Energy Assistance Payments
Energy assistance payments or reimbursements issued under any federal, state, or local law when equal to or less than the actual utility expense amount, are not countable as income. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
●Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
●Public Housing Utility Allowances
●Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP)
●Service to Help Arizonans with Relief on Energy (SHARE)
These payments must be clearly identified as being issued for energy assistance.
Energy assistance paid directly to the utility company is considered a
vendor payment.
NOTE Allow all utility costs for budgetary units who receive LIHEAP payments, even when paid as a vendor payment.
When the energy assistance payment paid directly to the participant is more than the actual utility expense, complete the following:
●After deducting utility expenses, key the excess amount on UNIC using the EN NC Unearned Income Code in the INC TYP field.
●Document the case file to support the determination.