republic-os/legal/us/code/title-42/chapter-94/section-8622.md

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LegalText	42 U.S.C. § 8622	Definitions	us	united_states_code	code_section	42	THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE	94	LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE	8622	42 U.S.C. § 8622	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t42/s8622	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml	82a2d5896a08aebb59166aacb6e4456bf96e4e2f3dda3665245c6a18ded95f93	644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e	f205053b66687de4bfa982cea4e02d89c026313f3281512f2e5d723281cf96ad	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

42 U.S.C. § 8622 - Definitions

Text

As used in this subchapter:

(1) The term “emergency” means—

(A) a natural disaster;

(B) a significant home energy supply shortage or disruption;

(C) a significant increase in the cost of home energy, as determined by the Secretary;

(D) a significant increase in home energy disconnections reported by a utility, a State regulatory agency, or another agency with necessary data;

(E) a significant increase in participation in a public benefit program such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program carried out under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the national program to provide supplemental security income carried out under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or the State temporary assistance for needy families program carried out under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as determined by the head of the appropriate Federal agency;

(F) a significant increase in unemployment, layoffs, or the number of households with an individual applying for unemployment benefits, as determined by the Secretary of Labor; or

(G) an event meeting such criteria as the Secretary, in the discretion of the Secretary, may determine to be appropriate.

(2) The term “energy burden” means the expenditures of the household for home energy divided by the income of the household.

(3) The term “energy crisis” means weather-related and supply shortage emergencies and other household energy-related emergencies.

(4) The term “highest home energy needs” means the home energy requirements of a household determined by taking into account both the energy burden of such household and the unique situation of such household that results from having members of vulnerable populations, including very young children, individuals with disabilities, and frail older individuals.

(5) The term “household” means any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent.

(6) The term “home energy” means a source of heating or cooling in residential dwellings.

(7) The term “natural disaster” means a weather event (relating to cold or hot weather), flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or ice storm, or an event meeting such other criteria as the Secretary, in the discretion of the Secretary, may determine to be appropriate.

(8) The term “poverty level” means, with respect to a household in any State, the income poverty line as prescribed and revised at least annually pursuant to section 9902(2) of this title, as applicable to such State.

(9) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(10) The term “State” means each of the several States and the District of Columbia.

(11) The term “State median income” means the State median income promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with procedures established under section 1397a(a)(6) of this title (as such procedures were in effect on August 12, 1981) and adjusted, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to take into account the number of individuals in the household.

(Pub. L. 97–35, title XXVI, § 2603, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 894; Pub. L. 97–115, § 16, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1609; Pub. L. 98–558, title VI, § 602, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2890; Pub. L. 103–252, title III, §§ 304(b), 311(c)(2), May 18, 1994, 108 Stat. 658, 662; Pub. L. 105–285, title III, §§ 303, 304(a), Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2756; Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, § 4002(b)(1)(A), (B), (2)(EE), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1095–1097; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, § 4002(b)(1)(A), (B), (2)(EE), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1857, 1859.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

References in TextThe Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in par. (1)(E), is Pub. L. 88–525, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2011 of Title 7 and Tables. The Social Security Act, referred to in par. (1)(E), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Part A of title IV of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 601 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of this title. Title XVI of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XVI (§ 1381 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

Codification In par. (11), “August 12, 1981” substituted for “the day before the date of the enactment of this Act”, which date of enactment is Aug. 13, 1981. Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments2008—Par. (1)(E). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(b)(1)(A), (B), (2)(EE), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program” and “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008” for “Food Stamp Act of 1977”. 1998—Pars. (1) to (3). Pub. L. 105–285, § 304(a)(3), (4), added par. (1) and redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as (2) and (3), respectively. Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Par. (4). Pub. L. 105–285, § 304(a)(3), redesignated par. (3) as (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5). Pub. L. 105–285, § 303, substituted “The term” for “the term” and a period for the semicolon at end. Pars. (5), (6). Pub. L. 105–285, § 304(a)(3), redesignated pars. (4) and (5) as (5) and (6), respectively. Former par. (6) redesignated (8). Pars. (7) to (11). Pub. L. 105–285, § 304(a)(1), (2), added par. (7) and redesignated formers pars. (6) to (9) as (8) to (11), respectively. 1994—Par. (1). Pub. L. 103–252, § 304(b)(1), (2), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2). Par. (2). Pub. L. 103–252, § 311(c)(2), which directed the substitution of “The” for “the” and a period for the semicolon at end, could not be executed because the word “the” and a semicolon did not appear in par. (2) after the redesignations by Pub. L. 103–252, § 304(b)(1). See below. Pub. L. 103–252, § 304(b)(1), redesignated par. (1) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (4). Par. (3). Pub. L. 103–252, § 304(b)(3), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (5). Par. (4). Pub. L. 103–252, § 304(b)(1), redesignated par. (2) as (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (6). Pars. (5) to (9). Pub. L. 103–252, § 304(b)(1), redesignated pars. (3) to (7) as (5) to (9), respectively. 1984—Par. (1). Pub. L. 98–558, § 602(a), struck out “intervention” after “energy crisis” and inserted “and other household energy-related emergencies” at the end. Par. (4). Pub. L. 98–558, § 602(b), substituted “the income poverty line as prescribed and revised at least annually pursuant to section 9902(2) of this title,” for “the income poverty guidelines for the nonfarm population of the United States as prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget (and as adjusted annually pursuant to section 9902(2) of this title)”. 1981—Pub. L. 97–115 designated par. (2)(A) as par. (2), substituted provisions including individuals and groups of individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in the form of rent in the definition of household, for provisions including individuals who occupy a housing unit in such definition, and struck out par. (2)(B), which provided that for purposes of subpar. (A), one or more rooms shall be treated as a housing unit when occupied as a separate living quarters.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture. Amendment by section 4002(b)(1)(A), (B), (2)(EE) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2008, see section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress.

Effective Date of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–252 effective Oct. 1, 1994, see section 314 of Pub. L. 103–252, set out as a note under section 8621 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–558 effective Oct. 30, 1984, see section 609(a) of Pub. L. 98–558, set out as a note under section 8621 of this title.