The Issue The parties stipulated that the sole basis for denial of Petitioner's application for benefits was that his income for the month in which he applied exceeded the maximum income limit for a two-person household. The sole issue is whether the Petitioner was within the maximum income limit.
Findings Of Fact Clyde Britt applied for Low Income Energy Assistance Program benefits in July, 1981. The Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services denied Britt's application solely because Britt's income in July, the month he applied, was $419 and exceeded the maximum income limit of $418 for a two-person household. In the month of June, 1981, Britt received $394.50 and would have qualified had he applied in that month. The increase in Britt's income was due to the automatic cost of living allowance which was paid in July.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, and having considered the post-hearing letter from Petitioner Britt, the Hearing Officer recommends that Low Income Energy Assistance Program benefits be denied Petitioner. DONE and ORDERED this 20th day of October, 1981, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. STEPHEN F. DEAN, 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 20th day of October, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Mr. Clyde Britt 5307 North East Second Avenue, Apt. P-1220 Miami, Florida 33138 Leonard Helfand, Esquire Department of HRS Room 104, Rhode Building 401 North West Second Avenue Miami, Florida 33128 Alvin J. Taylor, Secretary Attn: Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS Building One, Room 406 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
The Issue Whether Petitioner is eligible for low income energy assistance as provided in Chapter 80-167, Laws of Florida; Rule 10 CER 80-11, Low Income Energy Assistance Program, amended by Rule 10 CER 81-4.08 through 4.11, Florida Administrative Code.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Charlie Burch requested a hearing by letter of February 19, 1981 and by letter of March 18, 1981. After the required informal conference with a supervisor in Respondent Department Petitioner requested a formal hearing. Petitioner failed to appear at the first hearing scheduled but requested that he be heard at a future date and appeared at the second hearing. On January 9, 1981 Burch, a black male, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance. No one in his household is a migrant or migrant farm worker, and no one else has applied for the low income energy assistance. He receives food stamps, lives with one other person and receives a bill for use of electricity for heating. By Notice of Application Denial mailed February 5, 1981 Petitioner was informed that he was denied assistance for the reason that his monthly income exceeded the maximum income for a household of his size. Action was taken by Respondent within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and he was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent Department but was convinced the income limit by household size was unfair with his wife's illness and other high bills. Under Rule 10 CER 80-11.07, Determination of Eligibility Based on Income, Florida Administrative Code, and the applicable chart Petitioner Burch's household income exceeds the income limit of $418.00 for a household of two (2) persons.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Finding's of Fact and Conclusions of Law the Hearing' Officer recommends that low income energy benefits be denied Petitioner. DONE and ORDERED this 1st day of May, 1981, 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 1st day of May, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Mr. Charlie Burch Post Office Box 15 Pomona Park, Florida 32081 Alvin J. Taylor, Secretary Joseph E. Hodges, Esq. Attn: Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS Department of HRS 2002 NW 13th Street Building One, Room 406 Oak Park Executive Square 1323 Winewood Boulevard Gainesville, Florida 32601 Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact At all times here relevant Bettye Jean Jenkins lived in a government supported housing project in Tallahassee, Florida. Her rental payment is a fixed sum determined by the family's monthly gross income. This rent also includes utility costs. Petitioner was advised that she was eligible for Low Income Energy Assistance payments by employees of Respondent since she had a certification by a doctor that, for health reasons, she should live in an air conditioned space. Petitioner does not have air conditioning. After completing her application, which was initially approved, Petitioner was subsequently advised by Respondent that because she did not have air conditioning and pay additional costs for electricity she was not eligible for Low Income Energy Assistance for cooling. Emergency Rule 10 CER 81-8, issued by the Department of Health and Welfare from whom the Low Income Energy Assistance funds come, provides: A household is not eligible when a government program is paying for the rising cost of cooling energy. This cost is paid by the housing project or facility where you live.
The 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.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Joannah Reed requested a hearing by telephone and by a written Request for Hearing received in the office of Respondent on March 17, 1981. After having an informal conference with a supervisor in Respondent Department Petitioner requested a formal hearing. On February 5, 1981 Reed, a black female, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance. No one in her household is handicapped or a migrant or migrant farm worker, and no one else has applied for the low income energy assistance. She lives in a housing project with three (3) other people and receives a bill for use of electricity for heating. Three (3) members of her household receive food stamps, and the gross monthly earned and non-earned income is $789.10. By Notice of Application Denial mailed February 26, 1981 Petitioner was informed that she was denied assistance for the reason that her adjusted monthly income exceeded $612.00, the maximum income limit for a household of her size. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent but was dissatisfied with the income limits by household size. She stated that many people lied about their income and received benefits, but she told the truth and was denied. The witness for Respondent substantiated the evidence received and explained the procedure followed for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. Under Rule 10 CER 80-11.07, Florida Administrative Code, Petitioner Reed's household income exceeds the income limit of $621.00 for a household of four (4) 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.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law the Hearing Officer recommends that low income energy benefits be denied. DONE and ORDERED this 31st day of March, 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 31st day of March, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Ms. Joannah Reed 2023 NW 34th Avenue Gainesville, Florida 32605 Joseph E. Hodges, Esquire Department of HRS 2002 NW 13th Street Oak Park Executive Square Gainesville, Florida 32601
Findings Of Fact On June 3, 1981, Petitioner, Ethel Tatum, filed a household application for cooling assistance under the Low Income Energy Assistance Program with Respondent, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. Petitioner resides in Highlands County, Florida, which is part of Abe Central Cooling Climatic Region for purposes of determining the level of assistance to be given claimants. After reviewing the application, Respondent requested applicant to furnish "....verification of (her) earned income..." on July 14, 1981, in order to complete processing of the application. In response to this request, a representative of the Agriculture and Labor Program, Inc. sent copies of Mr. & Mrs. Tatum's check stubs for June, 1980 through May, 1981, to verify the household's monthly income. The application was ultimately denied by Respondent on August 24, 1981, on the ground Petitioner had failed to furnish verification of her income as required by Department rule. When the application was filed, petitioner and two other persons lived in her household. She disclosed that her total countable monthly income for June, 1981, was 558, which exceeds the $519 income limitation for households having three persons. Accordingly, even though the Department based its action on lack of verification of income, Petitioner was ineligible for assistance because she exceeded the income limitations prescribed by Department rule.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that the application of Ethel M. Tatum for cooling assistance be DENIED. DONE and ENTERED this 8th day of February, 1982, in Tallahassee, Florida. DONALD R. ALEXANDER 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 Hearing this 8th day of February, 1982. COPIES FURNISHED: Ethel M. Tatum 1416 South Carolina Drive Avon Park, Florida 33825 Anthony N. DeLuccia, Jr., Esquire Department of HRS 8800 Cleveland Avenue, South Fort Myers, Florida 33907 Ms. Ollie Mae Hawkins Agricultural & Labor Program, Inc. 1650 Highlands Avenue Avon Park, Florida 33825
Findings Of Fact Petitioner James D. Johnson, Sr. requested a hearing on a form letter received in the office of Respondent on March 12, 1981. After the required informal conference with a supervisor in Respondent Department Petitioner requested a formal hearing. On February 10, 1981 Johnson, a white male, filed a household application for low income energy assistance. No one in his household is a migrant or migrant farm worker, and no one else has applied for the low income energy assistance. He receives food stamps and receives a bill for use of wood for heating. The house he lives in is divided into a unit for him and a unit for his son. The living quarters of each are connected by a hallway but each person lives as a separate family, and each heats his own unit. By Notice of Application Denial mailed February 23, 1981 Petitioner was informed that he was denied assistance for the reason that his gross monthly income exceeded the maximum income limit for a household of his size. His income plus the income of his son was added, although it was not entered on the application. The total exceeded the maximum income limit for a household of two (2) people. Action was taken by Respondent within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and he was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits. In the letter filed in this case, supra, Petitioner disputed the evidence presented by Respondent Department, stating that "the fact that I live in and rent part of my son's home does not give me access to his income." After considering the testimony of Petitioner and the statement of Respondent that Respondant would not deny Petitioner lived alone in one side of the house and heated his own unit, the Hearing Officer finds that Petitioner has a one person household and his gross non-earned income is $200.80 per month. Under Rule 10 CER 80-11.07, Florida Administrative Code, and the applicable chart Petitioner Johnson's one person household does not exceed the income limit of $316.00 for a household of one person.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law the Hearing Officer recommends that Petitioner is eligible for low income energy benefits. DONE and ORDERED this 6th day of April, 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 6th day of April, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Mr. James D. Johnson, Sr. 1213 NE Osceola Avenue Ocala, Florida 32670 James A. Sawyer, Esquire Department of HRS 3001 SW Broadway Ocala, Florida 32672 Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact Laura M. Davis lives in a low income government supported housing project in Tallahassee, Florida. Her rental payment is a fixed sum determined by her monthly gross income. This rent also includes utility costs. She was advised that she was eligible for Low Income Energy Assistance payments by employees of Respondent since she had a certification by a doctor that, for health reasons, she should live in a air conditioned space. Petitioner does not have air conditioning. After completing her application, which was initially approved, Petitioner was subsequently advised by Respondent that because she did not have air conditioning and pay additional costs for electricity she was not eligible for Low Income Energy Assistance for cooling. Emergency Rule 10 CER 81-8, issued by the Department of Health and Welfare from whom the Low Income Energy Assistance funds come, provides: A household is not eligible when a government program is paying for the rising cost of cooling energy. This cost is paid by the housing project or facility where you live.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Frank Selecky requested a hearing by a letter received in the office of Respondent on March 4, 1981. After the required informal conference with a supervisor in Respondent Department Petitioner requested a formal hearing. On January 8, 1981 Selecky, a white male, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance. No one in his household is a migrant or migrant farm worker, and no one else has applied for the low income energy assistance. He lives alone and receives a bill for use of liquid propane for heating. By Notice of Application Denial mailed February 18, 1981 Petitioner was informed that he was denied assistance for the reason that his monthly income exceeded the maximum income for a household of his size. Action was taken by Respondent within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and he was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent Department but was convinced the in come limit by household size was unfair, especially since he has no kidneys, is on dialysis, has large medical and automobile fuel bills and is sixty-nine (69) years old. He has had difficulty in collecting his insurance reimbursement. Under Rule 10 CER 80-11.07, Florida Administrative Code, and the applicable chart Petitioner Selecky's income exceeds the income limit of $316.00 for a household of one person.
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 6th day of April, 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 6th day of April, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Mr. Frank Selecky Route 2, Box 985 Webster, Florida 33597 James A. Sawyer, Esquire Department of HRS 3001 SW Broadway Ocala, Florida 32671 Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact By application dated April 5, 1982, Petitioner, Carolyn W. Albury, sought financial assistance under the Low Income Energy Assistance Program from Respondent, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. The application was received by Respondent on April 15, 1982. By Notice dated May 10, 1982, Respondent requested Petitioner to furnish a form verifying the income reflected on her application no later than May 24, 1982. On May 20, 1982, Petitioner filed HRS Form 112 indicating that her employer, Dade County School Board, would not supply that information. Instead, she later submitted a pay stub for a two week pay-period in May, 1982, reflecting bi-weekly income of $493. The application was ultimately denied by notice dated June 1, 1982, on the ground Albury had not furnished verification of income for the month of April, 1982 and because such verification had not been timely filed in accordance with the instructions in the notice of May 10. Thereafter, Petitioner requested an administrative hearing to appeal the decision of the Department. Petitioner's application states she resides in her household with two other persons. However, her daughter resides the majority of time in a college dormitory and cannot be included as a member of the household. The total countable monthly income for the household is approximately $1,070. After deducting a 20 percent allowance given to applicants who are employed, the income still exceeds the monthly income limitation of $474 for households having two persons. Therefore, Albury was ineligible for assistance. Applicant did not dispute the Department's determination that their total monthly countable income exceeded acceptable income limitations prescribed by the Department. However, she contended that HRS instructions were unclear as to the type of income verification required, and had she been told to furnish pay stubs for the month of April, she would have done so. She also stated that she must use an air-conditioner and respiratory equipment at her home because of asthma and emphysema, and is in need of financial assistance.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that the application of Carolyn W. Albury for energy assistance be DENIED. DONE and ENTERED this 29th day of July, 1982, in Tallahassee, Florida. DONALD R. ALEXANDER 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 29th day of July, 1982. COPIES FURNISHED: Ms. Carolyn W. Albury 1265 North West 86th Street Miami, Florida 33147 Leonard Helfand, Esquire Department of HRS 401 North West 2nd Avenue, Suite 1040 Miami, Florida 33128
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Jessie Gallon 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. On January 28, 1981 Gallon, a black 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 one other person and receives a bill for use of kerosene for heating. She does not get food stamps, and her gross monthly income consists of payments in excess of $420.00 per month. By Notice of Application Denial mailed February 17, 1981 Petitioner was informed that she was denied assistance for the reason that her adjusted monthly income exceeded the maximum income limit for a household of her size. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent but was dissatisfied with the income limits by household size and stated other people much better off than she get a variety of assistance and she cannot even get five (5) gallons of kerosene for heat, and she feels that the system is unfair. The witness for Respondent substantiated the evidence received and explained the procedure followed for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. Respondent's Exhibits 1 and 2 were entered into evidence. Under Rule 10 CER 80-11.07, Florida Administrative Code, Petitioner Gallon's household income 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.
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 6th day of April, 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 6th day of April, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Ms. Jessie Gallon 1304 Pearce Street Jacksonville, Florida 32209 Paul C. Doyle, Esquire Department of HRS 5920 Arlington Expressway Post Office Box 2417-F Jacksonville, Florida 32231 Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
