N.J. Admin. Code § 5:49-3.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 5:49-3.6 - Determination of benefits

(a) The HEA program provides for heating, medically necessary cooling, emergency heating, supplemental heating, emergency supplemental heating, and emergency supplemental assistance cooling. The amount of available funds under these various assistance programs shall be determined as follows:

1. Annually, the amount of funds available for LIHEAP is determined by New Jersey's LIHEAP allocation from the USDHHS, any USDHHS leveraging funds awarded, and any unspent funds from the previous year which are carried forward. From these monies, an amount not to exceed 15 percent of available funding is transferred to the Department of Community Affairs for weatherization. In addition, an amount not to exceed 10 percent of available funding is allocated for the cost of program administration, to be shared by both DCA and DHS. Benefits are then determined after setting aside funds for heating emergencies and medically necessary cooling. These amounts are based on the number of eligible households assisted in prior years and the level of funding available in the current fiscal year. The highest benefit shall be issued to those households with the lowest incomes and the highest energy costs or needs in relation to income and household size.

(b) As provided at 5:49-3.5, heating assistance shall not exceed $ 1,400.

1. Each year the Department of Human Services will provide through a public notice published in the New Jersey Register, the benefit level matrix identifying benefit levels by household income, household size, fuel type, and geographical region.

(c) As provided at 5:49-3.4, emergency heating assistance shall not exceed $ 400.00 for the initial purchase of fuel. An additional benefit of up to $ 200.00 may be issued dependent on need.

(d) As provided at 5:49-3.3, medically necessary cooling assistance shall not exceed $ 100.00.

(e) In consideration of the needs of LIHEAP beneficiaries, funds unexpended during the regular heating season shall be made available for supplemental heating emergency situations. Eligible LIHEAP households who heat with electricity or natural gas, experience a utility shutoff between March 16 and May 31 or were issued a shutoff notice, and have made a good faith payment on their heating account during this period shall be eligible for supplemental heating emergency benefit. Such households shall receive a benefit based on availability of funding and the number of eligible households, as estimated from previous years.

(f) Any Federal supplemental allocations received shall be expended as emergency supplemental heating funds or emergency supplemental cooling funds, and in conformity with Federal law, regulation and contingencies, and may include the reopening of the application period.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:49-3.6

As amended, R.1980 d.548, effective 12/19/1980.
See: 13 N.J.R. 100(b).
As amended, R.1982 d.497, effective 12/30/1982.
See: 14 N.J.R. 1311(a), 15 N.J.R. 92(c).
Originally filed as an emergency adoption (R.1982 d.412) on November 1, 1982. Readopted as R.1982 d.497. Kerosene and electricity added to Schedule A and payment schedule amounts increased.
As amended, R. 1983 d.465, effective 10/17/1983, operative November 1, 1983.
See: 15 N.J.R. 1338(a), 15 N.J.R. 1768(c).
Two benefit levels added, required by the increase in gross monthly income guidelines.
Emergency amendment and concurrent proposal amended, R.1984 d.538, effective and operative November 1, 1984 (expires December 31, 1984).
See: 16 N.J.R. 3217(a).
Substantially amended.
Emergency amendment readopted R.1985 d.5, effective 1/2/1985.
See: 16 N.J.R. 3217(a), 17 N.J.R. 310(a).
Emergency Amendment, R.1985 d.539, effective 10/28/1985 (operative November 1, 1985, expires December 27, 1985).
See: 17 N.J.R. 2791(a).
Schedules substantially amended.
Readopted amendment R.1985 d.708, effective 12/24/1985.
See: 17 N.J.R. 2791(a), 18 N.J.R. 194(a).
(b) Natural gas raised from "$ 667.00" to "$ 668.00"; (d) Renters amended from "$ 918.01" to "$ 918.00."
Emergency Amendment, R.1987 d.496, effective 10/28/1987 (operative November 1, 1987, expires December 27, 1987).
See: 19 N.J.R. 2208(a).
Old text repealed and new text substituted.
Adopted Concurrent Proposal as R.1988 d.46, effective 12/24/1987.
See: 19 N.J.R. 2208(a), 20 N.J.R. 291(b).
Amended by R.1988 d.422, effective 9/6/1988.
See: 20 N.J.R. 1060(a), 20 N.J.R. 2293(a).
Added "and renters" to (c).
Emergency Repeal and New Rule, R.1992 d.38, effective 12/26/1991 (expires February 24, 1992).
See: 24 N.J.R. 300(b).
Adopted emergency repeal and new rule, R.1992 d.125, effective 2/21/1992.
See: 24 N.J.R. 300(b), 24 N.J.R. 952(b).
Provisions of emergency repeal and new rule R.1992 d.38 readopted without change.
Adopted emergency repeal and new rule, R.1992 d.517, effective 12/8/1992, operative January 1, 1993 (expires February 6, 1993).
See: 24 N.J.R. 4593(a).
Reduction of HEA schedules by 17 percent across the board.
Adopted concurrent repeal and new rule, R.1993 d.97, effective 1/28/1993.
See: 24 N.J.R. 4593(a), 25 N.J.R. 997(a).
Provisions of emergency repeal and new rule, R.1992 d.517, adopted without change.
Emergency Repeal and New Rule, R.1996 d.47, effective 12/21/1995 (expires February 19, 1996).
See: 28 N.J.R. 293(a).
Adopted Concurrent Repeal and New Rule, R.1996 d.134, effective 2/16/1996.
See: 28 N.J.R. 293(a), 28 N.J.R. 1537(a).
Emergency Repeal and New Rule, R.1997 d.149, effective 2/25/1997 (to expire April 26, 1997).
See: 29 N.J.R. 940(a).
Adopted concurrent proposal, R.1997 d.207, effective 4/25/1997.
See: 29 N.J.R. 940(a), 29 N.J.R. 2473(a).
Emergency Repeal and New Rule, R.1998 d.82, effective 1/9/1998 (to expire March 10, 1998).
See: 30 N.J.R. 568(a).
Adopted concurrent proposal, R.1998 d.168, effective 3/10/1998.
See: 30 N.J.R. 568(a), 30 N.J.R. 1285(a).
Emergency Repeal and New Rule, R.1999 d.139, effective 4/1/1999 (to expire May 31, 1999).
See: 31 N.J.R. 1105(a).
Adopted concurrent proposal, R.1999 d.197, effective 5/28/1999.
See: 31 N.J.R. 1105(a), 31 N.J.R. 1614(a).
Repeal and New Rule, R.2000 d.16, effective 1/3/2000.
See: 31 N.J.R. 3187(a), 32 N.J.R. 60(a).
Section was "Payment schedule--DFD/DCA".
Public Notice: Home Energy Assistance income eligibility and benefits.
See: 32 N.J.R. 720(b).
Emergency amendment, R.2000 d.160, effective 3/23/2000 (to expire May 22, 2000).
See: 32 N.J.R. 1426(a).
Added (g).
Emergency amendment, R.2000 d.160, expired May 22, 2000.
Deleted (g).
Public Notice: Home Energy Assistance income eligibility and benefits.
See: 34 N.J.R. 605(b).
Public Notice: Home Energy Assistance income eligibility and benefits.
See: 35 N.J.R. 894(a).
Public Notice: Home Energy Assistance Program.
See: 36 N.J.R. 1132(a).
Amended by R.2005 d.130, effective 5/2/2005.
See: 37 N.J.R. 18(a), 37 N.J.R. 1518(b).
In (b), increased heating assistance amount from $ 900.00 to $ 1,400; rewrote (c).
Public Notice: Home Energy Assistance Program.
See: 38 N.J.R. 847(b), 4755(b).
Public Notice: Home Energy Assistance Program.
See: 39 N.J.R. 5374(a).
Public Notice: Home Energy Assistance Program.
See: 46 N.J.R. 139(a).