N.J. Admin. Code § 10:167D-1.4

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 1, January 6, 2025

Section 10:167D-1.4 - Lifeline Credit and Tenants Assistance payment

(a) The Lifeline Credit shall consist of a single amount established by law, which will be applied, on a yearly basis, to the electric and/or gas utility bills of an eligible residential customer. Only one credit per year is allowed per household, regardless of the number of eligible residential utility customers living in that household.

1. If the eligible individual is the residential utility customer of only one utility, the total Lifeline Credit shall be applied to the individual's utility account.

2. If the eligible individual is a residential electric utility customer and a residential gas utility customer, one-half of the total Lifeline Credit shall be applied to each one of the eligible individual's utility accounts.

3. When an eligible residential utility customer terminates service, the unused balance of the Lifeline Credit shall be dispersed accordingly.

i. Within 45 days of termination of service, the electric and/or gas utility shall apply the unused balance to the residential utility customer's account before any other credits or deposits are applied when determining the account balance due to or from the customer.

ii. When a residential utility customer changes his or her principal residence from a residential unit in the service territory of an electric and/or gas utility to an eligible residential unit within the service territory of another electric and/or gas utility and maintains utility service in his or her own name, the unused balance shall be transferred as a credit to the new account of the residential utility customer.

iii. In the event of the death of an eligible residential utility customer, the unused balance shall be transferred to a new account for the same residence if the new residential utility customer is a surviving member of the decedent's household and is eligible, in his or her own right, for Lifeline Credit benefits.

iv. The electric and/or gas utility shall return within 60 days of termination of service, any unused balance that cannot be transferred as stated in (a)3i, ii and iii above, to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey.

(b) The Tenants Assistance payment shall consist of a single amount established by law, which on a yearly basis will be issued in the form of a check. Checks will be sent to eligible tenants who indirectly pay for utilities as part of their rental. Only one eligible tenant per household will be allowed to receive such assistance.

1. When an eligible beneficiary moves prior to the issuance of payment, the beneficiary must notify the Department. The beneficiary must request a change of address and submit proof of New Jersey residence and the Tenants Assistance payment will be forwarded to the beneficiary.

2. When an eligible beneficiary moves out of the State of New Jersey, dies or otherwise is determined ineligible, no benefit shall be granted.

3. When an eligible beneficiary has received Tenants Assistance payments and subsequently becomes ineligible, payments will be discontinued as soon as the Department becomes aware of the beneficiary's ineligibility.

(c) A Special Utility Supplement has been established to assist Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries who are not eligible for the Lifeline Programs. This yearly supplement amount, established by law in lieu of Lifeline Credit or Tenants Assistance payment, will be added to each monthly SSI check in amount equal to 1 /12 of the yearly supplement.

1. When an SSI beneficiary is no longer eligible for the SSI Program, any remaining balance of the Special Utility Supplement may be dispersed accordingly.

i. If the terminated SSI beneficiary is eligible for Lifeline Credit or Tenants Assistance payment, the remaining balance of the Special Utility Supplement shall be issued to the individual in the form of a check.

ii. If the terminated SSI beneficiary is not eligible for Lifeline Credit or Tenants Assistance payment, the remaining balance of the Special Utility Supplement shall be returned to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:167D-1.4

Amended by, 49 N.J.R. 3220(a), effective 9/18/2017.