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 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. 

The household must have an energy-related crisis on the date of the Crisis Assistance application and meet both general eligibility and crisis definition requirements. A household is considered in crisis when the applicant: 
 

1.  Has a health-related LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION where a clear and present danger to life exists if power or utility is disconnected.
2. Has a current bill due within seven (7) days of the date of the application.
3. Has a past due amount or arrearage on the utility bill.
4. Has been disconnected from service or received a disconnect notice from the vendor that provides the main source of heat or electricity.   
         4.1. During the Summer Program, only electric benefits.     
         4.2. The Subgrantee must verify and document the disconnect status.
5. Has twenty percent (20%) or less of propane or fuel tank capacity and the supplier has refused delivery without payment.
6. Is enrolled in a delayed payment arrangement (DPA).     
        6.1. If the eligible household has a past-due amount in the DPA that would result in a shutoff or disconnection if the customer defaulted, the    Subgrantee may authorize a Crisis benefit.    
        6.2. The full amount of crisis benefits available may be applied to the amount covered by the DPA, even if the balance of the DPA is more than the available Crisis benefit, unless service will be disconnected even with the LIHEAP assistance.
7. Has a pre-paid electric service that has or will soon exhaust.    
        7.1. The applicant may be eligible if the household is disconnected, has an outstanding balance/arrearage on the account, has received an alert of a low balance, or has been determined by the Subgrantee to have a low balance.
8. Is using a temporary heating or cooling source due to the supplier’s refusal to deliver.
9. Received an eviction notice due to non-payment of the household’s energy source.
10. Has an inoperable primary heating system, or
11. Has three (3) weeks or less of wood supply remaining or seven (7) days or less of bottled gas/propane.     
    11.1. Wood burned in a fireplace is not considered a primary energy source. Crisis benefits must be paid directly to the energy supplier except as outlined in Arkansas LIHEAP policy Section 7.2 Household Payments. The Subgrantee should submit an emergency referral to weatherization for applicants without a heating source or whose primary heating source is inoperable. Applicants who use SOLAR POWER or another RENEWABLE ENERGY source are not eligible for Crisis benefits. Life-threatening situation is defined: A situation that causes a person’s health to become susceptible to harm if the household’s home heating or electricity services are discontinued or not restored.

A life-threatening crisis exists when interruption of a household’s heating or cooling energy services threatens the health or well-being of at least one household member. To qualify for a life-threatening crisis, the following stipulations are required:    

• The household must meet at least one of the conditions defined as crisis in AEO LIHEAP policy.    
• The crisis must be imminent, occurring within the past or next eighteen (18) hours,    
• The household must meet one of the following conditions:        
   • Extreme Weather Conditions – As defined by the ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (APSC), General Services Rule 6.15 and Rule 6.18, extreme weather is when the National Weather Service forecasts that a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower (cold weather) or 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (hot weather) will occur at any time during the following 24-hour period. For gas utilities, hot weather protection shall be limited to the elderly or INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES with gas-powered air conditioning units only. Full text of the APSC Rule may be found online at https://apps.apsc.arkansas.gov/rules/general_service_rules_2016.pdf. A summary of the rules may be found online at https://apsc.arkansas.gov/consumer-services/suspension-of-service/.   
   • Medical Conditions – The applicant indicates by any method that one or more household members have a health or medical condition that makes them susceptible to harm if the household’s crisis cannot be resolved. During extreme weather (extreme heat or cold), a household facing any of the crises listed in section 2.2 is considered life-threatening.

CSD uses the federal definition of a crisis (Low Income Energy Assistance Act § 2603 (3)): “weather-related and supply shortage emergencies and other household energy related emergencies.” Crisis funds may only be used in accordance with the federal definition, including: 

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. 
    

In those situations where there is not an official federal, state, or local declaration of emergency, an emergency may be deemed to exist by CSD where there is imminent danger, requiring immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life, health, property, or essential public 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).

TEMPORARY POLICY CHANGES

LIHEAP Office will be executing a waiver for one of the ECIP criteria in 2025 program year (October 1, 2024- September 30, 2025). LIHEAP will waive the requirement for temperature thresholds to file the crisis application. Hence, the households can file the crisis applications for all fuel types without the subsequent 72 hours of the heat index being forecasted to be 95 degrees in Fahrenheit or more OR the temperature being forecasted to be at or below 40 degrees in Fahrenheit. Households can file crisis applications for all fuel types under any temperature threshold during 2025 program year.

LIHEAP thresholds for crisis are as follows: a) delivered fuels $2,500, b) non-delivered fuels $2,500, c) equipment $10, 000. See Section 4.9 for clarification of benefit caps.

REGULAR POLICY.

LIHEAP POLICY MANUAL, SECTION 300, BENEFITS AND SERVICES

302. Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)

Crisis Intervention Program has two components; Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) and Code Purple.

302.1 Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP)

Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) provides assistance to the eligible households in the form of:

1. Regular Crisis that assists households year round with bill or equipment assistance contingent on:

1.1 Distinct weather conditions and financial resources;

1.2 Disaster or State of Emergency.

2. Flat Crisis that assists households with portion of energy bill, as a supplemental benefit, if there are adequate funds available and state office declares crisis payment because:

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.

A. ECIP Regular Crisis

ECIP Regular Crisis, is a year-round crisis program that assists eligible households with an energy crisis when the 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 when the state declares the state of emergency or disaster.

Regular Crisis is designed for the households that have been disconnected or are in the process of being disconnected from the energy source, or are under payment arrangement to avoid disconnection, or have received a rejection for future energy services. Additionally, the state could authorize a regular crisis benefit to the household for resolving the energy access issue that directly impedes the utilization of FAP benefit. ECIP Regular Crisis is administered by Contractor and it is activated when the forecast, on any day, at 8:30 am states that within the subsequent 72 hours the heat index is forecasted to be 95 degrees in Fahrenheit or more OR if the temperature is forecasted to be at or below 40 degrees in Fahrenheit. Contractor’s offices in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown will check for their respective forecasts through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ECIP is defined as: Assistance during the energy crisis situation. The eligible residents of the State of Delaware with adjusted gross household income less than or equal to 60% of State Median Income, who are responsible for paying an energy bill, are considered to be experiencing an energy crisis whenever:

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

Financial assessment demonstrates the household to be without sufficient resources for alleviating the crisis; AND

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

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

Household is under the payment arrangement with utility services or delivered fuel vendor to avoid disconnection/rejection of future services; OR

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

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.

B. ECIP Flat Crisis

ECIP Assistance can also become available for the eligible households if the State declares the crisis payment to the households as a supplemental benefit because the prolonged severe or extreme weather, or the upsurge in the price of the home energy fuel type, or extreme weather event, or disaster or state of emergency.

C. Disaster or State of Emergency

In the case of disaster or state of emergency or extreme weather event, like a hurricane, tornado, flood or etc. There is no difference in income eligibility between Crisis and Disaster assistance, both will be following the 60% of the State Median Income.

The LIHEAP disaster policy could be activated by the following possible disasters: Storm, Flood, Tornado, Epidemics, Hurricane, Fire, Explosion, Earthquake, Landslide, Subsidence, CBRN, PH Emergency, Extreme Heat, Extreme Cold/ Blizzard, Industrial Accident, Transport Accident, Volcanic Activity, Tsunami.

Under LIHEAP disaster policy the state could temporarily change the eligibility thresholds and criteria for crisis depending on the funds available and the effect of the disaster on the LIHEAP eligible population. For example, the state may waive temperature requirements for activation of crisis or increase ceilings of allowed crisis benefits.

See Reference Document – DELAWARE LIHEAP STATE PLAN

1. Epidemics Policy

1.1 LIHEAP ECIP Disaster Epidemics Policy is activated when the state declares state of emergency or disaster for managing the spread of communicable diseases.

1.2 The aim of this policy is to mitigate the households’ burden of energy cost accumulated during the quarantine or isolation.

1.3 Under this policy, LIHEAP, as the public health program, will distribute supplemental and/or regular crisis benefits to the affected households to decrease the risk of negative consequences of subsequent energy crisis to the public health system.

1.4 The amount of the benefit will be determined by the state depending on the available funding. The state will consider:

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.

1.5 If the state declares a quarantine for a specific geographic area or location, LIHEAP will distribute the ECIP benefit to all the LIHEAP eligible households within that area who have applied for LIHEAP during that program year.

1.6 If the state don’t declare a quarantine for a specific geographic area or location, the households could be required to apply for supplemental crisis benefit by notifying the intake agency of their epidemics quarantine or isolation.

2. Public Health (PH) Emergency Policy

2.1 LIHEAP ECIP Disaster Public Health Emergency Policy is activated when the state declares state of emergency or disaster for managing public health emergencies. Policy can also be activated when the statewide or local extreme event has been assessed to lead directly or indirectly to the public health emergency.

2.2 The aim of this policy is to mitigate the affected households’ burden of energy cost during and after the public health emergency.

2.3 Under this policy, LIHEAP, as the public health program, will distribute supplemental and/or regular crisis benefits to the affected households to decrease the risk of negative consequences of subsequent energy crisis to the public health system.

2.4. The amount of the benefit will be determined by the state depending on the available funding.

302.2 Code Purple

CODE PURPLE has been deactivated until it has been further analyzed and structured to demonstrate that those benefiting are LIHEAP income eligible.

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 a member of the household must rely on energy service for emergency medical and life-support equipment. A household is considered to be in a life-threatening crisis if the household has a balance with an energy service vendor of $200 or more after the regular benefit is applied to the bill.

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: 
   o 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.

 Idaho defines a crisis as a situation where an eligible household: 

 • Has a utility service that is disconnected; their service is pending disconnection status; or  
 • Has less than 48 hours of bulk fuel.  
• Household requires a utility pole or gas line hookup for the primary heat source or another energy source  when a lack of access would result in a health or safety concern in the home.  
 • The household cannot maintain a payment agreement with the utility company and the account will  move into the pending disconnection process and will make the household ineligible for future payment 
Idaho defines a crisis as a situation where an eligible household has a utility service that is disconnected, their service is pending disconnection status, has less than 48 hours of bulk fuel, requires a utility pole or gas line hookup for the primary heat source or another energy source and lack of access would result in a health or safety concern or the household cannot maintain a payment agreement with the utility company and the account will move into the pending disconnection process and will make the household ineligible for future payment arrangements. Households are eligible to one Crisis benefit per season, however, when funding is available, a second LIHEAP Crisis payment may be authorized, based on request, to alleviate heat related cooling needs.

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 2026 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 life-threatening 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 29, 2026 or until the furnace allocation is exhausted, to households that qualify for and receive a LIHEAP energy assistance benefit in the 2026 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 continues 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.. 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. Customer 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). To expedite the application, 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. Non-life threatening crisis situations must be mitigated within 48 hours.   

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 bio-fuel) 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 must be mitigated within (18) hours. The (18) hour timeframe begins at the point in time the life-threatening situation is communicated to LSP staff. A life threatening crisis situation is defined when there is at least one at-risk individual (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

•   Not later than 18 hours after a household applies for energy crisis benefits [ECIP Crisis Assistance], provide some form of assistance that will resolve the energy crisis if such a household is eligible to receive such benefits and is in a life-threatening situation. For the purpose of implementing the 18-hour processing provision, a life-threatening situation exists if the following conditions are met: 
• Per Iowa’s Cold Weather Law “extreme weather” is defined as days where the high temperature is 20 degrees or less, and;  
•  The household is not currently protected under the Iowa’s Winter Moratorium protection and is therefore subject to disconnection.

From Chapter 24 Home Energy Assistance Program Rule:Energy Crisis shall have the same meaning as set forth in 42 U.S.C.A. §8622(3), as same may be amended from time to time.

 Section 7.A. A Household may be eligible for ECIP if a Household Member’s health and safety is threatened by an Energy Crisis situation on the Date of Application and the Household does not have the financial means to avert the Energy Crisis. The Household will not be eligible if: they have any other Heating System that is safe and operable and has a supply of product; they reside in Subsidized Housing with heat included or a Rental Unit with heat included; or they have an overpayment balance and have not entered into or complied with a repayment agreement. An Eligible Household under HEAP is income eligible for ECIP. 

Section 7.B. 

• An Energy Crisis includes: Reading of ¼ tank or less on a standard 275 gallon heating oil tank;
• Reading of 25% or less on a propane tank;
• 7-day or less supply for other delivered Home Energy types; and
• A utility disconnection notice that relates to the operation of the Heating System    

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. If eligible, the vendor will be authorized to make a delivery or guaranteed a payment in cases of eviction or utility disconnection. Heat-Related Crisis Subgrantees are required to provide for emergency response within 24 hours or 18 hours of the eligible household’s application or request, in accordance with the statute and corresponding procedures outlined in the current fiscal year's Administrative Guidance. The criteria for designating an emergency are as follows: No heat for any reason 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.
• Heating system failure.
• The aftermath of fire or other unforeseen events that may force relocation.
• 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 a 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 or fuel tank over 25% that has been locked by the provider and payment on account will remove the threat.
• 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 all of 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 run 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.

To receive a Crisis benefit, a household must:

•  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. 

Have one of the following Crisis reasons: 

• 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.

Mississippi offers a year-round crisis assistance component of LIHEAP, entitled the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP), provides assistance to low-income households who have encountered a crisis situation within the last 30 days.  Agencies should utilize partnerships to alleviate crisis until client’s eligibility is determined.  Life Threatening Crisis (LTE) – 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 the bill to prevent shutoff, or to restore service, purchase of heating/cooling equipment, etc. The following are considered life threatening: 

•  Disaster (fire, gas, leak, etc.) Person(s) on life support or medical devices that require electricity. In the event an applicant is at risk of disconnection of a utility that is a necessity for any medical equipment or devices needed to sustain life, the applicant should be treated as a Life-Threatening Crisis case and should be interviewed the same day and approved within 18 hours of the applicant’s initial application. Supporting documents should be provided at the time of interview and scanned into Virtual ROMA and placed in the applicant’s file.
• Domestic violence, and/or The abuse/neglect of elderly, disabled, or child 

Non-Life-Threatening Crisis (NON-LTE) – Eligible households with a non-life-threatening energy crisis must have the crisis relieved within 48 hours of an approved application. Resolution of a non-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 the bill to prevent shutoff, or to restore service purchase of heating/cooling equipment, etc. 

The following are considered non-life threatening.    

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

The Energy Assistance Crisis 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;
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 deliver (COD) customer;
5. pre-paid electric customer indicates their pre-paid usage is about to run out;
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 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. 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.

Life-threatening: A life-threatening crisis exists when condition(s) are present that may cause death or severe permanent damage to the health of one or more household members. Such conditions include: 

•  Household is without primary heat source of electric or natural gas service, or has less than 10% of a deliverable fuel (propane, wood, coal, fuel oil) o and has no secondary or alternate heat source, o and the outside temperature is below 32°F.
• Household whose members' health and/or well-being would likely be endangered without the availability of their primary heat source or emergency cooling assistance which may include those who suffer more severe adverse effects from extreme temperature changes or exposure to extreme temperatures due to a medical condition.
• Additional special circumstances are considered on case-by-case basis and determined by LIHEAP specialists at sub-contracting local agencies.

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 or other wood fuel, such as pellets)
• 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

Eligibility Threshold: Households must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for households up to eight, and 60% State Median Income (SMI) for households of nine 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 Winter 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 medical equipment 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 medication that requires refrigeration such as insulin.   
• A life-threatening situation exists during extreme temperatures when a household's utility responsible for summer cooling or winter heating is in crisis. Extreme temperature is a heat index of at least 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; or 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. 

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.
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 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.

 As Regulation #5257 states, 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 crisis is considered to occur when a household is unable to maintain heat in their home. This may be the result of: 

1. Heat is shut off due to failure to pay a regulated utility bill.
2. Inability to pay for deliverable fuel.
3. The breakdown of a heating system.

A life-threatening crisis is considered to occur when the household is unable to maintain heat in their home AND the outside temperature is currently at or is forecasted to be below 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the next 24 hours as reported by a weather service such as the Weather Channel. 

This may be the result of: 

1. Heat is shut off due to failure to pay a regulated utility bill.
2. Inability to pay for deliverable fuel.
3. The breakdown of a 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
• Household 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:

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 time-frame.

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, as defined in 10 TAC §6.301 (relating to Background and Definitions): 

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.

A crisis situation is considered life-threatening if: 

1. the temperature is projected to be 32 degrees or less and
2. the household includes at least one vulnerable person (an individual who is  under age six, age 60 or over, or disabled). Temperatures of 32 degrees or less for the current and following day are established by verifying the projected temperature through a weather service  (The Weather Channel etc).