22VAC40-680-20: Eligibility criteria

A. The purpose of the fuel assistance component is to provide heating assistance to eligible households to offset the costs of home heating energy that are excessive in relation to household income.

B. Eligibility criteria are set out in this subsection.

1. Income limits. Maximum income limits shall not exceed the maximum allowed by federal law. In order to be eligible for fuel assistance, a household's income must be at or below the maximum income limits.

2. Alien status. An alien who meets a qualified status as defined by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), P.L. 104-193, regardless of when he entered the United States, is eligible to receive assistance and services under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) if he meets other program requirements.

3. Ineligible households. The households that are ineligible to receive fuel assistance are:

a. Subsidized households whose total heating costs are included in their rent.

b. Persons living in institutions.

c. Persons living in temporary shelters or group homes who have no heating expense or who pay a nominal fee to live there.

d. Persons who reside in only one room within a larger dwelling.

e. Subsidized households who are responsible for payment of individual excess fuel usage charges even though heating expenses are included in their rent.