STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

AUDREY O. WIGGINS, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 81-490L

)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND )

REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Pursuant to notice an administrative hearing was held in Jacksonville, Florida on March 24, 1981 before the undersigned Hearing Officer of the Division of Administrative Hearings, Department of Administration.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: Audrey O. Wiggins, pro se

1958-H Long Bay Head Middleburg, Florida 32068

For Respondent: Paul C. Doyle, Esquire

Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services

5920 Arlington Expressway

Jacksonville, Florida 32231 ISSUE

Whether Petitioner is eligible for low income energy assistance as provided in Chapter. 80-167, Laws of Florida, Rule 10 CER 80-11 amended by Rule 10 CER 81-4.08 through 4.11, Florida Administrative Code.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Respondent Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services was designated in Chapter 80-167, Laws of Florida, as the state agency to administer the Federal Home Energy Assistance Program as provided in Title III, Public Law 96-

223. Pursuant thereto Respondent instituted the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.

A timely Household Application for benefits on an approved form was received from Petitioner. The application was promptly processed by the Respondent Department. A Notice of Application Denial was mailed to Petitioner notifying her that her household income exceeded the monthly income and therefore she was ineligible for benefits. Petitioner made a timely request for a hearing. After Petitioner had an informal conference with a supervisor of the Respondent Department this administrative hearing was scheduled. Immediately

prior to commencement of the hearing, in the presence of all parties, Petitioner was advised of her rights and instructed as to the procedures to be followed at the hearing. Petitioner called one witness. Respondent called one witness and offered three (3) exhibits which were entered as evidence.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Petitioner Wiggins requested a hearing by telephone and by a letter received in the office of Respondent on February 27, 1981. After having an informal conference with a supervisor in Respondent Department Petitioner requested a formal hearing.

   
   

2. On January 12, 1981 Audrey O. Wiggins, a white female, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance. No one in her household is a migrant or migrant farm worker, and no one else has applied for the low income energy assistance. She lives in a house with her husband and received a bill for use of electricity for heating. Her gross non-earned monthly income is

   $425.40. By Notice of Application Denial mailed February 11, 1981 Petitioner was informed that she was denied assistance for the reason that her monthly income exceeded the monthly income limits for a household of her size.

   
   

3. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent but stated that it was very difficult to live on the income of herself and her husband and would appreciate any help they could receive.

   
   

   Witness for the Respondent substantiated the evidence received and explained the procedure followed for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.

   
   

4. Under Rule 10 CER 80-11.07 Petitioner Wiggins' household exceeds the income limit of $418.00 for a household of two (2) persons. Action was taken by Respondent within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and she was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits.

   
   

   CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

   
   

5. The Division of Administrative Hearing has jurisdiction of this matter and the parties thereto pursuant to Section 120.57, Florida Statutes, and 10 CER 80-11.13, Rules Promulgated by the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Florida Administrative Code.

   
   

6. Chapter 80-167, Laws of Florida, Energy Research and Development Task Force, Section 4, Home Energy Assistance Benefits authorizes the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services to administer the Federal Home Energy Assistance Program as provided in Title III, Public Law 96-223 and to provide home energy assistance benefits to eligible households. The Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services promulgated Emergency Rule 10 CER 80-11 to carry out the provisions of the act and amended said Rule by Emergency Rule 10 CER 80-11 to extend the time period for application.

   
   

7. Petitioner made application for benefits for a two (2) person household with a gross income of $429.40. Rule 10 CER 80-11.07, Florida Administrative Code, Determination of Eligibility Based on Income, Subsection (2), limits monthly income for a two (2) person household to $418.00. Thus the Petitioner is not eligible for low income energy assistance.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law the Hearing Officer recommends that low Income energy benefits be denied Petitioner.

DONE and ORDERED this 27th day of March, 1981, in Tallahassee, Florida.

DELPHENE C. STRICKLAND

Hearing Officer

Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building

2009 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

(904) 488-9675

Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 27th day of March, 1981.

COPIES FURNISHED:

Audrey O. Wiggins 1958B Long Bay Road

Middleburg, Florida 32068

Paul C. Doyle, Esquire Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 5920 Arlington Expressway Post Office Box 2417F Jacksonville, Florida 32231

Mr. Alvin J. Taylor Secretary

Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 1323 Winewood Boulevard

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

Docket for Case No: 81-000490

Orders for Case No: 81-000490