The following people are ineligible and must not be counted as household members when determining the LIHEAP household size:
Individuals who live in an applicant household but previously received a LIHEAP benefit as a member of another household during the same program year. If the applicant’s additional household members already are listed in another approved application, the additional household members must not be counted in determining the LIHEAP benefit. However, the income of these ineligible members must be counted.
Individuals who received a LIHEAP Cash grant in a household, are ineligible members for any additional Cash grant within the same program year, regardless of their household composition.
Individuals who received a LIHEAP Crisis grant as part of a different household will be considered ineligible members for a Crisis grant in a different household. These individuals could be eligible for a LIHEAP Cash benefit, if they did not receive Cash benefits within the program year.
LIHEAP State Plan § 601.43
Example: Jane and John live together and got a LIHEAP Cash grant in November. Jane earns $500 per month at her job, and John has no income. Jane moves in with Fred in January. Jane and Fred apply for a LIHEAP Cash grant in February. Jane still earns $500 per month, and Fred has no income. Since Jane already got a LIHEAP Cash grant as part of another household, she is not eligible for another LIHEAP Cash grant. Jane is not counted in the household size, but her income of $500 per month is counted. The CAO treats Jane and Fred’s application as a one-person household with $500 per month in income.
NOTE: Jane and Fred are both eligible to receive a LIHEAP Crisis grant, as neither of them got LIHEAP Crisis benefits during the current heating season. On the Crisis application, the CAO uses a two-person income limit and counts both Jane's and Fred’s income.
Example: Sam and Suzy live together and got a LIHEAP Crisis grant in January. Sam earns $1,000 per month at his job, and Suzy has no income. Sam moves in with Joan in January. Sam and Joan apply for a LIHEAP Crisis grant in February. Sam still earns $1,000 per month, and Joan has no income. Since Sam already got a LIHEAP Crisis grant as part of another household, he is not eligible for another LIHEAP Crisis grant. Sam is not counted in the household size, but his income of $1,000 per month is counted. The CAO treats Sam and Joan’s application as a one-person household with $1,000 per month in income.
NOTE: Sam and Joan are both eligible to receive a LIHEAP Cash grant, as neither of them got LIHEAP Cash benefits during the current heating season. On the Cash application, the CAO uses a two-person income limit and counts both Sam's and Joan’s income.
Individuals staying temporarily for a reason such as a visit, a vacation or education. Their income is not counted for the LIHEAP household.
LIHEAP State Plan § 601.31(2)(iii)
Residents in institutions (including incarceration), dormitories, fraternity or sorority houses or boarding homes. Their income is not counted for the LIHEAP household.
Individuals who are fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody or confinement after a felony conviction (or high misdemeanor conviction in New Jersey). Their income is counted for the LIHEAP household.
Individuals who are not U.S. citizens or qualified noncitizens, as specified in Chapter 622, Citizen/Noncitizen. Their income is counted for the LIHEAP household.
Individuals being cared for in domiciliary care or an individual providing domiciliary care, based on the household for which the care is provided. Their income is not counted for the LIHEAP household.
NOTE: If both members of the domiciliary care arrangement are a part of the same economic unit, they should both be included in the household.
Example: Randall has an in-home caretaker, Jeff, who provides services while temporarily residing at Randall’s house. Randall has responsibility for the heating costs. Jeff and his income would be excluded.
Example: Manny provides caretaker services within her home to Stephen. Stephen resides in Manny’s home as part of the domiciliary arrangement. Stephen and his income would be excluded.
Example: Rebecca’s son Victor provides caretaker services to Rebecca in the family home as part of a formal domiciliary arrangement. Rebecca and Victor share household expenses. Rebecca and Victor should both be included in the household and both incomes counted.
Residents living in a business.
Example: 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 is ineligible for LIHEAP, because the LIHEAP money would go toward heating the business.
Example: 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.
Updated August 20, 2024, replacing January 10, 2017