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Issue Alert - 05-07-06
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| Date: |
Jul 08, 2005 |
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| Issue Summary: |
No more SER payments for Energy Services (payments to prevent heat or electric shutoffs or to make furnace repairs) will be authorized after July 29, 2005 |
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| Persons Affected: |
Low income individuals facing heat or electric shutoffs, or needing furnace repairs |
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| For More Information: |
Michigan Poverty Law Program 611 Church Street, Suite 4A Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3000(734) 998-6100(734) 998-9125 Fax |
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Background |
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State Emergency Relief (SER) |
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What's Happening? |
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| Due to a shortage of funds, DHS is terminating SER payments for heat and electrcity shutoffs and for furnace repairs. No payments will be approved after July 29, 2005, regardless of when the individual applies.DHS indicates that the elimination of this SER service will last at least until September 30, 2005 (the end of fiscal year 2005). However, the future availability of SER for these emergencies will depend on the appropriation of funds for fiscal year 2006. Some local DHS offices might have two types of funding available to assist with shutoffs.1) Some DHS offices may have Emergency Services (ES) funds available to assist with shutoffs or furnace repairs. The critieria for awarding ES funds is determined by the local office. Clients who believe they were denied ES funds illegally based on the local office criteria can request a hearing. 2) If a family is at risk of having a child removed from the home because of a loss of heat or electricity, Child Protective Services Family Reunification funds may be used to assist. The criteria for CPS reunification funds are as follows:A) The household must have met its copayment and shortfall payments as required by the DHS manual SER 301. Caseworkers should also inquire if the utility company is willing to set up a payment plan for the client.DHS's PPBs and Manuals are available online at (http://www.mfia.state.mi.us/olmweb/ex/html/) or by using the “Quick Link” at (http://www.mplp.org). B) If the family has other available resources available, they must pursue those resources; andC) Without the utility payment, the client will be referred to Child Protective Services.Caseworkers are allowed to determine eligibility for these funds. A CPS case does not have to be open for a family to be approved for these funds. The availability of these funds may be limited depending on the county. | ||
What Should Advocates Do? |
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Get the word out to local agencies that help with shutoffs or home repairs.Find out if your local DHS office has ES funds or CPS family reunification funds available for these emergencies. Advocates should also inquire as to what criteria the local office will use in determining whether ES funds will be granted to a particular household.If the local DHS office does not have ES funds, then agencies who previously required applicants to apply for SER before considering offering help to the client should be encouraged to skip this step through 9/30/2005 since ALL requests for SER will be denied. |
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What Should Clients Do? |
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Ask DHS about Family reunification funds if they have children in their home. Ask DHS about local ES (Emergency Services) funds to help with these emergencies and the criteria for obtaining these funds. If the client was denied ES funds, he or she can request a hearing and should contact their local legal services office.Work with other agencies that provide emergency help. |
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Finding Help |
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| Most legal aid and legal services offices handle these types of cases, and they do not charge a fee. You can locate the "free" legal services or legal aid office that serves your county on the Michigan LawHelp web site (http://MI.LawHelp.org) or look in the yellow pages under "attorneys" or call the toll-free lawyer referral number, (800) 968-0738. | ||
