Expedited or Automatic Eligibility

Note: The LIHEAP statute (Section 2605(b)(2)(A) of Public Law 97-35 as amended) defines who may be eligible for the program and allows states to define certain households as “categorically eligible” because they receive benefits under TANF, Food Stamps, SSI, or certain means-tested veterans programs. However, they must also offer eligibility to households on the basis of income, as required by Section 2605(b)(2)(B), (see LIHEAP income eligibility tables). As shown in the table below, some states allow expedited eligibility for all or some categorically eligible households with varying restrictions. Reasons for expedited eligibility determination include administrative efficiency and/or targeting the program to certain households such as the poorest of the poor, or those with elderly or disabled members or young children.

Arkansas: No automatic eligibility and/or payment. However, elderly and disabled households who receive Food Stamps are mailed applications to apply for LIHEAP if they meet the eligibility guidelines. Their benefit amount is predetermined based upon payment levels, which are based upon the household's size and monthly income. If the applications are returned, the households will receive the predetermined amount.

Colorado: Since LIHEAP income eligibility is set at 185% of the federal poverty index, “categorically eligible” households automatically fall under this ceiling, as their income maximums are all lower. Members of these groups receive a mailed application and are set up in a “pre-pending” status prior to the start of each program year. Benefit amounts are based on income and prior year heating costs. Even if heating costs are very low, these applicants receive a minimum benefit of $100.

Connecticut: Any household in which all household members are participating in one or more of the following DSS programs will automatically be considered income eligible for the CEAP, but must meet all other eligibility requirements to receive benefits:

Temporary Family Assistance
State Supplement to the Aged, Blind and Disabled
Refugee Cash Assistance Program
Food Stamps

Florida: Applicants that are currently Food Stamp or SSI eligible, do not need to show additional proof of their income. If they meet the priority population requirements and the agency has funds, they will receive benefits just as other applicants would. Automatic qualification does not mean an applicant will necessarily get assistance.

Georgia: Households are automatically eligible if at least one household member is receiving TANF, SSI or Food Stamps.

Idaho: Households are automatically eligible if at least one household member is receiving TANF, SSI or Food Stamps.

Iowa: Verification of income will be waived when the household meets all the following criteria:

The household is sent a letter at the beginning of each year that asks whether anything has changed since the previous year.
At least one member of the household is 60 years of age or older or is disabled.
Major income sources are fixed benefits such as SSA, SSI, or VA.
Savings of all types are $15,000 or less.

When it is determined that a household meets these criteria, the CAA will approve the application at the appropriate assistance level utilizing information from the previous application. The household is sent a letter at the beginning of each year that basically asks has anything changed since the previous year. The household only has to be recertified through the normal application process every 5 years.

Kansas: Automatic eligibility for weatherization if at least one person in household is receiving TANF or SSI.

Kentucky: Households are automatically eligible if at least one person is receiving TANF, SSI, Food Stamps or certain means-tested veterans programs.

Louisiana: Households are automatically eligible if at least one person is receiving TANF, SSI, Food Stamps or certain means-tested veterans programs.

Michigan: Categorical eligibility and automatic payments are allowed for households that receive TANF, SSI or Food Stamps. Eligibility for this group is 110 percent or less of federal poverty guidelines. All other groups must meet income guidelines set at 60 percent of state median income. Assets are not counted when determining eligibility for any group.

Montana: Households are automatically eligible if at least one person is receiving TANF or SSI.

Nebraska: If a household is identified as pure TANF or Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled, the household is automatically eligible for LIHEAP heating and cooling if they meet the criteria as being economically vulnerable. All households found eligible for LIHEAP are automatically referred to weatherization without having to file a separate application.

Nevada: Households are automatically (categorically) eligible if ALL members of the household are eligible and receiving one or more of the following benefits: TANF, SSI, Food
Stamps, or means-tested Veteran Disability benefits.

New Jersey: Automatic payments for Food Stamp eligible households. “Certain households eligible for and receiving nonpublic assistance Food Stamps will receive automatic payments based on income, household size, heating arrangement and fuel type contained in computer records maintained by the Division of Family Development."

New York: Automatic benefits for public assistance, SSI and food stamp recipients and certain means-tested veterans programs.

North Carolina: LIHEAP payments will be targeted towards all households active in the Food Stamp Information System (FSIS). These households will receive automatic payments for heating costs if they meet all other LIHEAP guidelines. These households will receive notification in early October.

Oklahoma: Pre-authorizations for automatic eligibility. About half of all households that receive LIHEAP benefits are pre-authorized for eligibility. The criteria for selection for Aged, Blind, Disabled, TANF and Food Stamp cases are:

open status for 12 months or more
received LIHEAP last year
client address is same as last year
family composition is unchanged since last year
household's net income does not exceed 110% of federal poverty level and
energy source = all fuel types

Rhode Island: Categorical eligibility for TANF, SSI, and Food Stamp households. LIHEAP households must complete a new application every year.

South Carolina: Automatic eligibility for households with at least one member that receives SSI.

Texas: Automatically eligible households include those that, during the 12-month period preceding the determination of eligibility for assistance, contained a member who received cash assistance payments under Title IV or XVI (SSI) of the Social Security Act (or applicable State or local law); Food Stamps (Food Stamp Act of 1977); or payments under section 415, 521, 541, or 542 of title 38, United States Code, or under section 306 of the Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act of 1978.

Virginia: Cases from the Fuel database that match specific criteria with cases in the Food Stamp database and meet other eligibility criteria are automatically approved for Fuel Assistance. Approximately 15 percent of the statewide Fuel caseload receives a Pre-Approval Notice instead of a preprinted Fuel application. Households that have been pre-approved do not need to apply; however, they are responsible for reporting changes to printed data included on their Pre-Approval Notice. Assuming all other eligible criteria are met, households in which all members are receiving SSI are considered income eligible regardless of total household income.

Wisconsin: Categorical eligibility for heating and crisis assistance if the household is composed entirely of members receiving SSI, TANF, or Food Stamps for at least 3 months. Households are categorically eligible for weatherization if one member receives SSI or TANF for the last consecutive 12 months. The household must still satisfy the non-financial eligibility tests such as residence, social security numbers for all, and have an energy burden.

Page Last Updated: August 14, 2008