Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Detailed Model Plan Application
No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved without change
03/01/2024
02/27/2024
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
02/28/2027
02/28/2027
02/28/2027
621
0
621
415
0
415
0
0
0
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) block grant (42 U.S.C. 8621) was established under Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35. The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) administers LIHEAP at the federal level.
Section 2605(c)(1) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended, (LIHEAP statute) provides that âas part of the annual application requiredâ¦, the chief executive officer of each state shall prepare and furnish to the Secretary, in such format as the Secretary may require, a planâ which addresses several statutorily required data elements (emphasis added). [see also Section 2604(d)(4) regarding the Plan requirement for tribes]. Section 2605(c)(3) of the LIHEAP statute requires the Secretary to make available each fiscal year a model plan for use in the next fiscal year. The regulations require that states and territories (45 C.F.R. § 96.10(c)(2)) and tribes/tribal organizations (45 C.F.R. § 96.42(e)) that wish to administer a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) must submit an application for funds each year by September 1. Indian tribes and tribal organizations must submit their LIHEAP Plans by the required deadline unless the State(s) in which the tribe or organization is located agrees in writing to a specific later submission date.
Section 2605(c)(3) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended, provides that the Secretary shall make available a model LIHEAP Plan which may be used to prepare the application required under Sections 2605(a)(1) and (c)(1) (42 U.S.C. § 8624(a)(1) and (c)(1)). OCS has responsibility to review and accept LIHEAP Plan submissions on behalf of ACF, which is the agency that administers LIHEAP at the federal level.
The LIHEAP Detailed Model Plan Application was most recently approved by OMB on February 25, 2024. During the 30-day comment period, the Office of Community Services received a number of comments and would like to post responses to these public comments publicly for transparency. This request is to upload OCSâs responses to public comments received during the 30-day comment period.
OCS is requesting substantive changes in FY2025 so LIHEAP grant recipients can provide additional information about how they are fulfilling the statutory requirements. These changes impact burden estimates, as described in section A12.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Model Plan_Additional Public Comments_FY25_2.27.24.docx
LIHEAP Detailed Model Plan Application - FY26