PURPOSE: This rule establishes the basis upon which payments will be made to fuel suppliers for utility costs incurred by eligible Missouri residents for their primary home heating source and designates the criteria to be used in making these payments.

1. (1) State, federal and other funds may be expended for the partial payment of utility costs incurred for home heating by Missouri residents during the months of December, January and February of each calendar year beginning in December 1979.

2. (2) State, federal and other funds may be expended for the partial payment of utility costs incurred for home heating by Missouri residents during December, January and February of each calendar year; provided, they meet the following eligibility criteria:

   1. (A) The head of household or his/her spouse must be age sixty-five (65) or over, or meet the definition of disabled on or prior to the date of application for benefits. Disabled shall mean totally and permanently disabled or blind and receiving federal Social Security. Disability benefits or federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits on the basis of blindness or disability, Veterans Administration Disability benefits, State Blind Pension, State Aid to the Blind, State Supplemental Payments based on blindness or disability under the SSI Program or medical assistance based on blindness or disability;
   2. (B) The head of household, his/her spouse and any other household members have a combined gross semiannual income of three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3750) or less;
   3. (C) The head of household or his/her spouse have filed for tax relief under sections 135.010–135.035, RSMo inclusive for any taxable year beginning January 1, 1978;
   4. (D) They have had their owner-occupied dwelling weatherized under programs sponsored by the state office of economic opportunity, a local community action agency or the state Department of Natural Resources;
   5. (E) They have made application to have their owner-occupied dwellings weatherized under programs sponsored by the state office of economic opportunity, a local community action agency or the state Department of Natural Resources; and
   6. (F) Household shall be defined as the applicant for Utilicare benefits, his/her spouse and any other individuals living in their household as one (1) economic unit for whom residential home heating fuels are customarily purchased in common.
3. (3) State, federal and other funds may be expended under this program in one (1)-time line of credit payments to a participating fuel supplier per each eligible household not to exceed a maximum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per eligible household for the covered period during any calendar year. Eligible households utilizing wood as their primary fuel source will receive a one (1)-time direct cash payment of one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Eligible households making undesignated payments for home heating in their regular monthly rental charge will receive a one (1)-time direct cash payment equal to eight percent (8%) of their annual rental charge or a maximum of one hundred dollars ($100) whichever is less. Eligible households who are paying a landlord directly for the amount of home heating actually used each month will receive a one (1)-time direct cash payment of one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Eligible households utilizing coal as their primary fuel source will receive a one (1)-time direct cash payment of one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Eligible households whose vendor either does not participate in the program or refuses to provide service to the household will receive a one (1)-time direct cash payment of one hundred fifty dollars ($150).
4. (4) Not more than one (1) energy assistance card will be issued to each eligible household during the covered period.
5. (5) No funds for the services included in this program shall be expended until a specific appropriation for this purpose has been made.

AUTHORITY: section 207.020, RSMo 1994.* Emergency rule filed Nov. 9, 1979, effective Nov. 19, 1979, expired Feb. 10, 1980. Original rule filed Nov. 9, 1979, effective Feb. 11, 1980. Emergency amendment filed Dec. 11, 1979, effective Dec. 21, 1979, expired Feb. 10, 1980. Amended: Filed Feb. 8, 1980, effective May 11, 1980. Emergency amendment filed Nov. 26, 1980, effective Dec. 6, 1980, expired March 11, 1981. Amended: Filed Nov. 26, 1980, effective March 12, 1981. Emergency amendment filed Nov. 19, 1981, effective Dec. 1, 1981, expired March 10, 1982. Amended: Filed Nov. 19, 1981, effective March 11, 1982. Emergency amend- 13 CSR 40-19 ment filed Oct. 29, 1982, effective Nov. 15, 1982, expired Feb. 10, 1983. Amended: Filed Oct. 29, 1982, effective Feb. 11, 1983. *Original authority: 207.020, RSMo 1945, amended 1961, 1965, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1993.