The LIHWAP (Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program) a 100 percent federally funded short- term program to assist low-income households paying a high portion of their income for drinking water and wastewater services.
The program provides assistance to low income households to reduce arrearages of and rates charged for drinking water and wastewater services. Eligible households benefit amount will be paid directly to the owners and operators of the public water systems.
The LIHWAP program is closely modeled after the LIHEAP program including the procedures, policies, announcements, application, and approval systems.
It is anticipated the LIHWAP program will end September 30, 2023.
There are two components of the LIHWAP program: the Water Bill Pay and the Water Crisis. The information below is for the for the Water Crisis component.
Centralized Energy Assistance will process and determine eligibility for the LIHWAP components as they do for the LIHEAP components.
Field staff responsibilities are the same for LIHWAP as they are for LIHEAP which includes but is not limited to:
- answer the client’s questions by reviewing: OnBase, 105 screens, NL/NI screens, case notes
- assist the client with an online proxy, if needed
- route verification to 90L
- check and explain the case status and verification requested
- make referrals and explain the programs
Below is a side by side comparison of the LIHWAP Water Crisis program and the LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance program in areas in which the programs are the same.
Account Number
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Funds must be paid to an account that will be active at the current resident. If it is a new account, a number must be by the provided by the vendor.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Funds must be paid to an account that will be active at the current resident. If it is a new account, a number must be by the provided by the vendor.
Application
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
No application required.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
No application required.
Eligibility Determination
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Centralized Energy Assistance Contact Center staff gather information and determine eligibility.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Centralized Energy Assistance Contact Center staff gather information and determine eligibility.
Gross Income
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
The household has to meet the Gross Income standard on the Appendix C-7.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
The household has to meet the Gross Income standard on the Appendix C-7.
Household Composition
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Follows the LIHEAP one chimney rule, roomer and boarders policies.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Follows the LIHEAP one chimney rule, roomer and boarders policies.
IMS Transaction (Mainframe)
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Uses the 105E and 105EQ transaction in IMS.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Uses the 105E and 105EQ transaction in IMS.
Income and Resources
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Uses the LIHEAP income and resource guidelines Appendix C-7
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Uses the LIHEAP income and resource guidelines Appendix C-7
Maximum Benefit
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Maximum Benefit $750.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Maximum Benefit $1,500 effective 04/20/2023.
Random Moment Time Study
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
When serving as a proxy for LIHEAP record general case information on the Random Moment Time Study. When serving as a proxy for LIHEAP/LIHWAP and another benefit, record the action take on the other benefit.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
When serving as a proxy for LIHWAP record general case information on the Random Moment Time Study. When serving as a proxy for LIHWAP/LIHEAP and another benefit, record the action take on the other benefit.
Utility Crisis
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Must be disconnected or will be disconnected within 72 hours.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Must be disconnected or will be disconnected within 72 hours.
Verification
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
The utility crisis must be verified with the vendor.
If the household does not have open benefits or information is questionable verification must be provided to determine eligibility.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
The utility crisis must be verified with the vendor. If the household does not have open benefits or information is questionable verification must be provided to determine eligibility.
Vulnerability
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Must be at least partially responsible for utility service.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Must be at least partially responsible for water or waste water service.
Below is a side by side comparison of the program LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance and the LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance program areas in which the programs are different.
Direct Payment
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Eligible households whose utility provider do NOT participate, by accepting payments on behalf of eligible households, will receive payment directly on the Oklahoma Master Debit Card.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Benefits must be paid directly to the public water or waste water provider on behalf of eligible households. If the provider is not a participating provider the household cannot receive payment even if they are otherwise eligible.
Fees
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Benefits will pay reconnection fees and will not pay any old debt.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Benefits can pay any fees associated with public drinking water or waste water including late, reconnection, base, customer charges, arrearages, deposits for any time period beginning 01/01/2020.
Medical Statement
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Must provide a statement from a medical professional regarding the need for medical equipment that uses electric.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Does NOT require a medical statement.
Minimum Payment
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
The minimum benefit will be authorized to restore services for at least 30 days.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
The minimum benefit will be authorized to restore services for at least 90 days.
Multiple Benefits
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
The minimum benefit will be authorized to restore services for at least 30 days.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Effective 04/20/2023 can receive multiple Water Crisis payments up to a maximum benefit of $1,500 per fiscal year.
Payments
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Can receive multiple benefits for LIHEAP LT in the federal fiscal year if the maximum was not met.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Effective 04/20/2023 can receive multiple Water Crisis payments up to the maximum benefit of $1,500 per fiscal year.
Providers
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Benefits for eligible households must be paid to the vendor for the primary source of electric when they are a participating provider. Eligible households whose utility provider do NOT participate, will receive payment directly to the household in the form of an Oklahoma Master Debit Card.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Must restore or prevent disconnect for at least 90 days.
Reconnection Timeframe
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Must restore or prevent disconnect for at least 30 days.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Benefits for eligible households must be paid to water or wastewater providers who are public providers and are a participating provider with DHS. This excludes households who use well water. In addition, benefits can NOT be used for infrastructure improvements.
Referral Period
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
Households with a member that requires electricity to power lifesaving medical equipment and the electric is currently disconnect or will be disconnect within 72 hours can be referred year-round to the Life Threatening medical assistance program.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
Households who are currently disconnect or will be disconnected within 72 hours and the water or waste water provider is a participating provider can be referred to the water crisis program. Priority is given to elderly, disabled, or children under 5 households. Water crisis will close prior to ECAP open enrollment. See Referral Process.
Referral Process
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
When the household states they use life threatening medical equipment that requires electricity to operate and the electric has been or will be disconnected in 72 hours reference Life Threatening Energy Crisis for guidance.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
When the household states the water or wastewater has been or will be disconnected in 72 hours and the water or waste water provider is a participating provider with DHS email: liheap2@okdhs.org include your supervisor on the email and provide the following information:
- Case number
- Client name
- Name of the participating water provider
- Vendor number of the participating water provider
- Water utility account number
- Date the water was (will be) shutoff. If it is not within 72 hours the client is not eligible for the water crisis program do not send an email.
- Working phone number for the client
Upload verification to OnBase 90L. (Participating provider’s names are listed in OKDHSLive drop down box under Company name.) See screenshot shown here:
Services
LIHEAP Life Threatening Medical Assistance
The benefit payment must be applied to the electric portion of the bill. Authorized payments may not be applied toward water, gas, trash, cable or other services.
LIHWAP Water Crisis Assistance
The benefit payment must be applied to the water or waste water portion of the bill. Authorized payments may not be applied toward electric, gas, trash, cable or other services.
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