The following income will not be considered when determining gross yearly income for the purpose of establishing LIHEAP eligibility: 55 Pa. Code § 601.84; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.84
(1) Educational assistance from scholarships, grants and loans to a student unless it is solely for basic living needs such as housing and food. Also excluded is income from other sources used to pay out-of-pocket expenses for books and other required educational fees.
(2) All student financial assistance received from a program funded in whole or in part under Title IV of the Higher Education Assistance Act Amendments of 1992 (P.L. 102-325), or under the Bureau of Indian Affairs student assistance programs.
(3) Payments for services or out-of-pocket expenses to volunteers serving as foster grandparents, senior health aides or senior companions, and to persons serving in other programs under Title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C.A. §§5001-5024).
(4) Payments to volunteers for VISTA, Service Learning Programs and Volunteer Programs under Title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C.A. §§4951-4994).
(5) Benefits received by a participant in the SNAP program.
(6) The value of donated foods -- surplus commodities -- from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
(7) The value of home produce of clients for household consumption.
(8) Money received under the Senior Citizen Rebate and Assistance Act (72 P.S. §§4751-1 through 4751-12).
(9) Money received as incentive or training-related expenses provided to people involved in a work/training program sponsored by a federal, state or local government agency. (This does not include income received under Section 509 of Title V’s Older Americans Act, which would be counted as earned income.)
(10) Deductions for Medicare premiums taken out of Social Security benefit payments.
NOTE: The CAO will enter the gross income in eCIS and will enter the Medicare premium as a medical expense. The CAO will not enter the premium as a medical expense if DPW pays it under the buy-in program.
(11) Amounts received as reimbursement for medical costs, medical transportation and special allowance items as defined in Cash Assistance Handbook Chapter 138 (relating to allowances and benefits).
(12) Cash or in-kind assistance with heating costs provided by private or public agencies or utility companies.
(13) Personal loans, bank loans and other non-educational loans designated for a specific purpose from an established financial institution.
(14) The portion of a Social Security lump sum death benefit designated for funeral expenses.
(15) Up to $100 of actual court-ordered or voluntary child support received in a month if one child is in the household or up to $200 of actual child support if two or more children are in the household. (All children 17 and younger regardless of eligibility status are counted even if only one child receives the support.)
(16) Up to $50 of actual court-ordered or voluntary spousal support received unless the household receives both child support and spousal support in the same month, in which case eCIS determines which exclusion is greater and applies only that for the month. The household will not receive both a child support and spousal support exclusion in the same month.
(17) Agent Orange Settlement payments.
(18) Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), including anticipated monthly payments as well as year-end payments.
(19) Income tax refunds.
(20) Restitution payments made to individuals because of their status as victims of Nazi persecution.
(21) Non-recurring lump-sum payments.
(22) Wage earnings of a dependent child younger than 18.
(23) Utility allowances for residents of subsidized and public housing, unless the household receives the payment directly from the landlord or public housing authority to cover utility bills. If the utility allowance is paid directly to the household, the amount of the payment is counted as unearned income in the month during which it is received.
(24) AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer stipend.
(25) Money paid by an approved child-placement agency to the client for providing foster care for a child if the money is received through Title IV-E of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-272). Money received through Article VII of the Public Welfare code (62 P.S. Sections 701 - 774) also is not counted.
(26) Earned income from temporary census employment.
Reissued February 15, 2013, replacing December 12, 2012