To determine income eligibility, EGLE will utilize both direct proof of income and categorical eligibility.
For direct proof of income, applicants may provide the following documentation:
- Pay statement with YTD earnings from each employer
- 1040 IRS Tax Form (if self-employed)
- W2/1099 Tax Form (most recent year)
- Unemployment/benefit statement or payment history
- Government benefit statement
- Retirement/pension statement
As an alternative, categorical eligibility is the determination that a household meets income requirements by verifying household participation in another state or federal program. Specifically, these programs include income qualification thresholds at least as stringent as the relevant Home Energy Rebates threshold.
Programs that provide categorical eligibility fall into two categories:
Categorical Eligibility for Households:
- If a household participates in one of the programs listed below, it automatically qualifies for the Home Energy Rebates Program:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Head Start
- Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications (Lifeline)
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- National School Lunch Program -Free (NSLP)
- Housing Improvement Program (HIP)
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)*
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)**
- Verified government or non-profit program serving Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE)
*Only if household is located in an area where 80% AMI is greater than 200% Federal Poverty Level
**Only if household is located in an area where 80% AMI is greater than 185% Federal Poverty Level
- Tenants of multifamily buildings participate in one of the below programs are eligible for rebates with their building owner’s permission:
- Renters residing in Public Housing (single- and multifamily buildings owned and operated by Public Housing Authorities)
- Renters residing in units subsidized by project-based assistance (Section 8, Section 202, Section 811)
- Renters receiving tenant-based assistance (Housing Choice Vouchers)
- Renters residing in units that are income-restricted due to Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
Categorical Eligibility for Multifamily Buildings:
Public Housing (housing owned and operated by Public Housing Authorities): Single- and multifamily buildings owned and operated by Public Housing Authorities are fully eligible.
Multifamily buildings that are part of one of the programs below may qualify for whole-building eligibility of 50% of the units meet the income requirements.
- Privately owned multifamily buildings receiving project-based assistance (Section 8, Section 202, Section 811)
- Privately owned multifamily buildings that house residents receiving tenant-based assistance (e.g., Housing Choice Vouchers)
- Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)