TITLE 8 SOCIAL SERVICES
CHAPTER 150 LOW
INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
PART 610 GASOLINE AND HOME HEATING RELIEF FUND
8.150.610.1 ISSUING
AGENCY: New Mexico Human Services
Department.
[8.150.610.1 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.2 SCOPE: The rule
applies to the general public.
[8.150.610.2 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.3 STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: 27 NMSA 1978 (1992 Repl.) provides for the department to “...adopt, amend and
repeal bylaws, rules and regulations...”. It also
provides for administration of public assistance programs. 27-6-18.1designates HSD as
one of the administering authorities regarding program eligibility.
[8.150.610.3 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[8.150.610.4 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.5 EFFECTIVE
DATE:
October 1, 2007, unless a later date is at the end of a section.
[8.150.610.5 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.6 OBJECTIVE: The objective
of the gasoline and home heating relief fund is to provide state general fund
for the purposes of the LIHEAP program.
[8.150.610.6 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]
8.150.610.8 STATE
LIHEAP FUNDING
A. Purpose: To reduce the home heating and cooling costs
of low-income New Mexicans.
B. Benefits:
(1) payments that
assist low-income households to reduce the costs of home heating/cooling; or
(2) weatherization
services for the homes of low-income households.
[8.150.610.8 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.9 FUND
USES:
Unless specified by the New Mexico state legislature, the secretary of
the human services department has the authority to specify the uses of the
funding. Funding will be used for
purposes similar to those allowed under the federal low income home energy
assistance program.
[8.150.610.9 NMAC - N,
10-01-07]
8.150.610.10 WINTER
MORATORIUM ON UTILITY DISCONNECTION:
No utility shall discontinue
or disconnect residential utility service for heating from November 15 through
March 15 of the subsequent year for certain customers.
A. Administering authority: The human services department or a tribal
entity that administers its own low income home energy assistance program are designated as the authorities to identify customers who
meet the qualifications.
B. Qualification: Customers who meet the qualifications to
receive assistance pursuant to the low-income home energy assistance program.
(1) The customer is a member of a households in which one or more members:
(a) receive(s)
supplemental security income; or
(b) are
eligible for any federally funded assistance program administered by ISD with income guidelines at or below 150% of the current
federal poverty guidelines; or
(c) reside
in a household whose total gross income is at or below 150% of the current
federal poverty guidelines.
(2) The person in whose name a utility account
is listed and the name of the public assistance recipient need not match in
order for the customer to be entitled to protection under this section.
(1)
HSD generated approval notice for certain public assistance programs;
(2) computer
generated notice from HSD;
(3) form completed by
hand from a local ISD office;
(4) HSD generated data file listing qualified
households;
(5) form completed by
any agency charged with determining eligibility for a public assistance
program; or
(6) HSD and a utility company/municipality may
mutually agree on a method of notification.
[8.150.610.10
NMAC - N, 10-01-07]
HISTORY OF 8.150.610 NMAC:
[RESERVED]