a natural disaster;

a significant home energy supply shortage or disruption;

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

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

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;

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

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