Transcript (USF) Program & Low Income Home Energy Assistance

Universal Service Fund Program
& Home Energy Assistance Program
Overview
NJ Dept. of Community Affairs
PSE&G Energy Assistance Conference
November, 2014
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
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 and 3% for Electric
– Benefits from HEA and Lifeline are subtracted
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)
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
Funding Source for the Home
Energy Assistance Program
• US Department of Health & Human
Services
• Fiscal year 2014 was $125 Million
• Fiscal year 2015 allocation? We expect to
be around 2014 level.
What criteria are used to establish
benefit eligibility and amount?
HEA
• Eligibility
– Household size
– Household income = or < than 200% FPL
– Applicant or household member must be
responsible for heating payments
What criteria are used to establish
benefit eligibility and amount?
HEA
• Benefit amount
– Household income
– Size
– Fuel type
– Region in NJ
• Cooling
– Meet income guidelines for HEA
– Doctor’s note
How is the information acquired?
Electronic File Transfer from DHS - FAMIS
• SNAP (Food Stamp) application
• Eligible for SNAP (food stamp) program
• Electronic file transfer from FAMIS to
USF/HEA System
How is the information acquired?
Electronic File Transfer from HS - PAAD
• Any PAAD recipient is categorically
eligible to receive HEA and to be
processed for USF
• This coming season we will process the
PAAD file before the SNAP
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
Did not go through the Portability Process
DFD or HSS Auto process not eligible to receive recertification
•
Clients who received a cooling benefit the previous year will automatically
receive benefits thorough the recertification process (DCA & DFD)
HSS Clients have to reapply
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
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)
up to $100.00
 supplemental payments
 Cooling
 Heating Repairs
If funds are
available
$200.00
up to $1,000.00
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