2008 National Energy Assistance Survey NEADA Winter Meeting February 3, 2009 Jackie Berger Prepared for NEADA By

Background 2003 NEA Survey –Baseline survey –LIHEAP recipients in 20 states –Energy needs (beyond bill payment) –Importance of LIHEAP 2

Background 2005 NEA Survey –Follow-up with 2003 respondents –Issue: not all current LIHEAP recipients –Cannot project to LIHEAP population 3

2008 Survey LIHEAP recipients in 12 states 3 states were not able to participate and were replaced Energy needs and importance of LIHEAP Change in circumstance over the past year Comparison to 2003 Survey 4

States Surveyed 5 CaliforniaMaineNew York DelawareMinnesotaNorth Carolina GeorgiaMontanaOhio IowaNew MexicoPennsylvania

Survey Topics Screener – eligibility for survey Experience with energy assistance –When received, how often received, plans to apply next year Actions taken to meet energy expenses –Constructive –Sacrifices: housing, food, health, utility service 6

Survey Topics Energy Insecurity –Worry about energy bills, reduced expenses –Borrowed, skipped paying energy bill –Close off part of home, left home, unsafe temperature –Use stove or oven for heat –Threatened with service termination, shut off –Access to heating and air conditioning 7

Survey Topics Change in Circumstance –Energy bills –Financial situation Impact of LIHEAP –Would you have experienced some of these problems if LIHEAP had not been available? –How important has LIHEAP been in helping you meet your needs? Demographics 8

Methodology Use of state LIHEAP databases –Samples selected by APPRISE or state office staff –Stratification by vulnerable group and poverty level Telephone survey –Fielded 9/30/08 – 11/3/08 –1,256 completed interviews –Response rate ranged from 41% in NY to 73% in OH 9

Demographics 10

Household Characteristics 11 Percent of Respondents Senior43% Disabled50% Children under 618% Children under 1840% Nonvulnerable7% Own Home50%

Income Sources 12 Percent of Respondents Employment Income30% Retirement Income40% Public Assistance37% Non Cash Benefits59%

Poverty Level 13 Poverty Level Percent of Respondents 0% - 50%17% 51% - 100%46% 101% - 125%18% 126% - 150%10% >150%6% Missing Income2%

Health 14

Health Insurance 15 Percent of Respondents Entire Household70% No one in Household10%

Health Conditions 16 AllSeniorDisabled Child Under 18 Non- Vulnerable Health Condition* 70%80% 63%42% Medical Equipment Uses Electricity 24%20%32%31%3% *Health conditions included asthma, emphysema, COPD, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.

Health Status 17 AllSeniorDisabled Child Under 18 Non- Vulnerable Excellent6%4%2%11%5% Very Good15%13%8%20%22% Good31%27%23%34%51% Fair31%36%40%26%18% Poor16%19%27%10%3% Don’t know/ Refused <1% 0%2%

Energy Costs 18

Energy Costs 19 Percent of Respondents < $5003% $501 - $1,00010% $1,001 - $1,50013% $1,501 - $2,00015% Over $2,00036% Don’t Know/ Refused24%

Energy Burden 20 Pre- LIHEAP Post- LIHEAP ≤ 5%11%25% 6% - 10%28%30% 11% - 15%21% 16% - 20%16%10% 21% - 25%9%6% >25%14%8%

Mean Energy Burden 21 AllSeniorDisabled Child Under 18 Non- Vulnerable Pre-LIHEAP16%14%17%16%19% Post-LIHEAP12%11%12%13%14%

Change in Energy Bills 22 Percent of Respondents Same24% Lower13% Higher49% Don’t Know/ Refused13%

Change in Difficulty Paying Energy Bills 23 Percent of Respondents Same42% More Difficult43% Less Difficult9% Don’t Know/ Refused5%

Increased Difficulty Paying Energy Bills 24 Reasons for Increased Difficulty Paying Energy Bills Main Reason (Unprompted) Reasons (Prompted) Increased Energy Bill50%87% Lower Income/ Lost Job37%75% Increased Medical Expenses2%57% Increased Prescription Cost<1%54% Increased Property Taxes<1%43% Increased Rent<1%38% Higher Gasoline Costs0%88%

Unaffordable Energy Bills: Signs and Responses 25

Signs of the Problem Worried About Paying Home Energy Bill72% Reduced Expenses for Household Necessities78%80% Borrowed from a Friend or Relative46%43%

Signs of the Problem 27 AllChildren≤50% Worried About Paying Home Energy Bill 72%86%84% Reduced Expenses for Household Necessities 80%85%92% Borrowed from a Friend or Relative 43%63%69%

Constructive Actions Winter Put plastic on windows44%48% Turn down heat when you go to bed76%85% Summer Keep shades closed in daytime83%88% Use fans and open windows78%80% Other Actions Wash clothes in cold water65%73% Use CFLs44%66%

Responses to the Problem Closed off Part of Home39%44% Kept Home at Unsafe or Unhealthy Temperature25%28% Left Home for Part of the Day24%23% Used Kitchen Stove or Oven to Provide Heat31%33%

Responses to the Problem 30 AllChildren≤50% Closed off Part of Home44%37%47% Kept Home at Unsafe or Unhealthy Temperature 28%32%29% Left Home for Part of the Day23%27%28% Used Kitchen Stove or Oven to Provide Heat 33%40%42%

Inability to Pay Energy Bills Skipped Paying Energy Bill52%47% Received Disconnect Notice38%37% Electricity Shut Off8%9%

Inability to Pay Energy Bills 32 AllChildren≤50% Skipped Paying Energy Bill47%70%68% Received Disconnect Notice37%57% Electricity Shut Off9%15%18%

Energy Sacrifices 33

Unable to Use Heat Heating System Broken10%13% Unable to Pay for Fuel Delivery10%13% Electric or Gas Service Shut Off11%13%

Unable to Use Heat 35 AllChildren≤50% Heating System Broken13%15%20% Unable to Pay for Fuel Delivery13%18%14% Electric or Gas Service Shut Off13%18%20% Unable For Any of 3 Reasons28%38%39%

Unable to Use Air Conditioning Air Conditioning Broken12% Electric Service Shut Off6%7%

Unable to Use Air Conditioning 37 AllChildren≤50% Air Conditioning Broken12%14% Electric Service Shut Off7%11%15% Unable to Use AC due to Either of 2 Reasons 17%23%27%

Other Sacrifices Lack of Hot Water – Went Without Showers/Baths9%10% Lack of Cooking Fuel – Went Without Hot Meals5%7% Lack of Lights – Used Candles or Lanterns8%7%

Other Sacrifices 39 AllChildren≤50% Lack of Hot Water – Went Without Showers/Baths 10%17%15% Lack of Cooking Fuel – Went Without Hot Meals 7%12%11% Lack of Lights – Used Candles or Lanterns 7%12%15%

Housing, Financial, and Medical Problems 40

Housing Problems (Past 5 Years) Did Not Make Full Rent or Mortgage Payment28% Evicted from Home or Apartment4% Moved in with Friends or Family9%11% Moved into Shelter or Was Homeless4%3%

Housing Problems (Past 5 Years) 42 AllChildren≤50% Did Not Make Full Rent or Mortgage Payment 28%44%37% Evicted from Home or Apartment4%6%7% Moved in with Friends or Family11%15%18% Moved into Shelter or Was Homeless3%5%9%

Financial Problems (Past 5 Years) Obtained a Payday Loan15% Forced into Bankruptcy3%

Financial Problems (Past 5 Years) 44 AllChildren≤50% Obtained a Payday Loan15%26%18% Forced into Bankruptcy3%4%

Medical and Health Problems (Past 5 Years) Went Without Food for At Least One Day22%32% Went Without Medical or Dental Care38%42% Did not Fill Prescription / Took Less Than Full Dose30%38% Unable to Pay Energy Bill Due to Medical Expenses20%21% Became Sick Because Home was Too Cold21%24% Became Sick Because Home was Too Hot7%6%

Medical and Health Problems (Past 5 Years) 46 AllChildren≤50% Went Without Food for At Least One Day32%36%39% Went Without Medical or Dental Care42%48%46% Did not Fill Prescription / Took Less Than Full Dose 38%42%40% Unable to Pay Energy Bill Due to Medical Expenses 21%28%24% Became Sick Because Home was Too Cold24%33%39% Became Sick Because Home was Too Hot6%8%9%

LIHEAP and Other Assistance 47

LIHEAP Receipt Recalled Receipt of LIHEAP84%86% Received LIHEAP in Each of Past Five Years21%26% Plans to Apply for LIHEAP in Coming Year83%88%

Payment Arrangements With Utility Companies 49 Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement In Past Year Was Able to Work Out Payment Arrangement All LIHEAP Recipients Those Who Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement 54%84%

Fuel Fund or Social Service Assistance 50 Contacted Fuel Fund or Social Services Agency Fuel Fund or Social Services Agency Was Able to Help Those Who Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement Those Who Contacted Fuel Fund or Social Services Agency 50%72%

Fuel Fund or Social Service Assistance 51 Applied for LIHEAP Assistance Received Assistance From LIHEAP Those Who Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement Those Who Applied for LIHEAP 67%75%

Fuel Fund or Social Service Assistance 52 LIHEAP or Agency Assistance Was Sufficient to Prevent Electric or Gas Service Termination Those Who Tried to Work Out Payment Plan Those Who Applied for Assistance Those Who Received Assistance from LIHEAP or Social Services 55%69%87%

Importance of LIHEAP 53

Would Have Faced Problems Without LIHEAP Worried About Paying Home Energy Bill66%77% Kept Home at Unsafe or Unhealthy Levels54%63% Had Electricity or Home Heating Fuel Shut Off48%59%

LIHEAP Helped Restore Heat 55 Restored Heat Due to Electric/Gas Shut Off Restored Heat Due to Fuel Running Out Restored Heat Due to Broken Equipment 51%64%63%

Importance of LIHEAP 56 LIHEAP Is Very Important All86%90% Senior83%88% Disabled89%91% Child 86%91%

Summary Update of national LIHEAP survey Increase in problems faced by LIHEAP recipients since 2003 survey Greatest difficulty reported by households with children and poverty level <=50% Increased importance of LIHEAP Increased reliance on LIHEAP 57