The West Virginia Department of Health
and Human Resources (DHHR) today announced applications for the Emergency
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) will be accepted beginning Monday,
March 27, 2017, until funds are exhausted. The federally funded program assists eligible
state residents who have a termination notice in paying their home heating bills.
Residents whose primary source of heat
is either gas or electricity must provide their shut-off notice when applying
for Emergency LIEAP. Those using other primary heating sources or bulk fuel may
qualify for assistance if their heating fuel is at a low level during the
application period.
Households that received direct payment
of regular LIEAP benefits must verify that the payment was used for home
heating by submitting a current receipt with the Emergency LIEAP
application. Failure to submit verification of payment may result in a denial
of the application.
Eligibility for Emergency LIEAP benefits is based on
income, household size, whether or not the household is responsible for paying
its home heating bill, and if a home heating emergency exists. Income must be at, or below, 135 percent of
the federal poverty guideline for the household size. This program requires a face-to-face interview
with a DHHR worker and clients must provide a copy of their termination notice
with the application.
To qualify, households must meet
all program guidelines and be in an emergency situation that will disrupt the
primary heating source if not met.
The
maximum allowable gross income levels for Emergency LIEAP Fiscal Year 2017 are
listed below:
|
HOUSEHOLD
SIZE
|
MONTHLY
ALLOWABLE INCOME
|
|
1
Person
|
$1,337
|
|
2
Person
|
$1,802
|
|
3
Person
|
$2,268
|
|
4
Person
|
$2,734
|
|
5
Person
|
$3,200
|
|
6
Person
|
$3,665
|
|
7
Person
|
$4,132
|
|
8
Person
|
$4,600
|
|
9
Person
|
$5,068
|
|
10
Person
|
$5,536
|
For
each additional person, add $468.
The program is limited to the amount of federal funding allocated
to West Virginia under the LIHEAP Block Grant.
To apply, residents must go to their local DHHR office. A
list of local offices may be found at http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/bcf/Documents/DHHR.BCF.LocalOffices.pdf or by
calling 304-356-4619.