Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. An applicant/ recipient
or representative must complete an application for LIHEAP benefits and will be
interviewed face to face or telephonically only if information is questionable,
to determine crisis or life threatening situations, or if the client has not
been interviewed by the HCA for any other ISD program 30 days prior to the
application date stamped on the application.
B. The household must provide proof that they
meet the qualifications of the LIHEAP program; current documents used in other
public assistance programs may be used for LIHEAP application processes, unless
questionable:
(1) proof of identity for the
applicant using any of the following documentation:
(a) birth certificates(s); or
(b) baptism certificate; or
(c) hospital or birth record; or
(d) divorce papers; or
(e) alien registration card; or
(f) immigration & naturalization service
(INS) records; or
(g) U.S.
passport; or
(h) Indian census
records; or
(i) family bible;
or
(j) school or day care records;
or
(k) government records; or
(l) social security records;
or
(m) social service records;
or
(n) insurance policy;
or
(o) court records; or
(p) church records; or
(q) voter registration card; or
(r) letter from doctor, religious official or
school official, or someone else who knows the applicant; or
(s) applicant sworn statement;
(2) proof of citizenship or legal
resident status if questionable, such as birth certificate, permanent resident
card, naturalization papers, etc.;
(3) social security numbers for all household
members requesting assistance; a social security card is required if the HCA is
not able to validate or if the number is questionable;
(4) proof of gross income for all household
members, such as check stubs, award letters, statement from employer,
etc.;
(5) proof of a utility
responsibility with an expense incurred in the past twelve months for the
household's current residence:
(a) bill for
metered service for a onemonth period, or
(b) two consecutive purchase receipts for
propane, or a history of the account from the vendor, or
(c) receipt for wood purchase which includes
a statement from the applicant of the duration of use for said wood,
or
(d) rental agreement or landlord
statement that utilities are included in rent, or
(e) from the utility or fuel vendor, a signed
statement or billing history;
(6) account number at current address for the
selected heating or cooling expense;
(7) proof of crisis when the situation
exists, such as a current disconnect notice, statement of non-delivery of bulk
fuel or statement detailing the cost of initiating service;
(8) proof of a life-threatening crisis when
the situation exists, such as a current disconnect notice, statement of
nondelivery of bulk fuel or statement detailing the cost of initiating service
and a written or verbal statement from the applicant advising that the
household faces an emergency which poses a threat to the health or safety of
one or more members of the household;
(9) proof of disability for at least one
household member as determined by another public assistance or federal or state
entity;
(10) proof of emergency
expenditures that apply to
8.150.520.18 NMAC; and
(11) proof of the household's main fuel
expense for the household's current residence, if applicant/recipient is not
requesting LIHEAP for assistance with the main heating or cooling fuel
source.
C. eligibility
criteria: the household must meet the identity, social security number, income,
citizenship, utility responsibility, and residency requirements.
