You can only get EA for 30 days during
any 12 month period. For example, if you got EA on March 1, 2004, you can
apply for any other emergencies that you have until March 30, 2004. After
that, you can not get EA again for another year (March 2005).
So when you apply for EA, consider
the time of year and what other emergencies you are likely to face within
the next twelve months. If you think you are likely to have a worse emergency
later in the year (during the most expensive heating months, for example)
and you can get by right now, consider waiting to apply later in the year,
when you might need the help even more.
There are 5 categories of EA. These
are explained below.
1. Disasters
If your house or basic household
items have been damaged by a fire, flood or storm, you may be eligible for
EA. You must own, or be buying, the house or items. You can use EA to replace
such things as clothing, food and
basic equipment. You can use it to pay for moving, storing or repairing
"essential household equipment." You can use EA to repair your
house or pay for rent or a security deposit if you have to move.
You must apply for assistance within
90 days of the disaster. The maximum payment you can get is $350.
How To Apply:
- Get an estimate to repair or
replace the damaged items from a qualified workman.
- Send the estimate to DHS.
- DHS will be send their approval
to the worker doing the job and will pay him directly.
- DHS may ask you to verify that
the work has been done right before they pay the bill.
2. Repair/Replace
If your well, chimney, septic system,
furnace, heating stove, or other equipment wears out, or stops working,
you may be eligible for EA to repair or replace the item. You must own or
be in the process of buying the item.
NOTE: You cannot get EA to buy a stove or furnace more than once every five
years.
The maximum payment you can receive
is $500.
How To Apply:
- If you want to buy a heating
stove, get a statement from the fire department that the chimney and
hook-up are safe and that the existing stove is unsafe and needs replacing.
Also, you must show that the stove is your primary source of heat, not
a back-up system.
- If you want to repair or replace
a furnace, you must show that you own the home. For any repairs or replacements,
get an estimate from a qualified dealer or repairman.
3. Emergency Housing
If you rent and you have to move
for any of these reasons, you may be eligible for up to $250 to pay back
rent on your old home, a security deposit on a new home, and eviction-related court
costs:
- Your building is condemned (for
reasons other than your own misconduct).
- You must leave to get away from
domestic violence.
- You must leave to avoid conditions
that are unsafe for your children (danger must be certified by a public
official).
- You are being evicted (not because
of misconduct of you or your guests).
NOTE: If you have been abused and your abuser is the one who
damaged any property,
you will still be able to get EA.
How To Apply:
- If you are being evicted, send
DHS a copy of your eviction notice, or any other document showing that
you are being evicted or have been evicted within the last 30 days.
- If you need new housing to escape
domestic violence, send DHS copies of any documents that show that the
violence happened.
- You must tell DHS the reason
for the eviction.
NOTE: If you are being evicted for nonpayment of rent, and you are
asking for
EA to pay your back rent, you must be able to show that EA will stop the
eviction.
If you want EA to pay a security
deposit on a new apartment, you must meet one of these tests:
- You had an actual landlord/tenant
relationship and are facing eviction or have been evicted within the
last 30 days.
- Your building has been condemned.
- A public official has certified
that your building is harmful to the health or physical well being of
your children.
- You had a lease which expires
without written notice and your landlord has refused to extend the lease.
- You are leaving to escape domestic violence.
If you own your home, you can get
up to $250 from EA to make a mortgage payment, as long as the mortgage holder
will agree not to foreclose on your mortgage.
You can get up to $250 to pay past
due property taxes as long as the town agrees not to foreclose (or to quit
claim the property back to you if they have already foreclosed).
4. Utilities
If you have been cut off or have
gotten a cut off notice for your electricity, gas, bottled gas, water or
sewer, you may get up to $150 from EA to pay past-due amounts. You can use
the money to pay more than one utility.
The utility must be in your name
or the name of one of the adults or children listed on your application.
If you were cut off in the past and the utility says you have to pay the
old bill before you can get service in your name, you can get EA to pay
that old bill.
DHS will approve EA for utilities
only if the company will not cut off your service once the EA is paid.
If you are behind in your sewer payments,
you can get EA only when
a lien put on your property is maturing. If you owe less than $150, you
must apply to your area C.A.P. agency for benefits before applying for EA.
5. Special Medical Equipment Or Clothing
If you have a physical or mental
incapacity, you may get up to $250 to pay for special clothing or equipment
which you need for daily living. Examples of covered equipment include corrective
shoes, leg braces, bandages, special stockings, back braces and adapting
your living space. Eye glasses for adults are not covered. Clothing or equipment
will not be covered if they can be paid for through Medicaid or Vocational
Rehabilitation
