HEAP/WCP/PIPP Appeal | Step Forward

Denial Appeal

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Winter Crisis Program (WCP), Summer Crisis Program (SCP), and Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) clients have 30 days from the date they receive or would reasonably receive their eligibility or benefit notification to appeal decisions.

The appeal request is required to contain all of the following information to be properly filed:

Client's name, address, telephone number

Client number as listed on Determination Letter

(if available)

Reason for the appeal

Supporting documentation

Client's signature

Date of client's signature

Appeals must be submitted to:

Step Forward EAP Appeal

Attention EAP Coordinator

1801 Superior Avenue, 4th Floor

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Grounds for appeal include:

Energy Assistance Application was denied
If the application was neither approved nor denied within 12 weeks after the application was uploaded in the State of Ohio's Energy Assistance Portal or received by the State of Ohio through Energy Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 1240, Columbus, Ohio 43216
A disagreement with the benefit/installment amount (HEAP, WCP, SCP, and PIPP)
Household composition has changed since the application was submitted
Utility provider has changed or is incorrect
Multi-program discount was applied to HEAP, but client is not enrolled in PIPP
Step Forward's intake worker made an error in inputting client information
If an applicant is found noncompliant and placed under Compliance Review
Client is eligible for HEAP due to heat/energy included in rent, bill in landlord's name, etc.
If documentation of an income deduction was not submitted with the original application and not deducted (documentation of disability, insurance premiums)
If documentation of an excluded income type was not submitted with the original application and income was counted/included (example: Title V wages, etc.)

In cases where an application was denied for lack of necessary and reliable documentation for eligibility determination, in accordance with funding guidelines, an appeal will not be granted.