(Revised 10/1/09 ML #3195)
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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 personal resources are depleted and other community resources are not available. 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. The household's personal resources are considered depleted when all household credit, counted liquid assets (except each household member over age 60 may retain $5000 in counted assets), and the household net income will be consumed by basic shelter, utilities, employment, food, medical and other essential costs.
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.
