New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 10 - HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 167D - LIFELINE CREDIT PROGRAM/TENANTS LIFELINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MANUAL
Subchapter 1 - LIFELINE CREDIT PROGRAM/TENANTS LIFELINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Section 10:167D-1.3 - Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Annual income" means all income from whatever source derived, actually received or anticipated.

"Anticipated income" means the amount of income the applicant can reasonably be expected to receive during the calendar year.

"Applicant" means an individual who applies or reapplies for the Lifeline Credit Program or the Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program either personally or through an authorized agent.

"Authorized agent" means a person who initiates the application for a person who is incompetent or incapable of filing the application on his or her behalf in order to receive benefits from the Lifeline Credit Program or the Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program.

"Beneficiary" means an individual who has been found eligible for the Lifeline Credit Program or Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program.

"Calendar year" means a year beginning January 1 and ending on December 31. It is the base period utilized to determine annual income and eligibility.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"Electric utility" means every New Jersey public utility which provides residential electric service, as defined in this section, and is regulated by and subject to the jurisdiction of the BPU. Additionally, any municipality or other governmental entity providing residential electric service, as defined in this section, within the State of New Jersey, shall be deemed an electric utility for the limited purposes of the Lifeline Programs.

"Gas utility" means every New Jersey public utility which provides residential gas service, as defined in this section, and is regulated by and subject to the jurisdiction of the BPU. Additionally, any municipality or other governmental entity providing residential gas service, as defined in this section, within the State of New Jersey, shall be deemed a gas utility for the limited purposes of the Lifeline Programs.

"Household" means all individuals who occupy one or more rooms which constitute separate and distinct living quarters.

"Lifeline" means the Lifeline Credit Program and/or the Tenants Lifeline Assistance Program.

"Lifeline Credit" means a benefit in the form of a credit in an amount established by law made to the utility accounts of an individual who has been determined to be eligible for the Lifeline Credit Program.

"Lifeline Programs" means the Lifeline Credit Program and/or Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program.

"Previous year" means the calendar year preceding the year in which the person is applying or reapplying for the Lifeline Programs. For example, 2002 is the "previous year" when referring to an application which is dated between January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003.

1. If a person who is required to submit a Federal, State or City Income Tax return applies for the Lifeline Programs at the beginning of a calendar year but has not yet filed an income tax return for the previous year, the year preceding the previous year is considered to be the last or "previous year" when completing the Lifeline Programs application.

"Resident" means a person legally domiciled within the State of New Jersey for a period of 30 days immediately preceding the date of application for inclusion in the Lifeline Programs. Mere seasonal or temporary residence within the State, of whatever duration, does not constitute domicile.

"Residential electric service" means electricity supplied by an electric utility, for domestic purposes, through an individual meter to a dwelling unit defined as residential by the individual tariff of the servicing utility.

"Residential gas service" means gas supplied by a gas utility, for domestic purposes, through an individual meter to a dwelling unit defined as residential by the individual tariff of the servicing utility.

"Residential utility customer" means that individual whose name appears on the servicing utility's records and is responsible for payment of the cost of the utilities.

"Special needs trust" means a trust containing the assets of a disabled individual that is established for the sole benefit of the individual by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or court prior to the time the individual reaches the age of 65. See N.J.A.C. 10:167D-4.2(d) for provisions.

"Tenant" means an individual who is renting or leasing real property as his or her principal residence, which includes, but is not limited to, apartments, mobile home park sites, residential shareholders in nonprofit residential cooperatives or mutual housing corporations, owners of condominiums, or persons who are boarding.

"Tenants Assistance payment" means a benefit in the form of a check in an amount established by law which is issued to an individual who has been determined to be eligible for the Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program.

"Termination of service" means the notification by the residential utility customer to the servicing utility that the residential utility service is to be discontinued.

"Transferable credit" occurs when a customer moves from one principal residence to another principal residence within the service territory of the same electric and/or gas utility.

"Unused balance" means any portion of the Lifeline Credit not applied against an eligible beneficiary's utility bill upon the termination of residential electric and/or gas service.

"Viatical settlement" means the sale or cashing in of a life insurance policy prior to the death of the insured, due to the fact that the insured has experienced a catastrophic, life-threatening or chronic illness or condition.