7 AAC 44.080. Amount of assistance

(a) The division 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 division 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 division 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 division will use the community heating cost points for oil in Appendix A multiplied by 0.8.

(e) The division will multiply the community heating cost points determined under (a) - (d) of this section by the first one of the following factors that describes the household's dwelling. If more than one factor applies, the division will use the factor listed first:

(1) the factor of 1.4 if the household resides in a mobile home with heated living space of 980 square feet or more;

(2) the factor of 0.4 if the household resides in a travel trailer or mobile home less than 35 feet in length, or 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;

(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.

(f) If the household resides in a single residence with one or more other households, the heating cost points determined under (a) - (e) of this section are reduced to the household's proportionate share of the home heating expenses.

(g) The division will assign each household the following percentage of heating cost points determined under (a) - (f) 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 no 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.

(h) If the household's gross monthly income exceeds the maximum allowable poverty level the household is not eligible.

(i) The division will add one point to the heating cost points determined under (g) and (h) 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.

(j) Households with heating cost points determined under (g) - (i) of this section to be less than 2.0 are not eligible.

(k) The division will round the total heating cost points computed in (a) - (j) of this section to the nearest whole number and multiply by the benefit rate to determine the amount of the household heating assistance. The division will establish the benefit rate annually based upon

(1) anticipated federal money available for heating assistance;

(2) the anticipated number of households to be served in this state, and

(3) anticipated total household heating costs points calculated in accordance with this section.

(l) The total heating cost points determined under (k) of this section may not exceed 35 points.

(m) If the household meets the conditions set out in this subsection, the division will, in the division's discretion reduce the amount of heating assistance available under (k) and (l) of this section by the amount of the unpaid balance that the household owes the division for previously awarded heating assistance to which the household was not entitled. The division will use this method of recoupment of overpayments only if the household has not responded to the division's request for repayment or the household defaults on its repayment agreement.

(n) Notwithstanding (a) - (m) of this section, heating assistance is subject to the availability of federal money. Applicants will be served on a first come, first served basis subject to the availability of federal money for benefits. If the division 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 - 8629, as amended August 27, 1998, the division will, in its discretion, 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.

History: Eff. 1/24/80, Register 73; am 12/23/80, Register 77; am 5/21/81, Register 78; am 6/2/82, Register 82; am 6/30/83, Register 86; am 3/30/84, Register 89; am 3/24/85, Register 93; am 11/1/89, Register 112; am 12/22/94, Register 132; am 10/1/99, Register 151

Authority: AS 47.05.010

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