1. NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G Energy Assistance Conferences 2018
Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview
NJ Dept. of Community Affairs
PSE&G Energy Assistance Conferences
2018

2. Home Energy Assistance
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to help low-income families and individuals meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs

3. Funding Source for the Home Energy Assistance Program
US Department of Health & Human Services
Fiscal year 2017 was $120 Million
Fiscal year 2018 allocation? We expect to be around 2017 level.

4. What criteria are used to establish benefit eligibility and amount
What criteria are used to establish benefit eligibility and amount? H E A
Eligibility
Household size
Household income = or < than 200% FPL
Applicant or household member must be responsible for heating payments
Social Security Numbers Automatic Validated through the Social Security Administration

5. What criteria are used to establish benefit eligibility and amount
What criteria are used to establish benefit eligibility and amount? H E A
Benefit amount
Household income
Size
Fuel type
Region in NJ
Cooling
Meet income guidelines for HEA
Doctor’s note

6. How is the information acquired
How is the information acquired? Electronic File Transfer from DHS - FAMIS
The following program participants will be automatically processed for HEA and USF:
SNAP (Food Stamp) applications.
PAAD applications.
Electronic file transfer from FAMIS to USF/HEA System

7. Maximum HEA benefit amount per household per year
Heating Assistance
up to $2,000.00
which includes the regular HEA benefit and…
emergency fuel purchase
up to $450.00
restoration of service (one per year)
up to $100.00
cold air infiltration (one per year)
supplemental payments
If funds are available
Cooling
$200.00

8. What Emergency Benefits can HEA provide?
Deliverable Fuels
EA period starts after first regular HEA payment
Emergency benefit for a fuel delivery if
Client brings a statement certifying fuel has run out
Local CAP/CBO agency verifies lack of fuel
Gas/Electric
Emergency benefit to cancel pending service interruption
Shutoff notice to the CAP/CBO
No emergency payments before March 16th

9. What criteria are used to establish benefit eligibility and amount
What criteria are used to establish benefit eligibility and amount? Universal Service Fund
Eligibility
Annual energy burden ( how much is spent in electric and gas)
Household income = or < 175% of FPL
Head of household or spouse name on utility bill
Monthly Benefits are calculated
Household energy burden exceeds 3% of Household annual income for Gas expense or 3% for Electric expense. If you heat your house with electricity, you must spend more than 6% of your income on Electricity.

10. How USF benefits are paid?
USF benefits are paid as a monthly direct credit to the utility account
Maximum USF benefit monthly of $150, combined gas and electric, up to $1,800 a year
Fresh Start Component – Handled between BPU and Utility company

11. Funding Source for the USF Program
The USF program was created by the NJ Board of Public Utilities to help low income households pay for their electric and natural gas costs
Funding source –
Societal Benefit Fund – Rate payers

12. Universal Service Fund
Only seven large Gas & Electric Utility companies regulated by BPU can participate
Electronic data Transfers between USFHEA system and the utilities
(Send & Receive Process)

13. When are applications accepted?
USF
Any time during the year
Applicant must reapply each year
HEA
October 1st to April 30
Applicant must reapply each year
Cooling – automatic recertification – Credits will be sent to an active electric account

14. USFHEA Recertification & Paper Applications- CAP/CBO Offices
Home Energy Assistance – Universal Service Fund and Weatherization Program Applications
CAP/CBO agency staff enters information
Verifications provided by client
Recertification Process –
Only clients who submitted an application and received benefit the previous year will receive a recertification
Clients who received a cooling benefit the previous year will automatically receive benefits thorough the recertification process.

15. LIHEAP & USF
All information about these programs can be found at the Department of Community Affairs website:
Applications and local agency information can be obtained at this site