Cooling Assistance Program 415-60

(Revised 10/1/16 ML #3478)

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The North Dakota State LIHEAP does not routinely include a cooling program. However, the State reserves the option to implement a temporary cooling program in the event of unusual cooling needs due to weather aberrations, contingent upon available funding.

 

A LIHEAP-eligible household may qualify for a cooling device (an air conditioner or a fan, as the need dictates), if a member of the household has a documented medical need. The household need not be responsible for paying heating costs so tenants in subsidized housing may qualify. Documentation of a household member’s medical need for a cooling device will not be required if there is an elderly person (age 60 or over) in the household. Documentation of medical need will continue to be required when there are no elderly persons in the household.

 

Clients who did not apply for LIHEAP services during the heating season may apply for a cooling device. The county worker processes a LIHEAP Heating Assistance application to determine income and asset eligibility. If there is not a LIHEAP case open, it may be because the client lives in subsidized housing, the case was denied for lack of vulnerability or the household never applied during the regular heating season.

 

If a complete application is received on or before May 31, the household may be eligible for other benefits as well. If the application is taken after May 31, the household will not be eligible for other benefits.

 

Current clients who have received heating assistance during the heating season are referred to Community Action Agencies by providing a copy of their approval letter.

 

Those who have not been on heating assistance but are income and asset eligible will have a free form letter sent to the Community Action Agency. The free-form letter, sent by the County Social Service Board, will state that they are income and asset eligible and are, therefore, eligible for a cooling device but are not eligible for heating assistance benefits.

 

The LIHEAP application form has a release of information to permit sharing of information between the Community Action Agencies and LIHEAP. Community Action Agencies are responsible for obtaining verification of medical need.

 

If a household comes in before May 31 and they were eligible for Heating Assistance, code the case as status 01. For those who were on Heating Assistance during the year you only need to send a copy of the approval letter from the current heating season to show their eligibility.

 

When a household applies after May 31 and they have not been on LIHEAP during the regular season because they had been denied during the year, live in subsidized housing or never applied in the heating season, you code the case as status 13 in the system. Only the first page of the application screen on the system needs to be completed to determine eligibility for cooling device.