Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 24 - Division of Community Services › Chapter 2 - Definitions › Rule 18-24-2.1 - Definitions

Current through June 25, 2024
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. 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.
F.
				Energy burden - The expenditures of the household for home energy divided by
				the income of the household.
G.
				Energy crisis - Weather-related and supply shortage emergencies and other
				household energy-related emergencies.
H. 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.
I. Exempt income - Income that should not be
				included when determining eligibility for LIHEAP.
J. Expenditures - Funds spent by subgrantees;
				Funds paid for services or contracts; and Funds paid at the State level to
				contracts and salaries.
K. 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.
L. 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.
M. Highest home energy needs - The home
				energy requirements of a household determined by taking into account 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.
N. Home energy - A source of heating or
				cooling in residential dwellings.
O. Household - Any individual or group of
				individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential
				energy is customarily purchased.
P.
				Income - Income is money received on a regular and recurring basis by any
				household member. Income may be earned or unearned.
Q. Line Items - Line Items for LIHEAP as
				specified in the MDHS Subgrantee Manual are: Salaries, Fringes, Travel,
				Equipment, Contractual Services, Supplies, & Subsidies, Loans &
				Grants.
R. 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.
S. 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.
T. 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.
U. 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.
V. Secretary - The Secretary of Health and
				Human Services.
W. State - Each of
				the several States and the District of Columbia.
X. 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 take into account the number of individuals in the
				household.
Y. Waste - Involves the
				taxpayers not receiving a 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.
45 CFR 98;
				  Miss. Code Ann. §
										43-1-2(4); Miss.
				  Code Ann. §
										43-1-4 Revised: May
				  2022