DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Notice for Public Review and Comment
Proposed Revision of FFY 2021 LIHEAP Block Grant Allocation Plan
In accordance with 42 USC 8624(c), the Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking public review and comment on a proposed revision to the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Block Grant Allocation Plan.
DSS proposes to revise the FFY 2021 LIHEAP Plan as follows:
- Suspend, for the duration of this federal program year, the liquid assets eligibility requirements for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) in Section V and Section XII; and
- Allow, for the duration of this federal program year, certain applicants’ federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to confer categorical eligibility for CEAP, by inserting, in Section IV, a new subsection C, that states as follows:
- Any household which makes direct-to-vendor payments for heat and in which the individual responsible for making such heating payments is participating in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at any time during the LIHEAP program year, shall be considered “categorically eligible” and will automatically be considered income-eligible for energy assistance at a benefit level not less than Level 4 as described in Section VIII of the Plan.
DSS proposes to make these process changes to help clients overcome procedural challenges to program enrollment. These challenges have been identified by applicants and program administrators, and have been caused by the need to adjust operational processes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed changes will ensure that client eligibility is determined more promptly by streamlining enrollment requirements and leveraging eligibility determinations that have already been made for DSS-administered means-tested programs.
Applicants already determined eligible will not be affected by these changes. These changes will not reallocate or reduce any funding previously submitted in the LIHEAP Block Grant Allocation Plan.
Statement of Purpose
To solicit public review and comments on revisions to the LIHEAP Block Grant Allocation Plan in accordance with federal requirements.
Written comments must be submitted by email and received by the Department by March 5, 2020, attention: Peter Hadler, Director, Division of Program Oversight & Grant Administration, Department of Social Services, at peter.hadler@ct.gov.