The following are types of unearned income:
55 Pa. Code § 601.82(4);
LIHEAP State Plan § 601.82(4)
Public assistance grants.
NOTE: The CAO must not use a grant amount that is reduced because of noncooperation. It must use the full grant amount when deciding whether a household qualifies for LIHEAP.
Example: Ms. Dunn receives cash assistance in Dauphin County for herself and three children. She did not follow support requirements by getting a court order for support. Her monthly cash assistance grant of $497 is reduced by 25 percent. For LIHEAP, Ms. Dunn’s income is $497 — the cash assistance grant for four persons.
Social Security benefits.
NOTE: Do not use grant amounts that are reduced because of recoupment. Use the full grant amount when determining if a household qualifies for LIHEAP.
Workers' compensation.
Supplemental Security Income.
Unemployment compensation.
Support payments.
Adoption subsidy money.
NOTE: Once children are adopted, they are considered to be part of the LIHEAP household.
Cash gifts and contributions.
NOTE: Contributions made by temporary household residents such as students toward heating expenses must be counted as unearned income of the household’s permanent resident.
Pensions.
Interest and dividends from investments or bank accounts of more than $25 per month.
Examples:
Mrs. Enoch’s bank statement for her savings account shows that she earns $50 monthly interest. The CAO counts $25 as unearned income.
Mr. Fleck purchased a certificate of deposit in July for $500 and redeemed it in December for $530. The CAO counts $5 as unearned income.
Veterans’ benefits.
Income from nonresident rental property managed by a rental agency or another person.
NOTE: The applicant must have no specific responsibility for management of the property or the capital investment.
Example: Mr. and Mrs. Bell apply for LIHEAP for themselves and two children. They own a two-unit apartment building that gives them a yearly rental income of $19,200. They verify their annual income from the rental as well as payments to Jones Property Management Company, which are $5,000 per year. Mr. and Mrs. Bell’s gross annual income after allowable deductions is $14,200.
Reissued February 15, 2013, replacing September 26, 2011