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Percentage Of Income Payment Plan (PIPP PLUS) | Harcatus Tri-County Community Action Organization

276 2nd Street Southwest, Carrollton, OH 44615

Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements to Sign-up for PIPP Plus: - Serves Carroll, Harrison, and Tuscarawas county customers of a PUCO regulated utility that participates in the PIPP Plus program. - Due to Covid-19, household income threshold is 175% (instead of 150%) of the Federal Poverty Guideline Level. (Any change in household income must be reported to local community action agency as soon as possible). NOTE: Some income is deemed excludable such as income earned by dependent minors under 18 years old, child support paid-out, health insurance. - Households with a balance still qualify for enrollment (may be asked to bring down the balance before being able to enroll). - Service must be connected (can have a disconnection notice). - Must agree to accept any other energy assistance offered (such as home weatherization). - Any person with a fraudulent act (bad check, income not being reported and so forth) will be immediately dropped from the plan, any credits awarded from the point of fraud on will be added back to bill. Then these individuals will be ineligible to reapply for 24 months. - All persons who share a common kitchen or bath are considered members of the same household and must apply on one application. - College students who are absent from the home solely for the purpose of college attendance must be included in the application and cannot apply separately. - The plan is not available to landlords who include utilities in the rent. Eligibility Requirements to Remain on PIPP Plus After Successfully Enrolled: - Missed Gas Bill Payments: Gas customers have one billing cycle (30 days) from their anniversary date to make up any missed payments before being removed from the program. - Missed Electric Bill Payments: Electric customers may be dropped if they miss two (2) consecutive payments. - Re-verification Requirement: Every 12 months the client must provide proof that their monthly household income is at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Level to remain a PIPP Plus customer. At that time, the client must also make up any PIPP Plus payments that have been missed over the past 12 months. - Anniversary Requirements: Every 12 months the client must provide proof that their monthly household income is at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Level to remain a PIPP Plus customer. At that time, the client must also make up any PIPP Plus payments that have been missed over the past 12 months. The client has up to 30 days past their anniversary date (the date the client initially signed up for PIPP Plus) to make up any missed payments (or the client can be removed from PIPP Plus and their entire bill balance will become due). At that time, the client's utility may offer the client an extended payment plan to help the client avoid disconnection. Opting Out of Program: - Customers may ask to be removed from the PIPP Plus program at any time.

Required documents

- Proof of income (at least most recent 3 months). - Most recent utility bills for gas and/or electric. - When first applying client will also need proof of citizenship (birth certificate, passport, voter registration card, military service record) or proof of legal resident/qualified alien (naturalization papers, INS identification card). - For reverification will not need proof of citizenship unless it is not on file with PIPP. - Other documents may be required based on the individual situation. - If claiming zero (0) income, must bring most recent IRS tax transcript. - If someone has been financially helping household within the past 90 days, must bring a signed and dated letter from that person detailing amount of money given.

Hours

By appointment only: Monday - Friday: 8:00am to Noon and 1:00pm to 4:00pm. - New applications or reverifications will not be accepted after 3:00pm in order to allow enough time to complete them.

Languages

None.

Application process
- Call the office to schedule date/time for a telephone appointment. - Clients may begin their application online by visiting the website www.development.ohio.gov. However the application will still need to be completed through a telephone appointment. May apply by mail using the Energy Assistance Application: - Available at local libraries, other public agencies, and on the website. Or call the Ohio Development Services Agency to request by phone. If applying by mail, the application will take 12 to 16 weeks to process. Reverification: - If re-verification process is not complete by deadline, customers may be dropped from PIPP program. - Reverification must occur no more than 12 months from the previous reverification date. The reverification date is the actual date on which the customer completed the documentation of household income (reverification deadline should appear on monthly bills). Since the customer is required to reverify any change in household size and income, the customer's reverification date may change from year to year. - By Appointment: Those who are claiming zero/no income, odd jobs, or other income (not through a paycheck) must make an in-person appointment (cannot mail application, the Ohio Development Services agency will not process the application). Call Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 11:00am and 1:00pm to 5:30pm to make an appointment for a home visit. - By Mail: Customers should post mark reverification 12-16 weeks prior to deadline because process takes 12-16 weeks once Ohio Development Services Agency receives application. - Download Application from website: Client may download reverification application on website (Select "Energy Assistance Programs" from the drop-down menu labeled "Individual" on homepage. Then select "Energy Assistance Programs Application".) Must submit completed application and necessary documents to address listed on application.
Fees

Free to apply. There are no deposits for PIPP Plus households. Minimum monthly payment is $10 or: - Natural gas: 6% of the client's monthly household income. - Electric: 6% of the client's monthly household income. - All-electric homes: 10% of the client's monthly household income. Late Payments: Extra fees will not be assessed for late payments. Clients will not receive the incentive or arrearage crediting benefits that come from paying their PIPP Plus payment amount on-time and in-full. NOTE: The entire bill balance including arrearages will become due if dropped from the program. To be re-enrolled the client must make up all missed payments (the Default amount) that is owed from the point of removal from PIPP Plus. In addition, must pay the full utility bill costs for the current monthly service for those months not enrolled in PIPP Plus.

Service area

Tuscarawas County, Ohio Harrison County, Ohio Carroll County, Ohio

Offers a program that makes monthly payments more affordable on a year-round basis for customers of regulated electric and/or gas service providers. Offers incentive credit and an arrearage credit when PIPP Plus payments are made on-time and in-full: - Incentive Credit: Each time the client pays their required monthly payment on-time and in-full, the client no longer owes the rest of that month's billed amount (otherwise, this amount is added to the client's arrearages). - Arrearage Credit: Provides a 1/24 credit toward any old debt when payments are made on-time and in-full (if the client makes full, on-time payments for 24 straight months, then all of the arrearages will be eliminated).

Data provided by

211 Summit

Providing organization

Harcatus Tri-County Community Action Organization

A non-profit corporation that serves the Ohio counties of Harrison, Carroll, and Tuscarawas. Partners with federal, state, and local governments, as well as other groups to develop, manage, and deliver human and social services for the betterment of our communities. HARCATUS' mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families by minimizing the effects of poverty, promoting self-sufficiency and advocating for positive change.