LIHEAP LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM We are dedicated - - PDF document

LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

We are dedicated to helping build stronger communities by addressing the effects of poverty on individuals and families.

LIHEAP

While the average household pays 5% of their income for heating costs, the low-income household pays 15-20% of their income for heating costs.

Did you know…?

The program is federally funded and administered by the Department of Health & Human Services UDMO contracts with the Iowa Department

• f DHS

This program provides vital and often life- saving assistance to many households This program is also known as “LIHEAP”, “Energy Assistance”, or “Fuel Assistance Program” The LIHEAP program dates back to the 70’s when the oil crisis started

INTENT OF PROGRAM

LIHEAP does:

∗ help low-income households with a portion of their residential heating bill by providing supplemental assistance. LIHEAP is not designed to : ∗ Pay the household’s total energy costs.

APPLICATION PROCESS

∗ Applications are taken November 1st through April 30th ∗ UDMO takes in over 6,000 application in our 12-county service area through our Outreach centers ∗ In addition, we process

• ver 2,00 applications by

mail for our automatically-eligible households (elderly or disabled, on a fixed income with less than $15,000 in savings and were approved last year.

∗ During October we process apps for households with a disabled person or a person 60 years of age

• r older. These are our

priority clients and the State allows us to serve them first.

Your most recent heat and electric

• bill. The amount makes no
• difference. The bills are required to

verify you have an account and that your allotment will be properly credited to your heat account. Social Security Number verification and birthdates for each of your household members Proof of your household’s GROSS

• income. Wage earners need check

stubs or federal tax form. For those

• n a fixed income {such as SS, SSI,

Veteran’s benefits and pensions} a copy of the check, award letter or bank statement (if funds are directly deposited). Farmers and self-employed need to bring their most recent federal tax form. IF you receive FIP or SSI, bring your Medicaid card. ALL income requires verification, including unemployment, alimony and child support. Additional information on following page…

INCOME VERIFICATION PERIOD

Our client has the option to choose their income verification period. Depending on their situation, the client may choose:

• 1. The past 3 months (90 days) OR
• 2. The past 12 months (12 months

from the application date) OR

• 3. The previous calendar year

(January through December). NOTE: Farmers and self-employed should use their most recent income tax form OR

• 4. Current income alternative:

30-day income

INCOME GUIDELINES

150% of the CURRENT Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. The household must be vulnerable to the rising costs of energy costs.

Payments

TYPE OF PAYMENTS MADE

1) Direct to heat supplier 2) Direct to client when the client’s heat is included in their rent or the client has special circumstance

Amount Received Determined By:

∗ 1) Type of Housing ∗ Income based on family size ∗ Type of fuel and ∗ Other targeting factors. Example: Elderly, disabled, young children

No household is entitled to a certain amount or from

• f assistance from this program. Households must

meet the income guidelines and there must be program funds available before payments can be made.

Client Notification

At the time the client applies they are given a letter telling them if they are eligible. If so, the letter will state the dollar amount approved and that funds will be sent to their heat company. Payments may take up to 3 months before a client sees the credit on their heat bill.

Approval

∗ An approval does allow moratorium protection, but it does not guarantee a payment will be made

• n your account. All

payments are contingent upon the availability of Federal funds. Payments are made on a first come- first served basis. If the client is approved for assistance, they can only apply once during a heating season.

Denial

∗ If the client is over the income guidelines, the client may reapply anytime through April 30th.

Medical Waiver

∗ Households over the income guidelines may be eligible for benefits through our medical waiver component. Medical Expenses must be documented, paid and non-

• reimbursable. There are also

income guidelines for this

• waiver. If the client meets

those guidelines a letter will be provided explaining the medical waiver and that they may be eligible. The client will have to provide eligible medical receipts within a specified time frame.

DISCONNECTION MORATORIUM LAW

In 1984, a State law was passed by the Iowa State commerce Commission, now referred to as the Iowa Utility Board (IUB). The IUB is the agency that regulated and makes rules for all natural gas and electric

• companies. The IUB is responsible

for making sure all regulated (natural gas or electricity( utilities follow the moratorium law. The law forbids regulated utilities from disconnecting any customer who has qualified for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or the Weatherization Program between November 1st and April 1st. IF the client has a deliverable fuel such as propane or fuel oil, they are not protected under the Moratorium Law for their heating. Deliverable vendors are not regulated.

Vendors

Before the Program starts, each participating vendor (energy supplier) must sign a Vendor Agreement with UDMO. Some of the major provisions include: 1. Client’s LIHEAP allotment will be used only for heating costs. 2. The funds will remain on the client’s account until expended. 3. ALL INFORMATION FROM UDMO WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL! 4. THE CLIENT WILL NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER VENDOR CUSTOMERS. 5. Vendors agree to State monitoring of funds and compliance with the Vendor Agreement. PLEASE NOTE: Every effort is made to maintain client confidentiality. When taking applications it is important to remember that many applicants may not feel comfortable applying for a government-assistance program. Many may be easily embarrassed or discouraged from applying by the manner in which the staff conduct themselves. It is absolutely essential to handle each applicant with care, tact, kindness and dignity at all times. Vendors should also extend the same consideration to the client.

We actually only serve 30%

• f the eligible population.

Did you know…?

We receive approximately $3.3Million for LIHEAP for regular assistance We have run out of money only twice in the past 20 years. The average payment last year was $460 per household, and this included a supplemental payment.

We also have other programs within the Energy Program, but funding is limited and we don’t usually advertise these:

OTHER PROGRAMS

SUMMER CONTRACTING

In the summer we contract with participating deliverable vendors for delivery of propane and fuel oil for the upcoming winter heating season. We began this program in 1997. Last year, we contracted over $368,439 in lp and fuel oil. This year we contracted $322,721.

SUMMER COOLING

Fans and air conditioners for medically necessary households. A this time,. However, we do not have funding for this program. We have received federal funds for this program more than several times in the past when the temperatures have been extreme for an extended period of time. Last year, UDMO received over $159,142 for crisis assistance. We have crisis money for heat- related emergencies. We have a limited amount of money for: 1. Furnace repair/replacement; this is for homeowners only. We replace heating systems that contractors determine

• unsafe. We do not replace

heating systems because they are old or inefficient. 2. Out of fuels- we help clients that are out of lp or fuel oil

• btain fuel

3. Disconnect, reconnect, service continuity deposit money. To help clients regain or maintain electric and/or natural gas service 4. Space heaters, blankets and temporary shelter in heat- related emergencies.