7 AAC 44.080 - Amount of assistance
(a) The department has assigned heating cost
points to each community in the state, based upon the community's annual fuel
cost and climatic conditions. These points are listed in Appendix A at the end
of this chapter.
(b) If the
household uses natural gas and another fuel type for heat, the department will
use the community heating cost points for natural gas in Appendix A.
(c) If the household uses self-harvested wood
or coal for heat, the department will use the community heating cost points for
oil in Appendix A multiplied by 0.5.
(d) If the household uses purchased wood or
coal for heat, the department will use the community heating cost points for
oil in Appendix A multiplied by 0.8.
(e) If the household uses purchased wood
pellets for heat, the department will use the community heating cost points for
oil in Appendix A multiplied by 0.9.
(f) If a household uses electricity, steam,
hot water, or propane for heat, the department will use the community heating
cost points for oil in Appendix A.
(g) The department will multiply the
community heating cost points determined under (a) - (f) of this section by the
first one of the following factors that describes the household's dwelling. If
more than one factor applies, the department will use the factor listed first:
(1) the factor of 1.4 if the household
resides in a mobile home or boat with heated living space of 980 square feet or
more;
(2) the factor of 0 .4 if the
household resides in a recreational vehicle, tent, or pickup camper;
(3) the factor of 0.15 if the household
resides in a one-room dwelling such as a studio apartment, hotel, or boarding
home;
(4) the factor of 0.35 if the
household resides on a boat with less than 980 square feet of heated living
space;
(5) the factor of 0.55 if
the household resides in a one-bedroom dwelling, or a one-room house or cabin
without bedrooms;
(6) the factor of
1.3 if the household resides in a three-or-more-bedroom single family, duplex,
or triplex home;
(7) the factor of
0.7 if the household resides in a two-bedroom unit in an apartment building of
four or more attached units, or resides in a mobile home with less than 980
square feet of heated living space regardless of the number of
bedrooms;
(8) the factor of 1.0 if
the household resides in a two-bedroom single-family home.
(h) If the household resides in a single
dwelling with one or more other households, the heating cost points determined
under (a) - (g) of this section are reduced to the household's proportionate
share of the home heating expenses.
(i) The department will assign each household
the following percentage of heating cost points determined under (a) - (h) of
this section, based on the household's gross monthly income and family size,
expressed as a percentage of the Alaska poverty level:
(1) 100 percent of points if the household's
gross monthly income is no more than 25 percent of the Alaska poverty
level;
(2) 90 percent of points if
the household's gross monthly income is more than 25 percent but no more than
50 percent of the Alaska poverty level;
(3) 80 percent of points if the household's
gross monthly income is more than 50 percent but no more than 75 percent of the
Alaska poverty level;
(4) 70
percent of points if the household's gross monthly income is more than 75
percent but no more than 100 percent of the Alaska poverty level;
(5) 60 percent of points if the household's
gross monthly income is more than 100 percent but no more than 125 percent of
the Alaska poverty level;
(6) 50
percent of points if the household's gross monthly income is more than 125
percent of the Alaska poverty level but no more than the maximum allowable
Alaska poverty level under this chapter.
(j) If the household's gross monthly income
exceeds the maximum allowable poverty level, the household is not eligible for
assistance under
7
AAC 44.010 -
7
AAC 44.090.
(k) The department will add one point to the
heating cost points determined under (a) - (i) of this section if the household
includes one or more members 60 years of age or older, legally disabled, or
under six years of age.
(l) The
department will reduce the heating cost points determined under (a) - (k) of
this section by 50 percent, regardless of the amount of the utility allowance
for heat, if a household
(1) resides in in
any type of subsidized housing;
(2)
is responsible for paying all or a portion of the household's heating costs
directly to a vendor; and
(3)
receives a utility allowance as part of the household's housing cost
calculation.
(m) A
household with heating cost points determined under (a) - (l) of this section
to be less than 2.0 is not eligible for assistance under
7
AAC 44.010 -
7
AAC 44.090.
(n) The department will round the total
heating cost points computed in (a) - (l) of this section to the nearest whole
number and multiply by the benefit rate to determine the amount of the
household heating assistance. The department will establish the benefit rate
annually based upon
(1) anticipated federal
money available for heating assistance and any state money that may be
appropriated to supplement federal money;
(2) the anticipated number of households to
be served in this state;
(3)
anticipated total household heating costs points calculated in accordance with
this section; and (4) dollar values per point as set out in
AS
47.25.623(c).
(o) The total heating cost points
determined under (n) of this section may not exceed 35 points.
(p) If the household meets the conditions set
out in this subsection, the department may reduce the amount of heating
assistance available under (n) and (o) of this section by the amount of the
unpaid balance that the household owes the department for previously awarded
heating assistance to which the household was not entitled. The department will
use this method of recoupment of overpayments only if the household has not
responded to the department's request for repayment or the household defaults
on its repayment agreement.
(q)
Notwithstanding (a) - (p) of this section, heating assistance is subject to the
availability of federal money and any state money that may be appropriated to
supplement federal money. Applicants will be served on a first-come,
first-served basis subject to the availability of federal money for benefits.
If the department determines, after the close of the application period set out
in 7 AAC 44.020(c),
that available federal money exceeds the total amount that can be expended,
obligated, and carried over into the next federal fiscal year under
42 U.S.C.
8621-
8630, the department may
distribute all or part of the surplus on a pro rata basis to households that
have been determined eligible to receive assistance under this
section.
Notes
Authority:AS 47.05.010
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