New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Chapter 49 - HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE HANDBOOK
Subchapter 3 - PROGRAM BENEFITS
Section 5:49-3.1 - Automatic payments to certain households

1. Certain households eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (NJ SNAP) will receive automatic payments based on the information regarding income, household size, heating arrangement, and fuel type contained in computer records maintained by the Division of Family Development (DFD). This information will be collected from the head of the household at each application, reapplication, or recertification for NJ SNAP and will be updated whenever the household reports a change. The automatic LIHEAP payment will be extracted from the DFD's Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS). The households that may be extracted include certain households eligible for and receiving NJ SNAP. The case must have an appropriate heating indicator and contain a payee with a valid Social Security number (SSN). The household must have a current monthly income that is less than or equal to the program's standards. Additionally, there must be no duplication of SSNs or any disqualifying information which would lead to non-selection of the case. Those households non-selected for an automatic payment may be eligible for benefits. They will receive a notice instructing them where to apply. Households that are responsible for primary fuel costs associated with residential heat shall receive a benefit based on the appropriate benefit level for the household's size, income, fuel type, and heating region. Additionally, Pharmaceutical Aid to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) clients shall be screened for automatic LIHEAP eligibility utilizing the same criteria as NJ SNAP clients. Automatic LIHEAP client data shall be extracted from FAMIS and the Department of Health (DOH) PAAD database. Households extracted from these databases shall have an appropriate heating indicator and a valid Social Security number. The households must have a current monthly income that is less than or equal to the program's standard. Additionally, there will be no duplication of Social Security numbers or other disqualifying information which would lead to non-selection of the case.

2. Eligible households that heat by electricity or natural gas will receive the automatic payment(s) in the form of a direct transfer to the utility when a valid utility account number or other acceptable match criteria exists on the FAMIS or PAAD extract. Match criteria shall be collected during the FAMIS- or PAAD-eligibility determination process. Households that heat by oil, coal, wood, propane, and kerosene or do not have a valid account number or other acceptable match criteria on the LIHEAP Masterfile will receive the automatic payment(s) in the form of a two party check payable to the head of household and the generic copayee "Your Heating Supplier."