universal service fund program & home energy assistance program overview nj dept. of community...

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Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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Page 1: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program

Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs

PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences

2015

Page 2: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 3: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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.

Page 4: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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)

Page 5: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 6: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 7: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

• US Department of Health & Human Services

• Fiscal year 2015 was $126 Million

• Fiscal year 2016 allocation? We expect to be around 2015 level.

Funding Source for the Home Energy Assistance Program

Page 8: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 9: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 10: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 11: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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.

Page 12: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 13: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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 $100.00cold air infiltration (one per year) up to $100.00supplemental payments If funds are

available Cooling $200.00 Heating Repairs up to $1,000.00

Page 14: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

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

Page 15: Universal Service Fund Program & Home Energy Assistance Program Overview NJ Dept. of Community Affairs PSE&G LIHEAP Agency Conferences 2015

LIHEAP & USF

• All information about these programs can be found at the Department of Community Affairs website:

• www.energyassistance.nj.gov

• Applications and local agency information can be obtained at this site

• 1-800-510-3102