Definitions

Definitions. The Definitions below will assist both clients and subgrantees on the various terms used for LIHEAP: A. Abuse - Involves behavior that is deficient or improper when compared with behavior that a prudent person would consider reasonable and necessary business practice given the facts and circumstances. Abuse also includes misuse of authority or position for personal financial interests or those of an immediate or close family member or business associate. B. Administration Cost - Cost to support administrative operations, planning and development to include but not limited to: Fiscal operations (payroll, procurement, software, etc.), program and fiscal reporting, audit, personnel, registration and dues, training for executive and administrative staff, cost of executive and administrative staff (salaries, fringes, travel, supplies, equipment), consultants, staff meeting cost, etc. C. Assurance 16 Costs - Cost to support the direct staff providing outreach, energy education, budget counseling, advocacy with energy providers, and referral to include Salaries, Fringes, and Travel. D. Countable Income - Income that must be included when determining eligibility for LIHEAP. E. Elderly- An individual age 60 and over. F. Emergency - A natural disaster; a significant home energy supply shortage or disruption; a significant increase in the cost of home energy, as determined by the Secretary; a significant increase in home energy disconnections reported by a utility, a State regulatory agency, or another agency with necessary data; a significant increase in participation in a public benefit program such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program carried out under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the national program to provide supplemental security income carried out under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or the State temporary assistance for needy families program carried out under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as determined by the head of the appropriate Federal agency; a significant increase in unemployment, layoffs, or the number of households with an individual applying for unemployment benefits, as determined by the Secretary of Labor; or an event meeting such criteria as the Secretary, in the discretion of the Secretary, may determine to be appropriate. G. Energy burden - The expenditures of the household for home energy divided by the income of the household. H. Energy crisis - Weather-related and supply shortage emergencies and other household energy-related emergencies. I. Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) - Cost to provide direct client services for emergency and crisis situations. See policy on crisis. This activity does not include cost for staff. J. Exempt income - Income that should not be included when determining eligibility for LIHEAP. K. Expenditures - Funds spent by subgrantees; Funds paid for services or contracts; and Funds paid at the State level to contracts and salaries. L. Fraud - A type of illegal act involving the obtaining of something of value through willful misrepresentation. A false representation of a material fact, whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleading allegations, or by concealment of that which should have been disclosed, which deceives another so that he acts, or fails to act to his detriment. M. Unobligated funds- Funds that are not considered obligated or expended include: State administrative dollars that do not fall within the definition stated above; Vendor refunds are considered unobligated; and Funds transferred from one subgrantee to another are considered unobligated until funds are awarded in another subgrant. N. Highest home energy needs - The home energy requirements of a household determined by considering both the energy burden of such household and the unique situation of such household, such as having members of vulnerable populations, including very young children, individuals with disabilities, and elderly individuals. O. Home energy - A source of heating or cooling in residential dwellings. P. Household - Any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is customarily purchased. Q. Income - Income is money received on a regular and recurring basis by any household member. Income may be earned or unearned. R. Line Items - Line Items for LIHEAP as specified in the MDHS Subgrantee Manual are: Salaries, Fringes, Travel, Equipment, Contractual Services, Supplies, & Subsidies, Loans & Grants. S. Natural disaster - A weather event (relating to cold or hot weather), flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or ice storm, or an event meeting such other criteria as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate. T. New Client- is a client that has never received assistance from a DCS funded subgrantee within the last three (3) years. U. Obligations - Amounts which may be legally required to pay out of its resources, including encumbrances, as well as accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Obligations may include: any funds issued in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA); any funds encumbered in a contract; and any funds committed to State Office FTEs. This does not include vacant positions. V. Poverty level - With respect to a household in any State, the income poverty line as prescribed and revised at least annually pursuant to section 9902(2) of this title, as applicable to such State. W. Program Assistance - Cost to provide direct client services to include energy assistance payments on behalf of eligible households; cost of purchase/repair/replacement of air conditioners, fans, furnaces, heaters, blankets, home meter bases, energy kits/incentives, and other energy-related expenditures to include disaster-related expenditures for eligible households; cost for a contractor to install the air conditioners, etc. Cost (salaries, fringes, supplies, equipment) for direct staff for intake, case management, case worker supervisors and file reviewers; and travel for this staff which includes training and home visits. X. Secretary - The Secretary of Health and Human Services. Y. State - Each of the several States and the District of Columbia. Z. State median income - The State median income promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with procedures established under section 1397a(a)(6) of this title (as such procedures were in effect on August 12, 1981) and adjusted, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to consider the number of individuals in the household. AA. Waste - Involves the taxpayers not receiving reasonable value for money in connection with any government funded activities due to an inappropriate act or omission by players with control over or access to government resources. * Clients and applicants may be used interchangeably throughout the policy. * Subgrantee, Agency and Community Action Agency (CAA) may be used interchangeably throughout the policy. * Application and Intake may be used interchangeably throughout the policy.