LIHEAP ELIGIBILITY WORKERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 – FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2002

COMFORT INN

Present: Joan Fering, Nancy Heger, Fay Schnell, Jan Austfjord, Sharon Seifert, Lee Helmers Connie Pederson,

Sue Satterthwaite, Robin Addington, Ron Knutson, Linda Elstad

Absent:  Carol Reilly, Charlotte Glynn, Valerie Pederson

Thursday, June 20, 2002

Billing the secondary vendor

There is confusion in some counties regarding the payment of a secondary vendor.  In most cases the secondary vendor will be paid by the household then the county will reimburse the household.  In rare circumstances the vendor will provide both primary and secondary fuel for a household. If the vendor provides both fuels, the vendor can bill the state directly for the secondary fuel (415-35-20-15-15).

It was suggested that a statement be added to the secondary vendor notice stating that secondary electric heat that is not separate from electricity used for utilities will be paid at 50% of the bill times the LIHEAP share %.

Subsidized Adoption

The state office will make a ruling, before the new season starts, whether or not Subsidized Adoption payments will continue not to be counted as income.

Brochures and applications

Starting this season all applications and brochures will be printed at the State Capitol.  There will be no new applications until the 35,000 from last year are used. When the new applications are printed, they will include changes suggested by the advisory committee and workers from the Grand Forks County office.  The brochures will be new because the income guidelines will be increasing for the 2003 season.

Interest income

Interest income on savings, checking and certificates of deposits will not be counted starting with the 2003 season.  Interest income from any other sources will be counted.

Recipient liability

Recipient liability has not and will not be used as a deduction for LIHEAP.

Furnace cleaning

Beginning year 2003 all furnace cleanings will have to be completed by July 31 of each fuel year.  The vendors will be notified in the yearly letter of this change.  The new deadline date will also be included on the authorization for furnace cleaning.  There may be some exceptions for vendors have service contracts.

Excess electric usage

Some counties have noted that a lot of electric households are being listed on the excess usage report.

Ron stated that the matrix is based on responses given by the vendors themselves on the annual survey conducted by DHS’ Research and Statistics Division.

County Statistical Reports

The statistics in the reports the counties receive are for approved cases only. 

Report from Teem/Tecs Help Desk

It was reported that the last update from the help desk stated that the LIHEAP Data Entry Manual and the Vendor Manual were now in Robo Help.  That was incorrect.

Minutes of LIHEAP Advisory Committee

It was suggested that minutes of the Advisory committee be placed on the “EW Technology Team” web site. Linda will contact Brenda Heilman, who manages the web site, about having the minutes placed on the web.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2002

In addition to Howard Sage from the Division of Community Services, and a representative of the Community Action Association, the following Community Action Agencies were represented Devils Lake, Dickinson, Jamestown, Fargo, Bismarck and Minot.

Report on Community Action Activities in the last year.

Howard reported on weatherization activities for the season.  There were 1200 homes weatherized, 500 furnaces replaced or repaired and 300 air conditioners were supplied to those with medical needs.

As a result of the number of referrals being made to CAA’s the staff are behind.   The agencies are adding equipment and staff, trying to catch up this summer so they are able to keep up with demands next October and November.

Cooling Program

Howard stated that with the assistance of Dr. Dwelle at the state health department households with the most need will receive the air conditioners.  The two of them will be working together to form a list of illnesses requiring air conditioning.   

Weatherization Program

Clients may only receive weatherization services once every seven years in the same unit.

CAAs are concerned about lead paint and asbestos in homes they weatherize. Workers have to wear special clothing and be tested on a regular basis to make sure they are not being affected by lead paint or asbestos.  

Tracking forms

CAA Tracking forms (client intake forms) are used by CAA’s to keep track of services clients receive to reduce the number of forms client need to fill out. 

Furnace Program

Howard reported that it is becoming increasingly difficult to collect households’ share for furnaces.  He suggested that there not be shared payments by clients.  The committee would like households have some  “ownership” in the furnace, encouraging them to take better care of it.

Each CAA has a waiver policy available for those persons who can absolutely not pay their share of the furnace cost.

It was concluded that households would pay their share up to $500.  The $500 cap would also apply to water heaters.

CAA’s asked that the households’ LIHEAP share % be included when referrals are made for furnaces and water heaters.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:30.

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