STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

THOMAS ATKINS, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 81-1900L

) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ) REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Pursuant to notice an administrative hearing was held in Palatka, Florida on August 19, 1981 before the undersigned Hearing Officer of the Division of Administrative Hearings, Department of Administration.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: Thomas Atkins, pro se

105 Central Avenue

Crescent City, Florida 32012

For Respondent: Joseph E. Hodges, Esquire

Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services

2002 Northwest 13th Street Oak Park Executive Square Gainesville, Florida 32601

ISSUE

Whether Petitioner is eligible for low income energy assistance as provided in Section 409.508, Florida Statutes (1980), Home Energy Assistance Program; Rules 10 CER 81-5 through 81-13, Low Income Energy Assistance Program, amended by Rules 10 CER 81-16 and 81-17, Florida Administrative Code.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Respondent Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services was designated in Section 409.508, Florida Statutes (1980), Home Energy Assistance Program, as the state agency to administer the Federal Home Energy Assistance Program as provided for in Title III, Public Law 96-223, "Home Energy Assistance Act of 1980." Pursuant thereto Respondent instituted the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.

A timely Household Application for benefits on an approved form and the required Medical Certification for Cooling were received from Petitioner. The application was promptly processed by the Respondent Department. A Notice of Application Denial was mailed to Petitioner notifying him that his household

income exceeded the monthly income limits and therefore he was ineligible for benefits. Petitioner made a timely request for a hearing. After 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 his rights and instructed as to the procedures to be followed at the hearing. Petitioner testified in his own behalf. Respondent called one witness.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Petitioner Thomas Atkins requested a hearing by a letter received in the office of Respondent on July 31, 1981. After the required informal conference with a supervisor in the Respondent Department Petitioner requested a formal hearing.

   
   

2. On June 14, 1981 Atkins, a black male, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance with the required Medical Certification for Cooling. He lives with one other person. No one in his household is a migrant or migrant farm worker, and no one else has applied for the low income energy assistance. By Notice of Application Denial mailed June 19, 1981 Petitioner was informed that he was denied assistance for the reason that his monthly household income exceeded the maximum income limits for a household of his size. The action was taken by Respondent within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and he was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits.

   
   

3. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent Department but felt that assistance should have been based on need. Petitioner Atkins' monthly household income during the month of his application was in excess of $600.00.

   
   

   CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

   
   

4. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction of this matter and the parties thereto pursuant to Section 120.57, Administrative Procedures Act, Florida Statutes, and Rule 10 CER 81-13, Hearings for Individual Households, Rules Promulgated by the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Florida Administrative Code.

   
   

5. Section 409.508, Florida Statutes (1980), Home Energy Assistance Program, Section 2, designates the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services as the state agency to administer the Federal Home Energy Assistance Program as provided for in Title III, Public Law 96-223, "Home Energy Assistance Act of 1980," and to provide home energy assistance benefits to eligible households. The Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services promulgated Emergency Rule 10 CER 81-5 through 81-13, Low Income Energy Assistance Program, to carry out the provisions of the act and amended said rule by Emergency Rule

   10 CER 81-16, Florida Administrative Code, to extend the time period for application through July 17, 1981. Respondent has followed the foregoing statute, act and rules.

   
   

6. Petitioner made application for benefits for a two (2) person household with a gross monthly countable income of more than $600.00. Rule 10 CER 81-9, Income, Florida Administrative Code, requires that the total income received by all household members during the month of application be considered (excluding only specified funds not pertinent to the facts of this case). Rule 10 CER 81- 11, Determination of Eligibility Based on Income, Subsection (2), Florida

Administrative Code, 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 a final order be entered denying low income energy benefits to Petitioner.

DONE and ORDERED this 17th day of September, 1981, in Tallahassee, Leon County, 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 17th day of September, 1981.

COPIES FURNISHED:

MR. THOMAS ATKINS

105 CENTRAL AVENUE

CRESCENT CITY, FLORIDA 32012

JOSEPH E. HODGES, ESQUIRE DEPARTMENT OF HRS

2002 NORTHWEST 13TH STREET OAK PARK EXECUTIVE SQUARE GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32601

ALVIN J. TAYLOR, SECRETARY

ATTN: SUSAN B. KIRKLAND, ESQUIRE DEPARTMENT OF HRS

BUILDING ONE, ROOM 406 1323 WINEWOOD BOULEVARD

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32301

Docket for Case No: 81-001900

Orders for Case No: 81-001900