The LIHEAP State Plan defines a resident as a person whose permanent home is in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and who lives here voluntarily and not temporarily for a reason such as vacation, a visit or education. A residence is defined as the dwelling where the household is actually living.
55 Pa. Code § 601.3; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.3
To qualify for LIHEAP benefits in situations where the household is not living at its actual residence, the household must provide documentation of the emergency or situation beyond the household’s control that requires that the household live elsewhere. Appropriate documentation may include some type of written or printed information such as a doctor’s statement or a letter from the Board of Health, explaining why the household is not living at its residence.
NOTE: A household member whose permanent residence is in the LIHEAP household but is temporarily living somewhere else, can still be included in the LIHEAP household as long as they have not permanently moved out of the household. Verification will be needed as to why they are living elsewhere and when they are expected to return to the household. Examples include: Children and Youth Services placement and admittance in a medical facility.
NOTE: Upon request, the CAO must help the applicant get proof of residence.
Temporary residents are ineligible for LIHEAP assistance. Temporary residents are defined as:
LIHEAP State Plan § 601.31 (2)(ii)
people who are maintaining their living arrangement temporarily for a reason such as a visit, a vacation or education; or
residents of institutions, dormitories, fraternity or sorority houses, and boarding homes.
Applicants who live in campers or RVs may qualify for LIHEAP if the camper or RV is permanently located in Pennsylvania.
LIHEAP State Plan § 601.31 (2)(iii)
The CAO should request the following items to determine eligibility for the household:
A copy of a driver’s license verifying the physical address of the household’s camper or RV.
Third-party verification that the household resides in the camper or RV year-round and has no other permanent residence.
Proof that the household has a heating responsibility and the household's attestation that the heating appliance is being used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
Individuals operating a licensed business out of the LIHEAP household's residence will be ineligible for LIHEAP if they are:
Claiming home utilities as a deduction for their business (found on line 30 of the Federal Tax Schedule C Form) AND
Using 51% or more of their house for their business (found in block 7 of Federal Tax Form 8829)
Examples:
Joe runs a corner store and lives in the upstairs apartment. Joe owns the building, which has electric heat. The building has one meter (the apartment and the store do not have separate meters). Joe claims the utilities as a deduction on his taxes and reports 60% of the property is used for the business. Joe is ineligible for LIHEAP, because the LIHEAP money would go toward heating the business.
Sam runs a plumbing business out of the home he owns and lives in. Sam claims utilities as a deduction on his taxes and reports 25% of the property is used for the business. Sam is could qualify for a LIHEAP grant for the home.
Jane owns a beauty salon and lives in the upstairs apartment. Jane owns the building, which has natural gas heat. The apartment and the salon have separate meters. Jane could qualify for a LIHEAP grant for the apartment, since it has its own meter. She must provide a copy of the utility bill for the apartment.
Applicant households must permanently live in Pennsylvania. In situations where the household is not living in its permanent home, the household must provide proof of the emergency or situation beyond the household’s control that forces the household to live somewhere else. Examples of proof could include a doctor’s note or a letter from the board of health saying why the household is not living in its permanent home.
55 Pa. Code § 601.106; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.105
Reissued January 22,2018, replacing August 24, 2017