Administrative Rules of Montana › Department 37 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › Chapter 37.70 - LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) › Subchapter 37.70.4 - Coverage and Conditions of Eligibility › Rule 37.70.402 - GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS

Current through Register Vol. 13, July 5, 2024
(1)
				Households that are obligated to pay for fuel to heat their homes are eligible
				for LIHEAP benefits.
(2) Except as
				provided elsewhere in this rule, households which consist solely of members who
				are eligible for and receiving SNAP, SSI, or TANF-funded cash assistance are
				automatically financially eligible for LIHEAP benefits.
(3) Households which consist of members
				receiving SNAP, SSI, or TANF-funded cash assistance, and other individuals
				whose income and resources were not considered in determining eligibility for
				SNAP, SSI, or TANF-funded cash assistance, are not automatically eligible for
				LIHEAP benefits but must meet the financial requirements set forth in this
				rule.
(4) Individuals living in
				shelters, including recipients of SNAP, SSI, or TANF-funded cash assistance,
				are not eligible for LIHEAP benefits. Individuals living in licensed
				group-living situations as defined in ARM 37.70.401 may be eligible if they
				meet all other requirements for eligibility. Individuals living in licensed
				group-living situations which are not group-living situations as defined in ARM
				37.70.401 are not eligible for LIHEAP benefits.
(5) Households which contain a member who is
				enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education and who was
				claimed for the previous tax year as a dependent for federal income tax
				purposes by a taxpayer who is not a member of a household are ineligible for
				LIHEAP benefits.
(6) Households
				that are eligible for or that have received LIHEAP benefits through a tribal
				program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services may not
				receive LIHEAP benefits from the department for the same heating season, unless
				the household changes residence during the heating season and the household is
				no longer eligible for tribal LIHEAP benefits; in that case, the household may
				apply for a prorated LIHEAP benefit based on the household's new circumstances
				as provided in ARM 37.70.602.
(7)
				Residents of publicly subsidized housing whose energy costs are included as a
				fixed portion of their rent or who reside in publicly subsidized housing and
				have an obligation to pay a base-load electric bill are not eligible for a
				regular LIHEAP benefit computed using the benefit matrices and multipliers in
				the LIHEAP Benefit Award Matrix and Table of Multipliers for the current
				heating season. However, these households are eligible for weatherization
				assistance as provided for in ARM Title 37, chapter 71 and a modified LIHEAP
				benefit. The modified LIHEAP benefit is equal to five percent of the amount of
				a regular LIHEAP benefit, or a minimum payment of $25, whichever is greater,
				paid to the household annually. Households determined eligible for the modified
				LIHEAP benefit whose economic and housing situation does not change are
				eligible for a period of five years.
(8) In households consisting of eligible and
				ineligible household members, the income of all will be counted for benefit
				calculation purposes. Only the eligible household members will be counted when
				counting the number of household members for benefit calculation
				purposes.
(9) Current and future
				benefits will be denied to any persons and households who refuse to submit
				social security numbers or proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of status as a
				qualified alien as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1641(b),
				or whose social security numbers, proof of residency, or citizenship cannot be
				verified.
AUTH:
					 53-2-201, MCA; IMP:
					 53-2-201,
					 MCA