The ECAP annual threshold maximum is $750 per federal fiscal year (October 1 – September 30) that includes both regular ECAP and life-threatening. AKA – federal eligibility bucket. EA staff determines eligibility for life threatening referrals. Refer to article Life-Threatening Energy Crisis for information on how to submit a referral. Policy 340:20-117. (g)(1)

Medical Equipment

Licensed Health Care Professional

The client states her child uses a nebulizer, but the doctor’s statement she submitted only has information regarding an inhaler. The doctor’s office is closed. Can I take the client’s statement as best available verification?

No, we can only accept a statement from the health care professional. Life-threatening authorized personnel can accept verbal confirmation from a doctor’s office if it is verified and documented who they spoke to, the phone number they called, and the information they verified. 340:20-1-17(h)(1)(A) Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP)

Hot Water

Can life-threatening assist with hot water?

No, water is not an energy source for LIHEAP. If hot water is a necessity for a medical reason such as surgery, life-threatening can be authorized for main energy that heats the water if there is no alternative such as boiling water and the household meets the other program requirements. A statement from a health care professional is required. ITS 340:20-1-17(10)(1)

Picture of Medical Equipment

The client submitted a picture of solution used for a nebulizer. She states her child has been using the solution and nebulizer, his doctor will not provide verification since the child has not seen the doctor since January 2020. Can we use the client’s statement and picture of the solution as best available verification for life-threatening?

No. We do not know if the solution is safe. The intake worker must consider if a child protective service’s referral will need to be made. 340:20-1-17(e) Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP)

Natural Gas for Oxygen

The client has COPD and the doctor has verified that she had portable oxygen tank. The client claimed he needs natural gas for his oxygen to operate. Is he eligible for life-threatening assistance?

No. Oxygen for home use cannot be produced from natural gas. 340:20-1-17(h)(1)(A) Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP)

Refrigeration

A child with a medical condition has life threatening medication that requires refrigeration. Can the household be eligible for life-threatening claim?

Yes, they must provide a doctors statement reflecting that the medication is prescribed, cannot be stored at room temperature, and must be refrigerated. Without it the situation would be life threating to the child. The household must also meet the other liheap eligibility requirements. INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:20-1-17(10)(2)

Medical Condition

Premature

The client has a newborn child and does not have any medical equipment that requires electricity to operate. Can they receive assistance for life-threatening?

Only if the new born child (up to 1 year old) has a chronic condition such as premature and the household meets the other program requirements for a medical condition. A statement from a health care professional is required. Policy: 340:20-1-17(h) (1)(A)(ii).

Visiting Relative

The child with life-threatening medical condition is visiting his/her grandmother. Can the grandmother be eligible for a life-threatening claim?

No, the child is just visiting and not considered a household member. The grandmother must have custody of the child and an intake worker must consider if a child protective service’s referral will need to be made. 340:20-1-10(c) Program Factors

Energy Crisis

Utilities Paid – Someone Outside the House

The household has been receiving help with shelter and utilities from an aunt. Are they eligible for life-threatening assistance?

It depends. If the household received help in the form of cash/check/money order, the average amount they have been receiving will be considered as contribution (unearned income). They will have to meet the income guidelines in addition to other program requirements. If the aunt pays directly to the provider; then they are not eligible for life-threatening. Policy: 340:20-1-10(f)(2)  Program Factors, 340:20-1-11(a) (3). Income and liquid resources

Winter Heating / Summer Cooling

The household is eligible for $296 in Summer Cooling, which will resolve the life-threatening  medical crisis. Are they still eligible for life-threatening?

No, they are not eligible for life-threatening assistance. 340:20-1-17(f)(2). Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP)

Can life-threatening assist to pay off old debt to obtain new service?

Life-threatening assistance cannot be used to pay off old debt accrued at a different address/meter. Life-threatening can help with the minimum required security deposit for new service. Life-threatening can be used to pay utility old debt from a previous utility account when the client moved to a new location because of a domestic violence situation and provides proof of the domestic violence, such as a police report. Life Threating can pay arrearages, reconnection fees, and one month average usage for service at the current address/meter. Policy 340:20-1-17(g)(1)

Forced to Move

The household was certified for $365 in Summer Cooling. Her apartment was flooded and she had to move to another apartment. Is she eligible for life-threatening if she meets the medical eligibility factor?

Life-threatening authorized personnel will have to verify with the utility provider to ensure all of her Summer Cooling credit has been applied. If there is any Summer Cooling credit left, it must be transferred to the account for her new apartment. In addition it must be verified with her landlord and documented in case notes, the flood and necessity to move apartments. Then if she meets the other program requirements, we could assist with the minimum requirement for her security deposit. 340:20-1-17(f)(2)(D)

Firewood

How much firewood can be authorized for life-threatening?

Just as with ECAP, we would authorize 1 rick of firewood up to the maximum benefit if the household met the medical condition requirement, the weather prediction for the area and other program requirements. INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:20-1-17(6)(b)

Propane

The client states he is about to run out of propane. What is the guideline for life-threatening assistance?

The propane tank has to be below 25% for life-threatening assistance. The client can also use the refusal notice from the provider if it is available. The household would have to meet the medical condition and other liheap eligibility requirements.340:20-1-17(f)(2)(C) Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP)

Propane Tank Verification

How so I know if the client is almost out of propane for ECAP/Life-threatening?

For propane, the tank’s indicator has to be below 10% for regular ECAP and 25% for life-threatening. The client can also use the refusal notice from the provider if it is available. Please document in the “explanation” box according to the fuel type on the application.

If the provider will not issue a refusal notice, EA staff attempts to verify with the provider by email or phone. If verification attempts are not successful take the client word unless questionable for the percentage of propane in the tank. Policy: 340:20-1-17(f)(2)(C)

LT Program Factors

Money Stolen

An elderly client states her son stole her money. Do we have to count her SSI as income for life-threatening assistance?

Yes, her SSI income has to be considered. The intake worker must consider if an adult protective service’s referral will need to be made. Policy:  340:20-1-11(a) (3) Income and liquid resources.

Prepaid Account – On

The household met the medical equipment requirement. He has a pre-paid utility account and service is still on. His utility provider requires a $40 minimum to be on the account. Can we authorize an additional $40 for his pre-paid account?

No. Since his service is still on, we can only authorize one month use. Policy: ITS 340:20-1-17(6)(b)

Prepaid Account – Off

An elderly client provided verification that her oxygen tank is required to be plugged in to operate. She has a pre-paid utility account and her service has been off for two days. Her utility provider requires a minimum $65 to turn her service back on. Can she receive an additional amount on top of her monthly average usage?

Yes. Since her service has been off and the $65 is minimum requirement to turn the service back on, we can pay for one month of average usage plus the reconnection fee. Policy: ITS 340:20-1-17(6)(b)

Prepaid Account – Negative Balance

A client has pre-paid utility account. His service is still on and his current balance is negative (-) $398.21 as verified with utility provider. His monthly average is $215. What amount would be authorized?

If he meets the other program requirements, we would authorize $613.21(398.21 + 215. monthly average) if it still available in his fiscal eligibility bucket. Policy: ITS 340:20-1-17(6)(b)

Propane – Temperature

A client met the medical condition requirement. The predicted temperature at her residence is below 15 Fahrenheit for the next 7 days. Her propane indicator is below 42%. Is she eligible for life-threatening assistance?

No. For life-threatening, the propane tank has to be below 25% (while regular ECAP, the tank will have to be below 10%). Policy: 340:20-1-17(f)(C)