When a household reports zero or minimal income, the CAO must take the following actions:
Ask the household to complete the HSEA-6 to explain how the household pays for basic living costs.
Example: Marisol receives SNAP benefits and reports zero income on the LIHEAP application. The narratives state that during the last SNAP renewal, Marisol reported that their uncle is paying all basic living costs directly to vendors. No further verification is required.
Example: George receives MA benefits and reports zero income on the LIHEAP application. There is no explanation on file to explain how basic living costs are being paid. Verification of zero income is required.
Example: Mindy is receiving SNAP benefits and reports zero income on the LIHEAP application. Mindy reported at SNAP application 6 months ago that they had zero income and were using $600 in savings to pay rent of $300/month. Mindy’s explanation is no longer valid as they should no longer have savings remaining to pay for living expenses at the time of the LIHEAP application. Verification of zero income is required.
The household can provide a written or verbal statement to explain how they pay for basic living costs in lieu of completing the HSEA-6. A verbal statement should be thoroughly narrated.
Ask appropriate follow-up questions to the household’s oral and written explanations if needed. For example, if an applicant says “People pay my bills,” ask who pays and whether the money is paid to the household or directly to a vendor. If the money is paid to the household, it is counted as unearned income.
Thoroughly narrate the household’s zero-income circumstances.
Reviewed August 15, 2025, replacing August 20, 2024