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Senior Alert
Low-Income Seniors May Get Assistance with High
Energy Bills
Jan. 9, 2006 – Senior citizens and other low-income
Americans can receive help with paying their winter energy bills. Health
and Human Services is making $733 million available to states,
territories and tribes through the Administration for Children and
Families' Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
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The funds are from $100 million in new emergency
contingency funds released by HHS. Secretary Mike Leavitt also announced
HHS will make available up to 100 percent of states' remaining block
grant funds -- which total $633 million
"These funds will make a positive difference for
many low-income families," Secretary Leavitt said. "The Bush
Administration is committed to helping those in need to ensure their
homes are kept warm during the winter months."
HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. added, "LIHEAP helps millions of America's most
needy families maintain a healthy temperature in their homes. This aid
is especially timely given relatively high fuel prices and continued
cold temperatures throughout much of the nation."
In addition, the federal government has another
$101 million that remains available for crises through the emergency
contingency fund.
Each year, almost 5 million low-income households
across the country receive LIHEAP assistance. LIHEAP helps eligible
families pay for home heating and insulation in winter and cooling their
homes in the warmer months. States have already received $1.3 billion in
annual block grant funds in the first quarter of FY 2006 under a
continuing resolution.
Eligibility Criteria
Unlike some Federal programs, eligibility
guidelines can vary greatly among LIHEAP grantees. LIHEAP eligibility
criteria include the following:
Income Guidelines
The LIHEAP statute establishes 150 percent of the
poverty level as the maximum income level allowed in determining LIHEAP
income eligibility, except where 60 percent of state median income is
higher. Income eligibility criteria for LIHEAP may not be set lower than
110 percent of the poverty.
Historical HHS Poverty Income Guidelines are
available for
1982-2005. Historical State Median Income Estimates are available
for
FY 1974 - FY 2006.
The Federal government issues the poverty levels as
the HHS Poverty Guidelines and state median income as State Median
Income Estimates. Both the HHS Poverty Guidelines and State Median
Incomes are published each February or March in the Federal Register.
As of October 1, 2004 (the beginning of FY 2005),
the
2004 HHS Poverty Guidelines and
State Median Income Estimates for FY 2005 were in effect.
Upon the 2005 publication of the income guidelines
in the Federal Register, LIHEAP grantees have the option of switching to
the
2005 HHS Poverty Guidelines and/or the
State Median Income Estimates for FY 2006 for the remainder of FFY
2005. However, LIHEAP grantees must by the beginning of FY 2006 (October
1, 2005) or by the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year,
whichever is later, adjust their income eligibility criteria so that
they are in accord with these new income eligibility criteria.
The Federal LIHEAP statute does not define
"income." Therefore, each LIHEAP grantee is responsible for defining
income. The definition of income should identify the items or sources of
funds that are to be counted as income.
Some LIHEAP grantees use "gross" income instead of
"net" income (income after certain deductions) in determining income
eligibility for LIHEAP. As part of gross income, a number of LIHEAP
grantees count the receipt of money such as child support payments as
income. That amount would then be included in the gross income total
when determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP benefits.
Using gross income is a generally accepted (though not a required)
practice in many programs, including the LIHEAP program. Total gross
income provides a "base" from which to evaluate a potentially eligible
household in the fairest way possible, relative to other potentially
eligible households.
Note - The amount of any LIHEAP payments or
allowances provided directly to, or indirectly for the benefit of, an
eligible household shall not be considered income or resources of that
eligible household (or any member thereof) for any purpose under any
Federal or State law, including any law relating to taxation, food
stamps, public assistance, or welfare programs.
Categorical Eligibility
Under the law, LIHEAP grantees have the flexibility
of serving households having at least one member who also receives
assistance under the following Federal programs (referred to as
categorical eligibility):
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Supplemental Security Income
Food Stamps
or certain needs-tested
Veteran Benefits.
Other Eligibility Criteria
LIHEAP grantees have the flexibility of serving
only those low income households that meet additional LIHEAP eligibility
criteria, such as passing an assets test, living in nonsubsidized
housing; having a household member who is elderly, disabled, or a young
child; or receipt of a utility disconnection notice.
Applying for LIHEAP assistance
LIHEAP applications, eligibility, assistance, and
benefit levels vary among LIHEAP programs. The Federal government does
not send or take applications for LIHEAP assistance. For information on
applying for LIHEAP assistance, please contact your:
LIHEAP State grantee (A number of State LIHEAP offices provide
toll-free numbers and web sites for public inquiries.)
LIHEAP Indian Tribe or Tribal Organization grantee
LIHEAP Insular Area grantee
You may want to contact the
National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project. NEAR is a free
service for persons who want information on where to apply for LIHEAP
help. NEAR can be contacted by e-mail
energy assistance@ncat.org (please include your city, county and
state along with your e-mail message) or by using NEAR's toll-free phone
number 1-866-674-6327 (or 1-866-NRG-NEAR).
If you are interested in other Federal benefits
that you may qualify for, please visit the following web sites:
An overall resource for consumers on a variety of
topics can be found at
FirstGov for Consumers.
GovBenefits.gov is the Federal government's benefits web site. This
is a free, confidential tool that can help you find government benefits
that you may be eligible to receive.
Individuals interested in applying for LIHEAP
assistance should contact their local/state LIHEAP agency. For more
information, go to
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/ or
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.
To see the total amount given to each state from
the emergency contingency fund, view
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2005/liheap_funding_0106.htm.
More Resources
The following Federal consumer resources about home
energy-related topics are available:
Disaster Assistance Resources for older persons, their families,
practitioners, and the Aging Network.
Eldercare Locator for contacting local agencies that can provide
services to older persons.
Home Energy Saver
Insulate to Save Money
Tips on Savings Energy & Money at Home
What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpected
Winter Chill Temperatures
Winter Preparedness Safety Tips
Winter Safety in the Home
Winter Storms - FEMA for Kids
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Clearinghouse answers citizens' about how to save energy to lower their
heating/fuel bill costs, etc. The public can contact the Clearinghouse
either by completing its
"Ask an Energy Expert" form or by calling 1-800-363-3732,
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., (Eastern Standard Time)
The three brochures below explain the factors that
influence the prices of oil, propane, and natural gas.
Residential Heating Oil Prices: What Consumers Should Know provides
a breakdown of the cost of a gallon of heating oil, and the factors that
cause heating oil prices to fluctuate and sometimes change dramatically
in a short period of time.
Propane Prices: What Consumers Should Know discusses how the use of
propane varies according to customer, season and region.
Residential Natural Gas Prices: What Consumers Should Know explains
what customers pay for in their residential gas bills and what consumers
can expect during the 2000-2001 heating season.
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