(Revised 10/1/17 ML #3512)
Emergency Home Energy Assistance is a distinct, separate program from Heating Assistance.
Requests for emergency assistance may be received and processed by the county social service offices from October 1 through September 30 of each fiscal year.
Emergency Home Energy Assistance is defined as assistance to low income households necessitated 1) by weather related or supply shortage emergencies, or 2) because the household is unable to secure home energy for financial or other reasons.
Home energy is a source for heating or cooling a residential dwelling.
Usually Emergency Home Energy Assistance is considered a last resource that will only be used after the household's available personal resources (liquid assets) are nearly depleted, other community resources are not available, and household net income will be consumed by basic shelter, utilities, employment, food, medical and other essential costs. A negotiated combination of the household resources, community resources and LIHEAP may be necessary to resolve some crises. Community resources are considered not available when the applicant has been denied or otherwise known to be ineligible for assistance from any appropriate community agency or organization.
Although these funds are limited to the purchase of home energy goods and supplies, they can be used in combination with other services to resolve a household crisis. Frequently considerable family financial counseling or community planning and negotiating is necessary in order to arrive at an appropriate use of the emergency assistance funds. Relatively few restrictions are placed on the use of these funds in order to permit the county social service board representative to develop appropriate individual household plans. Emergency Assistance is not an entitlement program. Eligibility and the amount of benefits provided are designed to resolve or prevent a home energy crisis.
