(Revised 10/00 ML #2629)
View Archives
Emergency Assistance may be made available for a LIHEAP eligible individual home owner or an eligible renter with verifiable responsibility for maintenance of their furnace.
LIHEAP can only replace furnaces that:
-
are unsafe,
-
are not operating,
-
and/or cannot be repaired, and
-
Would cost more than $500.00 to repair.
Requests for furnace replacement must first be carefully reviewed by the county social service staff using the guidelines in this manual section. County staff should only pay for furnace replacement if Community Action Agency staff are not available to replace the furnace. If the county staff concludes the request is not eligible under these guidelines, the request should be denied, and referral to the State LIHEAP Administrator is NOT necessary. If the county staff recommends approval of the request, the "Emergency Assistance Application," with all the supporting data, must be referred to the State LIHEAP Administrator for approval through the LIHEAP Emergency System.
The State Administrator delegates the performance to Division of Community Services, eligible LIHEAP clients will be referred to a local Community Action Agency (CAA) for furnace replacement. No "Emergency Assistance" application is needed if the client is a current client of LIHEAP. Notification to the CAA can come from the County Social Service Board or the client. An approval letter is made available to client if he would like to contact the CAA himself.
Clients will be required to share in the cost of the furnace replacement as follows:
Clients at 41% - 60% of the poverty level 30% of the cost
Clients at 21% - 40% of the poverty level 15% of the cost
Clients at 20% of the poverty level or below 0
Clients in the 4% and 6% poverty levels will have their share of furnace costs capped at $500. Clients unable to raise their share of the furnace replacement costs may request a waiver from the local CAA.
The client’s share may come from other sources, but not LIHEAP or General Assistance funds. CAA’s will assist clients in identifying and applying for other sources of federal, state, or private funds.
Temporary shelter, when necessary, will be the responsibility of the CAA.
Of course emergency situations will still occur that must be resolved before we can carefully negotiate a payment plan. We may need to make an immediate payment commitment to the supplier. But, the household must fully understand these guidelines. They should at least appear to be eligible, and you should be confident they will assume their responsibilities if some other payment plan is more appropriate. Or, to gain the necessary time, you may need to authorize payment of temporary alternative living arrangements for the household (See 415-50-05-15).
