3702.1 In order to be eligible for a benefit, the applicant household shall:

(a) Be financially eligible, by meeting the following annual income eligibility requirements:

(1) For participation in the CRIAC portion of CAP, the income requirements established at 21 DCMR § 4102.1 (a)(2), which are that the applicant's annual household income is below sixty percent (60%) of the State Median Income (SMI) for the District of Columbia;

(2) For participation in the CRIAC portion of CAP2, the income requirements established at 21 DCMR § 4102.2 (a)(2) for water and sewer bill benefits, which are that the applicant's annual household income is at or above sixty percent (60%) of the SMI for the District of Columbia and at or below eighty percent (80%) of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the District of Columbia not capped by the United States median low income limit (USLIL); and

(3) For participation in CAP3, the applicant's annual household income is above eighty percent (80%) of the AMI for the District of Columbia not capped by the USLIL and at or below one-hundred percent (100%) of the AMI for the District of Columbia; and

(b) Be responsible for payment of DC Water's water and sewer services bill or the CRIAC; and

(c) Reside in the District of Columbia.

3702.2 The applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old or emancipated.

3702.3 A determination of financial eligibility shall be based on the adjusted gross income of the household, unless the applicant can provide sufficient evidence that the adjusted gross income is not an accurate representation of current income.

3702.4 As a condition of eligibility, each applicant shall sign a release, or provide electronic acknowledgement, authorizing the Department to obtain or verify information necessary to process the application or for reporting purposes.

3702.5 Each applicant shall cooperate fully in establishing his or her eligibility, the nature of the need, and the extent of the need, each of which shall include providing documentation or other proof of:

(a) Household composition;

(b) Income; and

(c) Any additional information that the Department may require.

3702.6 The Department may obtain the information used in determining eligibility from:

(a) A document;

(b) A telephone conversation or interview for which notes are taken;

(c) Data from another government agency or utility provider;

(d) Internet data; and

(e) Other relevant sources.

3702.7 The eligibility and benefit determination will be completed within thirty (30) days after the Department receives a completed application, or, in the event of an unexpected or extenuating circumstance that affects the Department, such as a natural disaster, as promptly thereafter as possible, except that the following shall toll the timeline:

(a) An applicant's failure to supply information to document facts stated in an application;

(b) An inability to contact an applicant after three (3) attempts;

(c) Evidence of misrepresentation in an application;

(d) A failure to respond by a third party from whom the Department has requested information and over whom the Department has no control; or

(e) A delay in receipt of necessary information over which the Department has no control.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 66 DCR 12966 (October 4, 2019).