STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

MILDRED C. LUNSFORD, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 81-2168L

)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND )

REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Pursuant to notice an administrative hearing was held in Tallahassee, Florida on September 29, 1981 before Delphene C. Strickland, Hearing Officer of the Division of Administrative Hearings, Department of Administration.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: Mildred C. Lunsford, pro se

621 Alpha Avenue

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

For Respondent: John L. Pearce, Esquire

Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services

2639 North Monroe Street, Suite 200-A Tallahassee, Florida 32303

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 an an approved form and a 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 her that her household income exceeded the monthly income limits and therefore she was ineligible for benefits. Petitioner made a timely request for a hearing. After an informal conference with a supervisor of 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 testified in her own behalf. Respondent called one witness.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Petitioner Mildred C. Lunsford requested a formal hearing by a letter dated August 24, 1981 subsequent to the required informal conference with a supervisor in the Respondent Department.

   
   

2. On July 15, 1981 Lunsford, a white female who lives alone, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance together with the required Medical Certification for Cooling. By Notice of Application Denial dated August 11, 1981 Petitioner was informed that she was denied assistance for the reason that her monthly household income exceeded the maximum income limits for her household size. The action was taken by Respondent within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and she was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits.

   
   

3. Petitioner does not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent Department but feels that assistance should have been based on need. She testified that others in her situation had been granted benefits and she felt this was unfair, but she refused to present any evidence to verify this testimony. Petitioner Lunsford's monthly household income during the month of her application was $318.00.

   
   

   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 81-18, 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 one-person household with a gross monthly countable income of $318.00. Rule 10 CER 81-9, Income, Florida Administrative Code, requires that the total monthly 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- 9(2)(b) provides in part: "Medicare premium deductions are not excluded from Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits." Rule 10 CER 81-11, Determination of Eligibility Based on Income, Subsection (2), Florida Administrative Code, limits monthly income for a one-person household to not more than $316.00. 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 by the Respondent Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services denying low income energy benefits to Petitioner.

DONE and ORDERED this 8th day of October, 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 8th day of October, 1981.

COPIES FURNISHED:

Ms. Mildred C. Lunsford 621 Alpha Avenue

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

John L. Pearce, Esquire Department of HRS

2639 North Monroe Street, Suite 200-A

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

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: 81-002168

Orders for Case No: 81-002168