(Revised 10/1/06 ML #3045)
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Minor energy related home repairs (cannot be an addition to the property) to a home or heating plant cannot be purchased through the basic LIHEAP heating assistance program. Therefore, emergency fuel assistance can be made available to an individual homeowner, or an eligible renter with verifiable responsibility for such costs, up to $400.00 per season (for exceptions, see 415-50-15), to replace damaged windows and doors or other home repairs, or to make minor repairs to the household's heating plant or chimney (other than normal maintenance -- see 415-20-05-10-05), but only if these services cannot be provided through Weatherization Services administered by the Community Action Program. See 415-50-05-15 for furnace replacement policy.
Emergency Furnace repairs:
The State Administrator may choose to delegate performance of services to the Division of Community Services that oversees local Community Action Agencies.
Community Action Agencies will do repairs when the heating system:
- is not functional; or
- poses a threat to the household’s health and safety.
County Social Service Boards refer households who are eligible to the local Community Action Agency. Every household who is eligible for LIHEAP is eligible for Emergency furnace repair. Households may also take the approval letters from LIHEAP to the Community Action Agency.
When the county is responsible for emergency furnace repairs the county needs to take the following steps:
- Insure that the furnace is not functional or poses a threat to the household’s health and safety.
- Have the household fill out an application for emergency assistance
- Determine whether the household is eligible (income and asset)
- Contact a vendor to repair the furnace (two bids are not needed for furnace repair)
- When the furnace has been repaired it should be determined that the household is satisfied with the repair and the vendor’s costs are reasonable. Furnace breakdowns on a weekend may be reimbursed if an eligible household reports to the county immediately on Monday. Households should contact the office in a timely manner to have emergency furnace repair bills paid or reimbursed. Prudent judgment will enter into the decision of whether or not to make a payment.
Example: A very elderly person living alone may not realize that the county needs to be contacted about a furnace repair that has been completed during the week.
- Bills should be paid in the LIHEAP system by the county if steps 1 – 5 are completed.
