N.M. Admin. Code § 8.150.600.8

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 17, September 10, 2024

Section 8.150.600.8 - BENEFITS - ISSUANCE AND USE AND VENDOR RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Issuance of benefits: Benefits are issued in one of the following methods:

(1) recipient warrants: HCA issues benefits directly to recipients through recipient warrants when appropriate and only as a last resort;

(2) vendor payments: HCA issues benefits directly to the vendor;

(a) HCA will provide the account name and customer account number for the LIHEAP eligible household to the vendor specified by the household; the vendor will notify HCA of mismatches within a specified time frame;

(b) vendors who carry customer accounts will credit eligible households with the amount of the LIHEAP regular benefit no more than 30 days from the time of the payment; vendors who provide fuel on demand will provide fuel to eligible households equal to the amount of the LIHEAP regular benefit no more than 30 days from the date of the eligible household's contact with the vendor to make arrangements for the provision of such fuel;

(c) vendors shall return to the LIHEAP central office excess LIHEAP benefits from the account originally credited if that account is closed.

(d) vendors should transfer a LIHEAP benefit credit on an account that is closed after the credit is posted; the transfer must be to a new or existing account for the new residence of the recipient household; the vendor must document the transfer in a manner that meets generally accepted audit standards;

(e) vendors may refund LIHEAP benefit credit to a household under certain circumstances when the household moves or will not have service with the company at their residence; the vendor must document the transfer in a manner that meets generally accepted audit standards;

(f) vendors must refund LIHEAP benefit credits on closed accounts to HCA when the credit cannot be transferred to a new account or the household cannot be located.

B. Benefit use: The recipient household which receives a direct payment is responsible for using the benefit for the purpose intended:

(1) to purchase fuel, such as propane, wood, coal, kerosene, fuel oil or other unregulated fuels;

(2) to pay the household's utility charges, such as those for electric or natural gas services;

(3) to purchase gasoline or tools needed when a household gathers/cuts its own firewood;

(4) to pay a landlord for the utility costs that are included in the rent payment;

(5) to pay for a deposit obligation needed to initiate or continue service.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.150.600.8

7-1-95, 11-1-95, 11-15-96, 10-01-97; 8.150.600.8 NMAC - Rn, 8 NMAC 22.LHP.601 & A, 10-1-01; A, 10-1-05; A, 10-1-06; A, 10-1-12, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVI, Issue 18, September 29, 2015, eff. 10/1/2015, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024