LIHEAP Crisis: States and Territories

Crisis assistance is intended to aid a household that meets all points of eligibility and is experiencing an energy-related crisis.
An energy-related crisis for both summer and winter programs may exist when:

(1) a household member's health and/or well-being would likely be endangered--affected by the weather and lack of adequate heat, air conditioning, or ventilation--if crisis assistance is not provided (documented with a Physician/Nurse Medical Statement); 
(2) when a household has been negatively impacted by a State- or Federally-declared disaster or emergency, or; 
(3) a household has at least one child under age 18. Special consideration is given to those vulnerable households with elderly members (age 60 and over) or disabled members. A crisis must be resolved within 48 hours of verifying that all required documentation and the application are present and complete.

A life-threatening crisis exists when there is clear and present danger to the life of a household member due to extreme weather. It is the local agency’s responsibility to determine whether a household member is in a life-threatening situation due to the effects of severe weather and lack of adequate heat, air conditioning, or ventilation.

Verification of required documentation may be waived if such verification cannot be obtained within 18 hours. Instead, the applicant's statements may be accepted and recorded in Customer Notes in the state-wide intake database, FACSPro. A life-threatening crisis must be resolved within 18 hours of the time the client signs a completed application.

A life-threatening crisis exists when any household is without electric or natural gas service, or out of a deliverable fuel, has no alternate heat source available to them, and the outside temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 

A life-threatening crisis also exists when a household member's health would likely be endangered if assistance is not provided to continue heating or energy services. This includes households containing a member using medical support equipment (e.g. kidney dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators, intermittent positive pressure breathing machines, infant respiratory failure alarm, cardiac monitors.)

Client statement is considered to be acceptable verification of use of medical support equipment.

Households with at least one older adult or legally disabled person are flagged for priority processing.**

In order to receive priority processing** due to crisis, the household must verify they meet the crisis criteria by providing a final fuel or electric service disconnection notice (within 48 hours of shutoff), claim to have 48 hours worth of fuel or an empty fuel tank, or provide an eviction notice for non-payment of rent, if the household’s primary heating fuel expense is included in their rental payment.
Renters who have their primary heating fuel expense included in their subsidized rental payment are not eligible to receive assistance through LIHEAP.

Renters who pay for their primary heating fuel expense in addition to their subsidized rental payment are eligible to receive assistance through LIHEAP, if they meet all other eligibility criteria.

• If a renter’s subsidized rental payment includes a utility allowance their benefit is reduced by 50%.

**Applications are moved to the front of the processing queue.

A crisis exists when a household faces an energy burden that depletes or threatens to deplete their finances, which poses potential health and/or safety threat to the well-being of the household.

A client is considered to be in a crisis when any of the following occur:

• The Household has received a utility shut-off or delinquency notice;
• The Standard LIHEAP benefit does not pay the full amount of the Applicant’s bill;
• The Household has received an eviction notice, if utilities are included in the rent; or
• The Household utilizes portable fuel or pre-pay utility service and has seven days or less of fuel available. Eligible LIHEAP crisis applicants must have their application reviewed within 48 hours, and a determination made if possible.

A client is considered to be in a life-threatening crisis when one of the following situations exists:

• A statement from a licensed medical physician stating that termination of power or exposure to heat or cold would be dangerous to the health of a Household member;
• Self-certification stating that a utility shut-off would be dangerous to the health of a Household Member; or
• Self-certification stating that life-supporting equipment is used in the home and the equipment is dependent upon utility service for operation

Crisis Assistance is available for eligible low‐income households during the winter and summer application periods. This type of assistance is a one‐time payment per household per application period. The Subgrantee must evaluate each crisis situation individually, using the general and crisis eligibility requirements, and determine the appropriate crisis resolution and the amount of assistance, up to the maximum benefit allowed. To be eligible for Crisis benefits, the applicant household must meet general eligibility requirements and crisis definition requirements as outlined below.

The household must have an energy‐related crisis situation on the date of the Crisis application. A Crisis benefit is available to an eligible household for whom service has been discontinued or is threatened to be discontinued, who is out of fuel or will run out of fuel, or who is responsible for heating costs that are included in rent and has received an eviction notice. A crisis situation also exists when a household’s primary heating system is inoperable or a household’s fuel tank is inaccessible because of severe weather.

Crisis benefits are based mainly on need. Subgrantees must not use benefit matrices or a point system when approving crisis funds.

Subgrantees will only pay crisis benefits directly to the energy supplier.

A household facing any of the following crisis situations, during time of extreme weather (extreme heat or cold), is defined as facing a life‐threatening situation.

• Crisis Situations:
• Three 3 weeks remaining of household’s wood supply;
• A disconnect notice (electric only during Summer Program);
• An eviction notice due to non‐payment of households energy source;
• Applicant is enrolled in a delayed payment arrangement;
• Current bill is due within seven (7) days of the date of application;
• Health related life‐threatening situation: clear and present danger to life exists if power or utility disconnected;
• Past due amount/arrearage on utility bill;
• Pre‐paid electric alerted that the balance will soon exhaust;
• Propane or fuel oil below twenty percent (20%);
• Service has been disconnected; or
• Use of Temporary heating or cooling source due to supplier’s refusal to deliver;

LIHEAP Federal regulations require that crisis situations be evaluated and resolved as follows: Standard crisis situations must be pledged or otherwise resolved within 48 hours. Life‐threatening situations must be pledged or otherwise resolved within 18 hours.

1. A natural disaster (whether or not officially declared),
2. A significant home energy supply shortage or disruption,
3. An official declaration of a significant increase in:
4. Home energy costs,
5. Home energy disconnections,
6. Enrollment in public benefit programs, or
7. Unemployment and layoffs, or
8. An official emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services,

Winter crisis assistance benefits address the heating needs of deliverable fuel heated households that have exhausted their Basic Benefits and are still at imminent risk of losing heat.

A household qualifying for a winter crisis Assistance benefit will receive an authorization for a fuel delivery within 48 hours or 18 hours in life-threatening situations.

A crisis is defined as a situation in which a household is unable to secure primary heating, resulting in a life-threatening condition during the program delivery period. A life-threatening situation specifically refers to instances where a household is without primary heating fuel or has less than one-quarter tank of fuel remaining.

The difference between a crisis and a life-threatening situation is in the response time required for fuel delivery authorization. In a crisis, a household must receive authorization for fuel delivery within 48 hours of the eligibility determination. In contrast, for life threatening situations, authorization for fuel delivery will be issued within 18 hours.

It is important to note that crisis assistance is only available to deliverable fuel heated households. Households that are heated by utility services are protected under a statutory moratorium that prevents shutoffs for electric and gas services from November 1 to May 1 (Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-262c).

• 1.1 Distinct weather conditions and financial resources;
• 1.2 Disaster or State of Emergency.

• 2.1 Prolonged severe or extreme weather event;
• 2.2 Upsurge in the price of home energy fuel type;
• 2.3 Disaster of State of Emergency Eligible households can receive more than one ECIP benefit per program year depending on the availability of funds and crisis situation.

1. Weather conditions of the subsequent 72 hours pose a serious threat to the health or safety of one or more members of the eligible household OR the state has declared Disaster or State of Emergency; AND
2. Financial assessment demonstrates the household to be without sufficient resources for alleviating the crisis; AND
3. Household has no prospect for receiving resources within forty-eight (48) hours that could alleviate the crisis (Household is determined to be in a life-threatening situation if it can directly or indirectly lead to death of the member of the eligible household unless some form of assistance has been provided no later than eighteen (18) hours after the household has applied for ECIP benefit); AND
4. Household utility services for heating and cooling have been disconnected or energy source of delivered fuel vendor 100% depleted with rejection to future services; OR
5. Household is under the payment arrangement with utility services or delivered fuel vendor to avoid disconnection/rejection of future services; OR
6. Household has received a notice from the utility services for disconnection or has less than 1/4th of standard allocation from the delivered fuel vendor with rejection to future services; OR
7. Division has authorized crisis payment, which can include emergency repair of non- functional heating or cooling equipment. This section also covers ECIP Regular Crisis benefits authorized by State during Disaster or State of Emergency.

• 1.4.1 The duration of the quarantine or isolation; AND
• 1.4.2 Its impact to the wages of the LIHEAP eligible households; AND
• 1.4.3 The effect of the loss of income on the ability of the households to cover its energy expenses.

A household is considered to be in a life-threatening crisis if the household depends on energy service for medical life support equipment and one of the following applies: 

• the household has been disconnected from energy service;
• the household heating oil is at 5% or less of capacity; or
• the household has received notice that a disconnection will occur within 48 hours or less.

To qualify for life-threatening crisis assistance, applicants must provide certification from a licensed physician that a member of the household relies on energy service for emergency medical and life-support equipment.

Assistance provided to an applicant with no access to, or in danger of losing access to, necessary home energy. Subrecipient may provide multiple crisis assistance benefits per year. Assistance provided to an applicant with no access to, or in danger of losing access to, necessary home energy. Subrecipient may provide multiple crisis assistance benefits per year.

Crisis Types and Definitions:

1. Life-Threatening Crisis: A life-threatening crisis exists whenever a subrecipient has reliable information that a household member’s life and/or health are at risk due to hot or cold weather. A subrecipient has 18 hours from the time of application and approval to resolve a Life-Threatening crisis situation.
2. Non-Life-Threatening Crisis: A standard crisis situation where a household is facing an electric or gas service shut off, or has already had their services shut off, but a household member’s health nor life are at risk due to hot or cold weather. A subrecipient has 48 hours from receipt of application and approval to provide assistance to an applicant with no access to, or in danger of losing access to, necessary home energy.

• It may be used to pre-pay home energy usage:
  • Client should either: be within seven (7) days of using the remaining balance of ‘energy’ pre-purchased, have their power disconnected/shut off, or need to make a deposit.

In the event of a household related crisis, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the Department), in coordination with other pertinent agencies, will develop an appropriate response designed to eliminate the threat to life and health. Under such condition, the Department may utilize a portion of available 2025 LIHEAP funding to provide crisis assistance to low-income households affected by threatening conditions.

Reconnection Assistance (RA) will be provided when a household is in imminent disconnection status or is already disconnected by the utility from its primary heat source or from any secondary energy source that is heat related. Disconnection will be considered imminent when disconnection will occur within (7) days without the provision of crisis assistance. Crisis assistance (Reconnection Assistance and Furnace Assistance) will be provided within 48 hours or 18 hours in the event of a lifethreatening situation affecting the individual household. The 48/18 hour timeframe is from the day the customer's application is completed and all required documentation has been received and verified. The amount of Reconnection Assistance will be the minimum amount needed to restore energy service to the household. Households are eligible for Reconnection Assistance payments not to exceed a total of $1,500 per household per year. All RA payments combined cannot exceed the applicant benefit limit of $1,500. Applications for primary and secondary Reconnection Assistance payments do not have to be done simultaneously. The household is allowed to apply for a Reconnection Assistance payment for one vendor. This is not to be interpreted to mean that the household is entitled to the maximum benefit. The time of the application, the amount for reconnection, and the availability of funding will determine if each household is applying for Reconnection Assistance benefits will receive the maximum. If the household is in need of Reconnection Assistance during the Program Year and they have not received the full $1,500 possible RA amount, they can return for additional assistance up to the $1,500 maximum amount. Furnace Assistance will be provided until May 31, 2025 or until the furnace allocation is exhausted, to households that qualify for and receive a LIHEAP energy assistance benefit in the 2025 Program Year. Furnace Assistance benefits are for households that do not have an operating furnace and/or a safe heat source for their residence. Furnace Assistance benefits, which may include tune-up, repair, or replacement, will be utilized to restore a vital heat supply to the home. The Furnace Assistance component will be operated in collaboration with the LAA's Weatherization program. The LAAs are uniquely situated to define and develop individualized responses to energy related emergencies. Packaged (heating and cooling) units may be repaired or replaced using Furnace Assistance, as with any other furnace, replacements of these units must be justified as the safest, most effective measures needed to safely restore heat to the residence. Additionally, water heating venting corrections are allowable health and safety expenditure.

The Department will continue administering the Furnace Assistance Voucher Program as part of the Furnace Assistance Program. This was a pilot program that began in FY22 and is now adding more LAAs. This voucher program will continue to be optional and LIHEAP Local Administering Agencies that decide to administer this voucher pilot will be pre-approved by the Department. Some LAAs will administer the Furnace Assistance Program as a 100% Furnace Voucher Program and others may offer a hybrid program where some customers can be assisted through the traditional Furnace Assistance Program and others through the Furnace Voucher Program. Under the Furnace Voucher Program customers will: 

1. apply for Furnace Assistance through their LAA;
2. LAA will document whether the customer has a safe place to go if they do not have heat, so the 48/18 hours crisis assistance requirement is met. The LAA provides a pre-qualified list of HVAC contractors in the area;
3. Page 12 of 45customer selects a contractor from the list or recommends their own contractor (who must meet the pre-qualifications);
4. After the repair/replacement is completed, the LAA works with the contractor to pay allowable voucher amount. At some of the LAAs the customer may have a Customer Payment Responsibility, if total bill exceeds the maximum allowable Furnace Assistance benefit amount;
5. Contractor signs a voucher acceptance form stating that safe heat has been restored to the customer, prior to voucher being paid.

Reconnection Assistance and Furnace Assistance will be provided within 18 hours from the date and time the customer's application is complete; if the energy crisis is life-threatening. For the purpose of implementing the 18-hour processing provision exists if the following conditions are met:

• The temperature is 32° Fahrenheit or below.
• The household is not protected by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) rules or similar local laws.
• Reconnection is the only available remedy, i.e., the household does not have alternate shelter, lacks a safe temporary means of heat, and/or is homebound.

Each local agency is required to develop specific written procedure to implement the 18-hour provision in an equitable manner, including from which source the outside temperature was established (e.g. via Intellicast.com for the customer's city of residence). Outreach sites are required to securely scan and email applications that require an 18-hour response along with the supporting documentation to the LAA-Main Office via a secure file transfer system.

A crisis situation is an energy emergency when there is a potential disconnection or depletion of the energy sources but is not considered a life threatening crisis.
 

Metered Utilities:

• The household has received a disconnection notice for the residence's primary heating fuel service and/our electric service
• The household is currently enrolled in an arrearage management agreement/payment plan in order to avoid disconnection of primary heating fuel service and/or electric service and has a current outstanding balance on the agreement
• The household's primary heating fuel service and/or electric service is disconnected, but the household does not meet the criteria for life-threatening crisis
• Bulk Fuel: Households who heat with a deliverable bulk fuel (e.g., LP, oil, coal, corn, wood, pellets, or other biofuel) or who have prepaid electricity service will automatically be considered to be in crisis at the time of application in order to ensure the benefit is sufficient for minimum delivery amounts and delivery fees.
• Prepaid Electric Service: A household with prepaid electric service is considered to be in crisis if it has less than 10 days worth of service in available balance when considering average daily usage for the past 30 days
• Inoperable heating equipment: Households who report that their heating equipment is not operable will be assessed for eligibility for the Emergency Repair and Replace benefit.

A life threatening crisis situation is defined when there is at least one vulnerable population factor (adult age 60 or over, child age 5 or under, person with a disability, or veteran/active duty military) and any of the following criteria is met: 

• Household's primary heating and/or electric service is disconnected or inactive
• Household is out of bulk heating fuel when bulk fuel is the primary heating fuel
• There is a documented medical need where there is an extreme safety concern
• There is a need for a propane tank safety inspection.

The Iowa LIHEAP Policy and Procedures Manual lists allowable year-round crisis measures within expenditure limits. Those allowable measures address the following crisis situations:

• Repair/replacement of non-working heating units
• Temporary need for alternate shelter, blankets, electric portable space heaters
• Disconnected from utility service
• Disconnection from utility service imminent
• Emergency delivery of fuel when 30% or less remaining
• If medically necessary, provide a window/portable air conditioning unit or repair/replacement of existing central AC

A crisis situation is defined as a situation where an eligible household:

• Has a pending/final disconnection notice for an energy utility service;
• Has less than 48 hours of bulk fuel;
  • This includes households who do not have a vendor and receive their LIHEAP benefits sent to them directly
• Has had an energy utility service disconnected; This includes previous bills/charges from an old address where the client received residential services, that are preventing new services from being established. 

The household must have at least one household member who:

• Has an illness or medical condition that poses an immediate risk due to the loss of the energy source;
• Has a medical condition requiring the use of an energy source to operate a medical device or store medication; and/or
• The household has less than 18 hours of bulk fuel during the heating season.

These households are given first priority in receiving assistance. The life-threatening crisis must be addressed within 18 hours and resolved within 48 hours

Subgrantees may submit annual proposals for MaineHousing's consideration, describing their planned activities and expenses associated with providing services to applicants pursuant to Assurance 16 of the LIHEAP Act. Assurance 16 funds may only be used to fund activities that encourage and enable eligible households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance. Only LIHEAP eligible households may receive Assurance 16 services. The services being funded by Assurance 16 must be energy related and may include family development case management and education activities. Subgrantees are required to have proper fiscal controls to ensure the LIHEAP funds are expended proportional to the overall funding sources using proper cost allocation methodology. There must be proper documentation of participation and a methodology to measure outcomes from the Assurance 16 activities. Salaries and benefit costs for any staff providing services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance are allowable. Additionally, direct costs associated with providing these services, including supplies, equipment, postage, utilities, rental office space, and travel costs incurred for official business are also allowable. Services that are already provided as part of the delivery of other federal programs cannot be charged to Assurance 16. Examples: Working with an electric utility to forestall a shut-off as part of providing an Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) benefit cannot be charged to Assurance 16 because this activity is already required and funded under ECIP.

Outreach/Intake services, regardless of where they are provided, or who (which staff member/position) provides them, cannot be charged to Assurance 16. These activities are already required under HEAP fuel assistance, and therefore, do not provide an additional benefit to eligible households.

Mailed out applications are not allowed to be charged to Assurance 16.

Indirect charges cannot be charged to Assurance 16. Client referrals to other programs or resources that are not related to clients' home energy needs or do not reflect an additional net benefit for the client.

Explanation of FastTrack System The crisis intervention component of Massachusetts’ HEAP is a FastTrack system, integrated into the heating assistance program, for prioritizing and expediting services to households experiencing heating emergencies. The purpose of this FastTrack system is to provide swift response to heating emergencies, while steering applicants into the mainstream heating assistance component with full benefits. Emergency applications are given priority at all intake and processing steps.
When an applicant notifies the Subgrantee of their emergency, the Subgrantee reviews the application and requests any documentation still required to complete the application. The emergency application is given certification priority. Heat-Related Crisis Subgrantees are required to provide a response within 24 hours of the eligible household’s application or request for those experiencing a crisis, in accordance with the statute and corresponding procedures outlined in the current fiscal year's Administrative Guidance. The criteria for designating a crisis are as follows: Imminent Loss of heat due to:

• Less than a 3-day supply of deliverable fuel or a reading of 1/8 of a tank (or less) on a standard 275-gallon oil tank. Receipt of a final utility termination notice for the primary heat source or the secondary heat source necessary to operate the primary heating system.
• Eviction within 72 hours for a renter whose heat is included in the rent.
• Other circumstances in accordance with the statute, which are deemed to be “household energy related emergencies” and cannot be resolved by other public or private resources of the Subgrantee or its community. This includes payments toward a utility security deposit for an Applicant whose service is provided by a Municipal Utility Company that requires a deposit prior to connection of services. 

Subgrantees are required to provide for emergency response within 18 hours of the eligible household’s application or request for those experiencing a life-threatening crisis, in accordance with the statute and corresponding procedures outlined in the current fiscal year's Administrative Guidance.

A life-threatening crisis is currently having no heat, and it includes: 

• Ran out of deliverable fuel
• utilities disconnected
• the aftermath of fire or other unforeseen events that may force relocation, or
• heating system failure

Eligibility for an energy-related crisis is based on the household’s demonstration of immediate need for assistance with home heating fuel, electricity, or energy-related home repairs. Crisis means one of the following:

• An individual or household has received a past due or shut off notice on an energy bill for his or her household.
• A residential fuel tank is estimated to contain not more than 25% of its heating fuel capacity.
• A stated need for household deliverable fuel or a non-traditional fuel source in which there is no meter or regular energy bill provided, (example: wood, corn, cherry pits, etc.).
• A notice that the balance in a prepayment account is below $100.
• A statement from a licensed service provider indicating the homeowners furnace is inoperable and in need of repair or replacement

A household is considered to have a life-threatening crisis if the following criteria is met:

• The household is not protected by Michigan's Winter Protection Plan;
• The household has experienced disconnection of natural gas or electric service or have ran out of deliverable fuel or a non-traditional heating source such as wood, corn, cherry pits, etc., or the household has a statement from a licensed service provider indicating the homeowner's furnace is inoperable and in need of repair or replacement;
• Restoration of energy services is medically necessary;
• The household does not have any temporary housing alternatives while the emergency is being resolved.

• Request assistance with an energy emergency by either submitting a bill, disconnect notice or disconnection document verifying the energy emergency OR notifying the Service Provider of an energy emergency.
• Be EAP eligible.
• Have received a Primary Heat benefit that did not resolve the emergency.
• Have the emergency verified and documented by the Service Provider with the energy vendor at the time the Crisis benefit is determined.
• Be occupying the dwelling at the time Crisis is requested and the benefit is determined.
• Not have a redundant heating system that has fuel. An exception is that households with a redundant heating system are eligible for Crisis if the heating system that is out of fuel is needed to allow continuous heat to the dwelling (e.g. if the electric portion of the redundant heating system is on an off-peak discount program that interrupts electric heat to the dwelling or if the operational heating system uses biofuel.)
• Not have a Crisis payment that results in a credit on an account.

• Heat Related Shut Off.
• Heat Related Disconnection Notice.
• Less than 20% in Fuel Tank and Refusal to Deliver (RTD).
• Less than One Week Biofuel.
• Non-Heat Electric Shut Off.
• Non-Heat Electric Disconnection Notice.
• Senior Past Due or Current Energy Bill
• Less than 10 Days Pre-pay Energy.

Eligible households with a non-life-threatening energy crisis must have the crisis relieved within 48 hours of an approved application. Resolution of a life-threatening crisis may include, but is not limited to: arranging for immediate supply of fuel, securing a payment arrangement with the energy vendor, pledging the amount of bill to prevent shutoff or to restore service, purchase of heating/cooling equipment, etc. The following situations are considered non-life threatening:

1. Unexpected expense such as death of an immediate family member, funeral expenses, high medical expenses, etc.;
2. Income loss within the last thirty (30) day s (of date the subgrantee was contacted) due to layoff or termination of benefits;
3. Services are disconnected or threatened to be turned off;
4. Theft;
5. Displacement of a minor child (under the age of 18) due to the client's inability to pay utilities, rent, etc.; and/or
6. Other documented emergency within the last thirty (30) days , as deemed acceptable by the subgrantee.

Eligible households with a life-threatening energy crisis must have the crisis relieved within 18 hours of an approved application. Resolution of a life-threatening crisis may include, but is not limited to: arranging for an immediate supply of fuel, securing a payment arrangement with the energy vendor, pledging the amount of bill to prevent shutoff or to restore service, purchase of heating/cooling equipment, etc. The following are considered life-threatening:

1. Disaster (fire, gas leak, etc.),
2. Person(s) on life support or medical devices that require electricity,
3. Domestic violence, an/or
4. Elderly/disabled or child abuse/neglect.

For declared natural disasters, the State will use LIHEAP funds to provide emergency housing for eligible households for up to five days to remove the household from the emergency situation. Households will be referred to other programs such as CSBG and state/local resources to provide other emergency needs to include housing/food/clothing if the home is inhabitable.

The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) is designed to provide financial assistance to households in a verifiable energy crisis. Crisis is defined as: 

1. receipt of a termination or disconnect notice indicating a specific disconnect date within 72 hours;
2. a final billing statement advising the account has been terminated;
3. a propane/fuel oil tank is filled at less than 20% capacity;
4. the customer is a cash on delivery (COD) customer;
5. pre-paid electric customer indicates their pre-paid usage is about to run out; or
6. when an applicant indicates another fuel source is about to run out (wood, corn pellets, kerosene).

Emergency Assistance benefits are available from October through September. Emergency Assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be provided to an eligible household in the following circumstances only when such circumstances present an imminent threat to the health and safety of the household. The household is responsible, at its own expense, for documenting that circumstances exist which present a serious, immediate threat to the household. The sub-grantee may, in its discretion, assist the household in identifying and documenting such circumstances, if the subgrantee has the expertise and resources to do so. 

CONDITIONS OF EMERGENCY:
The household's primary supply of energy is interrupted because of weather conditions and other supply or a different type of energy is necessary. Weather or other forces outside the control of the household damages the household's dwelling and causes the dwelling to suffer a severe loss of heat. Hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions exist in the household's primary home water heating and/or space heating system, and safety modification are required. Any other home energy-related condition caused by severe weather conditions, fuel shortages, and/or acts of God. The household has a documented medical need for home energy related safety modifications. LIHEAP funds can be used to relight a furnace pilot light if it is the primary heat source. LIHEAP funds can be used to relight a water heater pilot light with a medical note. Outliers are discussed with field monitors. Crisis cooling assistance is allowable during sustained high temperatures. Cooling assistance will be limited to the purchase of fans, operation or support of local cooling centers, coordination with local social service agencies, relocation to a hotel/hotel and air conditioners (where medically necessary). The policy regarding cooling crisis involves: an eligible household that is income qualified must have a household member that has and provides a letter from a qualified medical provider stating that a life-threatening condition exists where an air conditioner will eliminate or significantly reduce the possibility of loss of life or heat related illness. The letter does not have to include the diagnosis or condition; it only has to indicate there is a need for air conditioning and be signed by the qualified medical provider. Cooling centers may be activated when the temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees for at least three (3) consecutive days. Transportation to the cooling center will not be provided.

The sub-grantee must obtain departmental approval before providing crisis cooling assistance.

The New Hampshire Fuel Assistance Program determines that an applicant household is in crisis based upon the following situations:

Applicant households with deliverable fuel having 1/4 tank or less oil or kerosene, 20% or less propane in their tank, or less than a week's supply of wood, Applicant households heating with a metered utility having a disconnect notice, Applicant households with heat included in the rent (when not subsidized) having received an eviction notice.

The New Hampshire Fuel Assistance Program determines that an applicant household is in life-threatening crisis when they are without heat. This includes the following situations:

• Applicant households utilize a deliverable fuel but are out of the product (oil, kerosene, propane, wood)
• Applicant households utilize a metered utility for heat and have been disconnected
• Applicant households with heat included in the rent (when not subsidized) have been evicted/served by the court to vacate Applicant households have a non-functioning, unsafe, or otherwise inoperable heating system and secondary source of heat that can heat the dwelling adequately

Households must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for households up to seven, and 60% State Median Income (SMI) for households of eight or more receive a benefit in the form of a credit directly to the client’s main energy heating account beginning in the month of January.

For Heating Crisis Assistance: a disconnection, notice of disconnection, establishing new service, less than 25% supply of deliverable fuel, or a heating system needing repair to be operable are criteria to be considered in crisis. For Summer Crisis Assistance: a disconnection, notice of disconnection, establishing new service, a medical certification and/or being elderly (age 60 or older) are criteria to be considered in crisis.

A utility crisis exists when a households:

• services is disconnected,
• provides information regarding a new connection fee,
• has a verified active cut-off order,
• receives a refusal notice to provide fuel,
• has a prepaid account with less than $25 minimum balance,
• enters into a payment plan with the supplier to prevent service cut-off.
  In the event of limited funding priority is given to cutoff notices within 72 hours and households that contain at least one member who is 60 years or older, blind, disabled, or a child under five years of age.

A life-threatening crisis exists when a member of the household has a medical condition verified by a licensed health care professional that would be life threating without the availability of the energy source. A life-threatening crisis exists when a member of the household has a medical condition verified by a licensed health care professional that would be life threating without the availability of the energy source. 

This can include:

• using life sustaining medical equipment in the home, or
• refrigerated insulin, or
• medical condition that could create a life-threatening situation in extreme temperature. 
  Life-threatening referrals are accepted year-round by telephone. Information about the program and the call in number is provided on the OKDHSLive application, OKDHSLive and OKDHS.org websites.

(1) The household shall meet the general eligibility requirements under §601.31 (relating to general eligibility requirements), income limit, responsibility for heating costs, Pennsylvania residency and lawfully admitted non-citizen status.
(2) The household shall be without heat or in imminent danger of being without heat because of a weather-related or energy-supply-shortage emergency.
(3) The household shall be eligible for a crisis benefit that, alone or combined with other resources available to the applicant household, will resolve the home-heating emergency. If a household is authorized for the LIHEAP Cash component before the date of their request for Crisis benefits, any existing credit including the LIHEAP Cash component that has been authorized and not yet received is considered to be available and must be used first for the resolution of the crisis.
(4) The applicant must provide proof of the home-heating emergency

Crisis benefits for energy-supply-shortage emergencies include payment for the following:
1. Home-heating fuel for a household that is out of fuel or if the heating fuel supply will last less than 15 calendar days. The payment may be for either the main or secondary fuel type and may include the cost of an added charge for off-hours delivery service. The payment amount will not exceed the cost of the delivery; including any necessary reconnect fees and/or minor furnace start-up costs. Any credit balance with the household's vendor, including LIHEAP funds that have been authorized and not yet received, will be deemed available to resolve the crisis and will be deducted from the household's benefit amount.
2. Utility bills to restore or continue home-heating service if the household is without heat or in imminent danger of being without heat because of actual or scheduled termination of the main or secondary source of heat by a utility company. The payment may include the charge, if required, for a service reconnection.

NOTE: Crisis benefits may be approved in this instance based on issuance of a termination notice. The following applies:
(A) For utilities regulated by a governing body such as the Public Utility Commission (PUC), winter termination procedures prevent the termination of service without the governing body’s approval from December 1 through March 31. Regulated utilities may still issue termination notices from December 1 through March 31. They cannot, however, act on these notices to terminate service without having been granted permission to terminate service by the governing body. In these situations, contact must be made with the utility to determine if the governing body has granted the utility permission to terminate service for the applicant household before crisis benefits may be authorized to relieve the emergency. The household is ineligible for crisis benefits if the utility has not been granted approval to terminate service.
(B) For utilities not regulated by a governing body, a termination notice means that the utility has established a date when service will actually terminate, in accordance with the utility's current termination procedures. Documentation of the termination notice must be provided before crisis benefits may be authorized to relieve the emergency.

In order to receive Crisis Assistance, the applicant must:

• Household below Puerto Rico State Median Income.
• Applicant must have an active account in the power energy supplier records.
• Show a service shutoff or disconnection notice from the electric power supplier

A life-threatening crisis is considered to occur when the client is unable to maintain heat in the home and the overnight temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

This may be the result of:
1. Heat is shut off due to failure to pay a regulated utility bill.
2. A client's inability to pay for deliverable fuel.
3. The breakdown of heating system.

Households must meet one of the following conditions for the period of October 1 – March 31

• Supplier refuses to deliver-Household has an overdue bill from supplier-Heating system requires repair or replacement-Household has less than 20% remaining in tank
• Household has a disconnect notice or has already been disconnected-Household has an eviction notice for non-payment when heat is included in rent or paid in addition to rent Period of April 1 - September 30
• Housenold has an electric disconnect notice or has already been disconnected. Furnace Repair/Replacement is available year round or until the funds allocated are exhausted. 

An eligible household must receive some form of assistance no later than 18 hours after the household applies for emergency assistance. Life threatening situations include: An eligible household must receive some form of assistance no later than 18 hours after the household applies for emergency assistance.

Life threatening situations include:

1. No heat in home due to primary heat source or electricity being disconnected
2. No heat in home due to furnace not operating
3. Household does not have alternate or temporary heat source
4. Temperature is or will be less than 50 degrees within the 18 hour timeframe

Crisis Assistance will be provided based on the household's determined benefit level.

A household is eligible for Crisis Assistance when they meet the following criteria:

• Receipt of a shut off notice, disconnection or lack of home delivered fuel notice, AND one of the following:
  • Unanticipated medical expense or major household expense.
  • Household wage earner with at least 1 year of stable work history has lost his/her job within the last twelve (12) months.
  • Household wage earner has left the home within the past forty-five (45) days.
  • Death of wage earner within the last twelve (12) months.
  • Significant loss of work hours.
  • Household wage earner is unable to work due to illness and does not receive sick leave or compensation for personal time off.
  • Household has a non-functioning or malfunctioning cooling / heating system. 

The household has one or more family members who meet priority eligibility (age sixty (60) and older, disability, child age five (5) and under, active military, or Veteran).

Crisis Assistance can be provided to persons who have already lost service or are in immediate danger of losing service only under one of the following conditions:

1. Extreme Weather Conditions, with assistance provided within 48 hours;
2. Disaster, with assistance provided within 48 hours; or
3. Life Threatening Crisis, with assistance provided within 18 hours.

A crisis is found to exist in households that are at imminent risk of losing home heating because they have nearly exhausted their current supply of primary heating fuel, or have received a shutoff notice from their natural gas or electricity company, and the company either provides metered service for their primary heating source, or supplies service to a necessary component of their primary home heating equipment.

Criteria for determining the existence of a home heating crisis include, but are not limited to, the following circumstances:

1. the household’s primary heating fuel tank is at 25% or less of its full capacity;
2. there is one week’s supply or less of fuel for households whose primary heating sources include firewood, wood pellets, or coal;
3. the household has received a disconnect notice for a metered utility, and the utility is responsible for either providing the household’s primary fuel source, or for operation of a necessary component of the household’s primary home heating equipment.

We currently only administer Winter Crisis. The Crisis Assistance component is designed to help households meet energy emergencies that cannot be met by other resources. The emergency may result from a weather related or supply shortage emergency such as: no source of heat; the only heating equipment in the home is inoperable or unsafe; or there is a potential no heat situation. Crisis Assistance will be provided when the conditions for providing assistance are met and the assistance will ensure heat for the household.

Crisis Assistance intervention must resolve the energy crisis of eligible applicants within 48 hours, or 18 hours if in a life threatening situation. Assistance with the purchase of primary fuel and the payment of the primary utility bills is provided to households who did not receive Heating Assistance or who have exhausted their heating benefit.