include:
- DHS will issue a Supplemental Cash Benefit of $70 to “vulnerable” households that qualify for a LIHEAP cash grant. A household is vulnerable if it has a member that is: Elderly (age sixty or older); Disabled; or Age five and under. The age of the household members is determined by their age at the time the LIHEAP application is submitted.
- Coordination of Cash and Crisis Benefits: A household must use all of its authorized LIHEAP Cash benefits to resolve a crisis before receiving a Crisis grant.
- LIHEAP for Customer Assistance Program (CAP) customers: Utility companies must continue apply LIHEAP cash grants only to the “Asked to Pay” amount the CAP customer is required to pay, regardless of whether they operate based on a Percent of Income Payment Plan (PIP or PIPP) or rate discount model.
2015-2016 LIHEAP Program In Brief
Program Dates:
- Cash Grant opens Nov. 2, 2015 closes April 1, 2016
- Crisis Grant opens Nov. 2, 2015 closes April 1, 2016
- Crisis Interface/WAP opens Nov. 2, 2015 closes April 1, 2016
- DHS[2] may extend or shorten program dates depending on availability of funds.
Eligibility: Eligibility is set at 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for Cash and Crisis Grant Program, and 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for the Crisis Interface/Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP):
2015-2016 LIHEAP Household Income Limits
|
Household Size |
150% FPL for Cash & Crisis |
| 1 | $ 17,655 |
| 2 | $ 23,895 |
| 3 | $ 30,135 |
| 4 | $ 36,375 |
| 5 | $ 42,615 |
| 6 | $ 48,855 |
| 7 | $ 55,095 |
| 8 | $ 61,335 |
| 9 | $ 67, 575 |
| 10 | $ 73,815 |
| For each additional person add | $ 6,240 |
Grant Amounts:
- Minimum Cash grant will be $100.
- Maximum Cash grant will be $1,000.
- Minimum Crisis grant will be $25.
- Maximum Crisis grant will be $500.
Changes to LIHEAP in 2015-2016
DHS will issue a Supplemental Cash Benefit of $70 to “vulnerable”households that qualify for a LIHEAP cash grant. A household is vulnerable if it has a member that is:
- Elderly (age sixty or older);
- Disabled;[3] or
- Age five and under.
The age of the household members is determined by their age at the time the LIHEAP application is submitted.
Treatment of Loans: DHS will exclude from income calculation loans from established financial institutions that are designated for a specific purpose (such as loans from a bank).
Coordination of Cash and Crisis Benefits: A household must use all of its authorized LIHEAP Cash benefits to resolve a crisis before receiving a Crisis grant.
Automated Eligibility Determination: Households who 1) apply through COMPASS and 2) choose to use income that is verified and known to DHS (because the household receives other benefits such as food stamps, MA, or cash) may get an automated eligibility determination if the household’s address and membership has not changed and all other conditions of eligibility are met.
Clarifications that Continue to Require Attention
Public utilities that operate Customer Assistance Program (CAPs) are required to apply the LIHEAP cash component benefits only to the customer’s monthly ‘Asked to Pay’ amount. No LIHEAP funds may be applied to CAP customer’s pre-program arrearages or actual usage amounts.[4] DHS makes no distinction between a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIP or PIPP) CAP or a Rate Discount CAP. The purpose of LIHEAP is to help low income households meet their home heating needs. The LIHEAP Federal statute, regulations and Pennsylvania’s approved state plan all require that LIHEAP funds be applied in full to the account of those households determined LIHEAP eligible. Therefore, utility companies must apply LIHEAP cash grants only to the “Asked to Pay” amount the CAP customer is required to pay, regardless of whether they operate based on a Percent of Income Payment Plan (PIP or PIPP) or rate discount model. A fuller discussion of this issue is found at pages 20–22 of this Manual.
A life-threatening Crisis must be resolved within 18 hours; however, DHS requires that it be a documented medical emergency.[5] DHS has not provided guidance as to how or if this additional language will affect Crisis applicants with a life-threatening crisis situation. Please advise PULP if you have a client who has been negatively affected.
Furnace replacement is now specifically designated as an appropriate activity within the Crisis Interface Program.[6] However, the Crisis Interface Policy at C-3 of the State Plan states that if the furnace has not been operating within past two heating seasons, it may not be eligible for Crisis services, as a furnace that has not been working for that long of a period of time cannot be considered to be a weather-related emergency. The applicant must provide proof of the home heating emergency. The Policy in the State Plan allows for some consideration on a case by case basis.