2014 Home Energy Assistance Program Public Hearing Columbus August 7, 2014

1. 2014 Home Energy Assistance Program Public Hearing Columbus August 7, 2014

2. AgendaAugust 7, 201410:00 a.m. • Welcome • HEAP and Winter Crisis Updates • Guideline Changes • Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus Updates • Testimonies & Questions

3. HEAP and Winter Crisis Updates

4. 2015 Energy Assistance Programs

5. 2015 Energy Assistance Programs Funding Level Funding Level for Federal Fiscal Year 2015 LIHEAP has not been determined.

6. 2014 HEAP Program Summary as of July 30th

7. 2014 HEAP Program Summary as of July 30th Average HEAP Benefit $ 229.86

8. 2014 HEAP Program Summary as of July 30th Comparison 2008-2014 Eligible Applications

9. 2014 Winter Crisis Program Summary Total Households Served by Federal Poverty Ratio Average WCP Benefit $ 281.23

10. 2014 HEAP Outreach Summary • July 22, 2014 – Begin outreach. Elderly and disabled will be sent applications first. • Mailed in batches of 30,000 • Batching controls the volume of calls to the Contact Center • August 18, 2014 – Applications will begin to be distributed by Community Action Agencies, Second Harvest Food Banks, and other Agencies. • Completion date – September 1, 2014. • More than 400,000 applications will be distributed to individuals when mailing is completed. • Total distribution of applications will be approximately 500,000.

11. 2013-2014 Income Guidelines To be eligible a household must have total income for the last 12 months or 90 days equal to or less than 175% percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The period to be used in determining annual income must not be more than 12 months, or less than the 90 period preceding the request for assistance by the household. * For households with more than 8 members, add $1776.25 per member.

12. Countable Income Household income is defined as the total annual gross income before taxes (minus exclusions) of all household members, except earned income of dependent minors under 18 years of age. All income sources and some exclusions must be documented. Head of household and spouse may never be considered minors. Gross household income includes wages, interest dividends, annuities and pensions. Additional sources of countable income include but are not limited to the following: • Social Security Disability (SSDI) • Supplemental Security income (SSI) • Railroad Pensions • Retirement and/or Company Pensions • Social Security • Veteran’s Pensions • Veteran’s Compensation • Company Disability and Black Lung • Strike Benefits • OWF/TANF/DA • Alimony • Unemployment Benefits • Workers’ Compensation • Unearned income paid to or on the behalf of minors • Estate and Trust Settlements (excluding attorney fees) • Capital Gains (Example: Proceeds from sale of property, home and stock) • Utility Allowances (as discretionary income) • Immigrant Relocation Allowance • Adoption Assistance • Child Support • Garnished Wages • Active Military Pay • Cash Gifts • Lump Sum Distribution (prorated when payment is designated for a set period of time)

13. ExcludedIncome • Food Stamps/Cash Payment for food stamps • Assets from bank withdrawals • Tax refunds and rebates • Handicapped Income- self-sufficiency programs (e.g., work expenses for the blind) • Loans from individuals or institutions requiring repayment of either principal or principal and interest • Funds/training stipends designated for specific purposes (i.e., educational grants for tuition • and/or books) • Work Allowances (i.e., LEAP) • Transportation Allowances (i.e. Workforce Investment Act (WIA)) • Title V Wages – Older Americans’ Act • Medicare payments • Stipend for Foster Care • Agent Orange Compensation/Benefit • Vista or other Americorp Stipends • Health Insurance Premiums (dental, vision and health insurance, supplemental health insurance) • Prevention, Retention, Contingency (PRC), assistance to attempt to divert families from long-term financial dependency • Title III DREAP • Documented Child Support Paid • Military allowances for subsistence; housing, family separation, etc.

14. Social Security Number/Citizenship Requirements • Social Security Numbers will continue to be required for all household members, regardless of age. • Documentation of citizenship or resident alien status will only be required for the primary applicant, not for all household members.

15. energyhelp.ohio.gov

16. Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) Program

17. PIPP Plus Clients as of 6/30/14

18. Trends in PIPP Plus

19. Trends in PIPP Plus

20. June Payments

21. Percentage Payment Comparison

22. Utility Issued 14 day Disconnection Notices

23. PIPP Plus Customers Disconnected for Non-Payment

24. Dropped for Failure to ReverifyJune 2014

25. Current Issue PIPP Plus rule revisions: • Ohio Development Services Agency and PUCO revised rules to more closely align with each other • PUCO is reviewing final comments • The rules go to the Joint Committee for Agency Rule Review in November • Office of Community Assistance will work with the PUCO to determine an implementation date for the rules

26. Questions or Testimony When asking questions or giving testimony, please state your name and the agency you are representing, if any.

27. Additional Testimony or Comments Mail to: Sharon Smith Assistant Deputy Chief, OCA 77 S. High St., 25th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 sharon.smith@development.ohio.gov