HEAP and PIPP Plus. The Basics and Beyond. The State of Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider of ADA Services.

Transcription

1 HEAP and PIPP Plus The Basics and Beyond The State of Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider of ADA Services.

2 HEAP Federally funded program designed to help eligible low-income Ohioans meet the high costs of home heating Paid once annually Program year runs from July 1 through June 30 The amount of the annual HEAP benefit depends on federal funding levels number of people in the household and total income primary fuel used to heat the home disabilities in household In most cases, the one-time benefit will be a credit applied to the energy bill by the utility company (or fuel vendor).

3 HEAP Basic eligibility requirements 1. Household income at or below 200 percent FPL 2. Household income = the total annual gross income before taxes (minus exclusions) of all household members, except earned income of dependent minors under 18 years of age 3. All income and allowed exclusions must be documented for household members 18 years of age and older regardless of relationship to the primary applicant 4. Heads of households and spouses may never be considered minors

4 HEAP Included (Countable) Household Income* Active Military Pay (Basic pay) Adoption Assistance Alimony Annuity Black Lung Capital Gains - Proceeds from sale of property, home and stock Cash Withdraws from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) Child Support Received Company Disability and Black Lung Disability Assistance (DA) Estate and Trust Settlements - minus attorney fees Farm Income Garnisheed Wages, including Bankruptcy/Chapter 13 Monetary Assistance Grants/Training Stipends living expenses only Immigrant Relocation Allowance Interest earned from Savings Accounts Lump Sum Distribution Odd Jobs Pensions - Government/Veterans/Private Industry Rental Income Self-Employment Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social Security Disability (SSDI) Strike Benefits Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Unearned income paid to or on the behalf of minors Unemployment Benefits Utility Allowances (as discretionary income) Wages/Tips Workers' Compensation

5 HEAP Excluded Household Income* Agent Orange Compensation/Benefit Assets from bank withdrawals Attorney s fees for Estate & Trust Settlements *Child Support Paid FEMA Cash Payments Food Stamps/Cash Payment for food stamps *Funds/training stipends designated for specific purposes (i.e., educational Grants/Training stipends for tuition and/or books only-not living expenses). Handicapped Income - self-sufficiency programs (example: work expenses for the blind) *Health Insurance Premiums (dental, vision, health and supplemental insurance) Income earned by dependent minors less than 18 years of age *Loans from individuals or institutions requiring repayment of either principle or principal and interest Medicare Payments *Military Allowances for Subsistence, Housing, Family Separation, etc. Prevention, Retention, & Contingency (PRC) - assistance to attempt to divert families from long term financial dependency Stipend for Foster Care Tax refunds and rebates Title III Disaster Relief Emergency Assistance Program (DREAP) Title V Wages/Senior Community Employment Programs (SCEP) - Older Americans Act (Public Law ) Experience Works (formerly Green Thumb), Foster Grandparents Program, Mature Services Transportation Allowances (i.e., Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Workfare Work Allowances (i.e., Learning Earning and Parenting [LEAP] Volunteers in Service to America (Vista) or other AmeriCorps Stipends

6 WCP A component of the HEAP is the Winter Crisis Program (WCP). The WCP provides assistance once per heating season to eligible households that are disconnected threatened with disconnection or have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel. Applications must be completed at the local HEAP delegate agencies Households receiving the WCP for a PUCO regulated utility, must enroll in a payment plan for that utility

7 SCP Another component of the HEAP is the Summer Crisis Program (SCP) Designed to help qualified households pay for summer cooling Program applies to electric utilities only Normally available from June 1 through August 31 each year Households must meet one of the following Have a member of the household who is at least 60 years old Provide physician documentation of medical necessity Have a disconnect notice from an electric utility

8 PIPP Plus PIPP Plus is an extended payment arrangement that requires regulated gas and electric companies to accept payments based on a percentage of the household income.

9 PIPP Plus Under PIPP Plus, if a household heats with gas, they will pay 6 percent of their monthly household income to their gas company and 6 percent to their electric company. If they heat with electricity, they pay 10 percent of their monthly household income. Once enrolled in the program, customers must pay PIPP Plus installments every month in full and on time.

10 PIPP Plus Eligibility Customers primary or secondary heat source must be from a company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Total household income which is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level Must apply for all energy assistance programs for which he or she is eligible

11 PIPP Plus Eligibility Customers must re-verify their incomes annually (within twelve months) May be done by mail or by making an appointment with the local energy assistance provider Documentation requirements the same as enrollment

12 PIPP Plus Details Installments must be paid in full and on time each month: Electric on time within the monthly billing cycle (from the bill date up to the day before the next monthly bill is issued) Gas on time within the billing window (from the bill date up to the bill due date) *Duke Energy follows the gas billing for both utility types

13 PIPP Plus Details Is in effect a twenty-four month payment plan: Each month a client pays their installment in full and on time they receive 1/24 th arrearage credit plus any difference between their installment amount and actual usage charges forgiven Missing an installment in a twelve month period, extends the plan out an additional twelve months Missed installments must be paid by client; will not be forgiven; missed Gas installments will result in being dropped from program Missed gas and electric installments may result in disconnection of utility service

14 PIPP Plus is not for everyone Are there arrearages? What is annual usage? What is budget billing? PIPP Plus Details Would 1/3; 1/6 or 1/9 be better? Has client received / capable to implement energy efficiency steps?

15 PIPP Plus Graduate PIPP Plus Either income ineligible or choose to leave PIPP Plus but still owe a balance on utility bill Are in good standing with their utilities May enroll in Graduate PIPP Plus through the utility Have 12 months on Graduate PIPP Plus to retire arrearage(s) Can be done through utility (agencies may do initial application)

16 PIPP Plus Graduate PIPP Plus Electric utility customers will pay either: A transition amount of the average of the PIPP Plus amount and the budget amount The current bill The budget amount Gas utility customers will pay a transition amount of the average of the PIPP Plus installment and the budget billing amount.

17 PIPP Plus Post PIPP Plus Former electric utility PIPP Plus customers who are no longer a customer of the utility but still have a balance with the utility will be offered the opportunity to enroll in Post PIPP Plus. Will have 12 months to earn arrearage credits by making payments to their former utility. For every payment of 1/60 of the arrearage, the customer earns an arrearage credit equal to 1/12 of the arrearage

18 Thank You!! What are your questions About PIPP Plus Call HEAP toll-free at (800) Michael Higgins Training Officer