New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 17 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND UTILITY SERVICES
Chapter 11 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Part 11 - LIFELINE AND LINKUP BENEFITS
Section 17.11.11.9 - CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Annual Verification. The continuing eligibility of customers for lifeline benefits shall be verified annually.
B. Verification Methods. The ETC or responsible agency shall verify the continued eligibility of lifeline customers under the program-based and income-based eligibility criteria. The ETC or responsible agency shall establish methods by which program-based and income-based eligibility shall be verified on an annual basis including, but not limited to, self-certification, reviews of state computer data bases, beneficiary audits, income documentation, or the continued eligibility of a statistically valid sample of lifeline customers.
C. Restoration Of Service And Payment Plans. ETCs must restore service for any customer who has had telephone service discontinued for nonpayment of basic service charges, provided that the customer was not a participant in LITAP at the time of discontinuance, but now qualifies. The ETC must also make a reasonable payment arrangement allowing six months for payment for past due basic service charges.
D. Termination Notices and Dispute Resolution. If a customer fails to establish continued eligibility, the ETC or responsible agency shall notify the customer of its intent to discontinue the customer's eligibility and the basis for that decision.