4.2.7 Verification of Eligibility for Energy Crisis

Agencies must verify that the emergency is due to an energy crisis. To be eligible for Emergency Assistance due to an energy crisis (see 2.6.5), the EAEmergency Assistance Group must meet both of the eligibility criteria listed in the table below.

Eligibility Criteria	Sources of Verification
Needs financial assistance to obtain or maintain utility service	Utility disconnection notice or other documentation of loss of or imminent loss of utility service. Utility account must be in the name of the applicant or other EA group member.
	Written or verbal statement from utility company that service has been or will be disconnected.
Financial Crisis Due to Reasons Beyond the Control of the Caretaker Relative(s)	See 4.2.8

Agencies must verify the eligibility criteria in the following table only when questionable. (See 4.1.4)

Eligibility Criteria	Sources of Verification
Exhausted available resources to address the energy crisis	Written or verbal statement from local WHEAP agency indicating the household has either: 1. Received crisis assistance but the assistance does not meet the total current need; or 2. Is not eligible for crisis assistance at this time.
Exhausted available resources to address the energy crisis	Written or verbal statement from applicant regarding resources he or she has pursued
Lack of, or imminent lack of, utility service is likely to be an immediate threat to the health or safety of any member of the EA Group	Written or verbal statement from applicant attesting that the lack of or imminent lack of utility service is likely to be an immediate threat to the health or safety of a member of the EA Group.

History: There are no previous versions of this policy.