Findings Of Fact On March 16, 1982, the Petitioner, Erwin V. Kunz, filed a household application for financial assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. After its review of this application, the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services advised the Petitioner of its denial on the ground that he and his wife have more than the prescribed monthly income to be eligible. The Petitioner resides with his wife in their household in Ocala. Their total countable monthly income is $498.47 which is paid by the Social Security Administration. This amount exceeds the monthly income limitation of $474.00 for households having two persons. Therefore, the Petitioner is ineligible for assistance. The Petitioner does not dispute the Department's determination that his total monthly countable income exceeds the acceptable income limitations prescribed by the Department. However, he contends that because of high utility bills, and other recurring costs, he is in need of assistance to meet his financial burdens. Unfortunately, only countable income received during the month of the application is relevant in determining eligibility for benefits.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that the application of Erwin V. Kunz for energy assistance be denied. THIS RECOMMENDED ORDER entered on this 16th day of July, 1982, in Tallahassee, Florida. WILLIAM B. THOMAS, 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 16th day of July, 1982. COPIES FURNISHED: Mr. Erwin V. Kunz 476 Spring Drive Ocala, Florida 32672 Joseph E. Hodges, Esquire 2002 North West 13th Street Gainesville, Florida 32601 Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services Building 1, Room 406 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
The 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.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Ethel C. Armstrong requested a formal hearing after the required informal conference with a supervisor employed by Respondent Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. On June 27, 1981 Armstrong, a seventy-seven (77) year old woman who lives alone, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance with the required Medical Certification for Cooling. By Notice of Application Denial Petitioner was informed the she was denied assistance for the reason that her monthly household income exceeded the maximum income limits for a household of her size. The action was taken within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and she was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent Department but felt that assistance should have been based on need. Armstrong's monthly household income during the month of her application was at least $322.30.
Recommendation Based on the for going 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 15th day of December, 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 15th day of December, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Ms. Ethel C. Armstrong 2207 Olney Road Lakeland, Florida 33801 Anthony N. DeLuccia, Jr., Esquire Department of HRS 8800 Cleveland Avenue, South Post Office Box 06085 Fort Myers, Florida 33907 David H. Pingree, Secretary Attn: Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS Building one, Room 406 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact By application for Home Energy Assistance dated November 16, 1982 (Exhibit 1) , Ora Andrews, Petitioner, listed her name, the names of her three daughters, and four of their nine children on the eight lines on the application form as occupants of the same household. She also included total family income of $1,239 per month. On a separate page she listed the names of her other five grandchildren living in her household and mailed these documents to Respondent. When the energy benefits for Petitioner were computed, the second sheet had become separated from the application, the benefit was computed for an eight-member household (including the applicant), and Petitioner was forwarded a check for $13, presumably the low income home energy assistance to which an applicant with the income reported by Petitioner in an eight-member household was entitled. Maximum income below which a household may be eligible for home energy assistance is $1,288 per month. Accordingly, Petitioner qualified for such assistance. By the time thin application was submitted, Respondent had sufficient funds for only partial payment of the maximum amount authorized and had established, by emergency rule, the amounts to be paid under modified tables similar to the tables listed in 10C-29.19(4), Florida Administrative Code. The amount payable under this emergency rule was not presented at the hearing. Neither Respondent's sole witness nor Respondent's attorney presented any evidence to show how the benefit received by Petitioner was computed, the rules under which the benefit was computed, or other evidence to show the $13 paid to Petitioner was, indeed, correct.
Findings Of Fact The Petitioner, Michele Ann Matlock, applied for low income home energy assistance payments by an application filed with the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services at its New Port Richey service center on November 15, 1983. After reviewing the application and determining that additional verification was needed, the Department requested additional verification of the Petitioner's income on November 16, 1983. According to the testimony of a Department employee, this verification was delivered by hand at the time the application was received; however, this testimony was not based on personal recollection but upon the fact that the copy of the letter bore no address. The Petitioner did not receive the Department's letter requesting additional verification of income. The time stamp reveals the application was received on November 15, 1983. The date of the letter of request was November 16, 1983. Clearly, the Department's letter was not contemporaneous with the receipt of the application. On December 8, 1983, the Department denied the Petitioner's application and found her ineligible for participation in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program because it had not received a reply to its letter of November 16, 1983. The Petitioner testified at hearing that her husband earned $640 per month (four weeks) during the period of eligibility determination. Petitioner, her husband, and her two children receive food stamps, live in Zone 4, heat with electricity, and constitute a family of four.
Recommendation Because the Petitioner did not actually receive the Department's letter requesting additional information, it is recommended that the Petitioner's application for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefits be redetermined based upon the income figures and family size provided in paragraph six of the Findings of Fact, supra. DONE and RECOMMENDED this 6th day of June, 1984, 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 6th day of June, 1984. COPIES FURNISHED: Ms. Michele Ann Matlock 2990 Fourth Avenue, Apt. #56 Hudson, Florida 3567 Carol M. Wind, Esquire Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 2255 East Bay Drive Clearwater, Florida 33546 David M. Pingree, Secretary Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact The Petitioner was the recipient of approximately $50 per month in low income home energy assistance benefits in the assistance period immediately prior to the one at issue. She is a grandmother and is raising six grandchildren in her home. Her only income is social security and Aide to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits. There is no dispute in this proceeding that the Petitioner is financially qualified to receive the subject low income home energy assistance benefits. The Petitioner requires the subject benefits in order to pay for fuel oil and gas for home heating and cooking. Sometime in December, 1982, the Petitioner received an application form for the subject benefits from the HRS office in Gainesville, Florida. She filled out the form and gave it to her niece, Charlotte Bright, who testified in this proceeding, for mailing. Charlotte Bright mailed the form on the evening of December 26, 1982, in Gainesville. She looked on the mailbox in which she mailed the letter, and observed that the posted times for the Postal Service to pick-up letters from that box were at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. that day. Accordingly, she realized that the letter could not be postmarked until December 27, 1982. She had earlier been told by an employee of the Respondent that a postmark of December 27, 1982, was acceptable. Accordingly, being conscious of the requirement that the letter be mailed so as to be postmarked on the 27th and knowing that the 5:00 p.m. pick-up deadline for the 26th had already passed, she wrote on the envelope (which is in evidence in this proceeding as Respondent's Exhibit 2) the following language, "I mailed this letter December 27, 1982, before 12:00 midnight, please accept this letter." In fact, although she mailed the letter on the 26th and wrote the notation regarding its mailing time to the effect that it was mailed effectively on December 27, the letter was shown to have been picked-up in Gainesville, taken to Jacksonville where it was postmarked on December 28, 1982, and then returned to Gainesville for ultimate delivery to the Respondent, which occurred on approximately December 29 or 30, 1982. It was Ms. Bright's belief, in acting on behalf of the Petitioner, that by mailing the letter in such a way for delivery in Gainesville, that it should have been postmarked the 27th and delivered that day, or at least the following day, but with a postmark which would have complied with the rule cited below, which effectively sets the deadline for posting at midnight December 27, 1982.
Recommendation Having considered the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the evidence in the record and the candor and demeanor of the witnesses, it is, hereby RECOMMENDED: That Mrs. Lillie Kelly be declared eligible for participation in the home energy assistance program and that the appropriate benefits for which she is financially entitled be awarded her. DONE and ENTERED this 28th day of February, 1983, in Tallahassee, Florida. P. MICHAEL RUFF 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 28th day of February, 1983. COPIES FURNISHED: Mrs. Lillie M. Kelly P.O. Box 39 High Springs, Florida 32643 James Sawyer, Esquire District III Legal Counsel Department of HRS 2002 NW 13th Street Gainesville, Florida 32601 David H. Pingree, Secretary Department of HRS 1323 Winewood Blvd. Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Ruby Campbell requested a formal hearing after the required informal conference with a supervisor employed by Respondent Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. On July 8, 1981 Campbell, a white female who lives alone, filed a Household Application for low income energy assistance with the required Medical Certification for Cooling. By Notice of Application Denial Petitioner was informed that she was denied assistance for the reason that her medical statement indicated her medical condition did not require cooling in order to prevent "life threatening" adverse effects. The action was taken within 45 days of Petitioner's application, and she was promptly notified of the reason for denial of benefits. The medical practitioner who signed the Medical Certification for Cooling, HRS (temp.) Form 137, crossed out the words "life threatening" before he signed the form which indicated that Petitioner has a spinal cord injury and hypertension. Petitioner did not dispute the evidence presented by Respondent Department but felt that the doctor should not have crossed out the words "life threatening" inasmuch as her home is very hot in the summer, a condition corroborated by her witnesses.
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 4th day of December, 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 4th day of December, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Mrs. Ruby Campbell Post Office Box 382 Williston, Florida 32696 Joseph E. Hodges, Esquire Department of HRS 2002 NW 13th Street Oak Park Executive Square Gainesville, Florida 32601 David H. Pingree, Secretary Attn: Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS Building One, Room 406 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact Based upon my observation of the witnesses and their demeanor while testifying, the documentary evidence received and the entire record compiled herein, the following relevant facts are found. Mary T. Gabor is the daughter of Anna C. Ruwell, Petitioner herein. On April 20, 1982, Ms. Gabor submitted an application to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program requesting that she (Petitioner) be determined eligible to receive Low Income Energy Assistance. The application was not signed or dated. On May 27, 1983, the application submitted on behalf of Petitioner was returned by Respondent "as it is unsigned and dated and is not acceptable since the signed application has to be postmarked by April 23, 1982, to be acceptable. Ms. Gabor operated under the assumption that she could complete the application on behalf of her mother (Petitioner), inasmuch as she was her mother's authorized representative in other assistance or entitlement programs such as food stamps, etc. Evidence reveals that Petitioner's application was received in the Energy Assistance Program's office on April 20, 1982. The program closed for the acceptance of applications on April 23, 1982. Respondent submitted a request to Petitioner by letter dated May 14, 1982, for additional information as to the amount of her Social Security award. Petitioner was allowed through May 28, 1982, to provide the requested information. That letter prompted Ms. Gabor to call the Energy Assistance Program on May 21, 1982. In the May 14th request for additional information, Petitioner was directed to sign and date the application. Approximately six (6) days later, on May 27, 1982, Ms. Ruwell's application was returned as unacceptable due to the above-referred omissions (absence of signature and date). Petitoner's application was one (1) of approximately seventeen hundred (1,700) applications received by the Energy Assistance Program during the last five (5) days of the filing period. Due to the substantial number of applications received by the Energy Assistance Program, Petitioner's omissions were not noticed until after the April 23, 1982, deadline. Ms. Gabor feels that she is entitled to an exception to the above- referred omissions based on Petitioner's elderly age and the fact that she would have been declared eligible but for the absence of Petitioner's signature on the application.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is hereby RECOMMENDED: 1. That Respondent submit to Petitioner a request for the additional information and afford her an opportunity to provide that missing or incomplete information within ten (10) days of the request for such information. Provided Petitioner furnishes Respondent with the additional information requested within the allowable ten (10) day period and the application otherwise satisfies the guiding criteria, it is further RECOMMENDED: That she be determined and otherwise declared eligible for participation in the Home Energy Assistance Program. RECOMMENDED this 15th day of September, 1982, in Tallahassee, Florida. JAMES E. BRADWELL Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 15th day of September, 1982.
The Issue Whether Petitioner should have been considered for benefits from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program pursuant to Section 409.508, Florida Statutes; Rule 10 CER 80-11, Low Income Energy Assistance Program, amended by Rule 10 CER 81-4, Administrative Code.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Rachel N. Farmer requested a hearing by a letter received in the office of the Respondent on April 2, 1981. After an informal conference with a supervisor in Respondent Department Petitioner requested a formal hearing. Petitioner is a black female who lives in Macclenny, Baker County, Florida She receives aid from the state and federal governments in the amount of $75.00 biweekly. She wrote a letter to Respondent Department, received on April 4, 1981, requesting information as to why she had not received a check to help on her light bill. After Respondent denied benefits on the grounds that no application had been received Respondent forwarded the letter to the Division of Administrative Hearings as a request for hearing. Petitioner testified in her own behalf. At the hearing Petitioner stated that on March 19, 1981 she had submitted by mail to Respondent an application consisting of one sheet on which she bad indicated her income. Respondent submitted a statement by the worker in charge of the records in the area in which Petitioner lived which stated that diligent search had been made of the files and logs but no application had been received from Petitioner. From observing the demeanor of the parties the earing Officer finds that Petitioner Farmer mistakenly believed hat she had sent in an application for low income energy benefits but that in fact she had not submitted the proper application. The Hearing Officer further finds that the form Petitioner may have filed was filed by mailing on March 19, 1981.
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 5th day of June, 1981, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. DELPHENE C. STRICKLAND Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 200 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 5th day of June, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Ms. Rachel N. Farmer Baker Manor, Apt. #8 Macclenny, Florida 32063 Leo J. Stellwagen, Esquire Department of HRS 5920 Arlington Expressway Post Office Box 2417-F Jacksonville, Florida 32231 Alvin J. Taylor, Secretary Attn: Susan B. Kirkland, Esquire Department of HRS Building One, Room 406 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact The Petitioner, Cheryl Gayheart, applied for low income home energy assistance payments by an application filed with the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services at its New Port Richey service center on November 18, 1983. After reviewing the application and determining that additional verification was needed, the Department sent a letter to Petitioner requesting additional verification of the Petitioner's income on November 22, 1983, by United States Mail at the following address: 7 Sunnydale Street, Hudson, Florida 33568 The Petitioner did not receive the Department's letter requesting additional verification of income. The zip code used by the Petitioner on her application, as indicated above, was 33568. This was the wrong zip code for the area to which the Petitioner had recently moved. The correct zip code should have been 33567. On December 6, 1983, the Department denied the Petitioner's application and found her ineligible for participation in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program because it had not received a reply to its letter of November 22, 1983. Prior to the deadline of the program, the Petitioner contracted the Department through the local food stamp office concerning her pending application for low income home energy assistance. At that time, she was told that she would hear from the Department concerning her application. The first notice she received from the Department was notice of the denial of her application. The Petitioner testified at hearing that she earned $3.70 per hour for eight hours four days per week at all times relative to her application. She and her two children receive food stamps, live in Zone 4, and constitute a family of three.
Recommendation Because the Petitioner did not actually receive the Department's letter requesting additional information, and because the Petitioner contacted the Department prior to the deadline concerning her pending application and was not advised of the pending request for additional information, it is recommended that the Petitioner's application for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefits be reinstated. Further, it is recommended that the Petitioner receive low income home energy assistance benefits based upon the income figures and family size provided in paragraph seven of the Findings of Fact, supra. DONE AND RECOMMENDED this 1st day of June 1984 in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. STEPHEN F. DEAN Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 1st day of June 1984. COPIES FURNISHED: Ms. Cheryl Gayheart 7 Sunnydale Street Hudson, Florida 33568 Carol M. Wind, Esquire Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 2255 East Bay Drive Clearwater, Florida 33546 David M. Pingree, Secretary Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32301
The Issue The matters presented concern the question of the entitlement of Petitioner to be granted low income home energy assistance.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner Barbara J. Eubanks resided at 1422 Madison Street, Palatka, Florida, from the middle of 1982 through the initial part of 1983. While residing at that address, Eubanks made application for low income energy assistance to heat her home. In particular, she applied for assistance related to natural gas. She made this application by appearing at an office staffed by Respondent. She utilized a form, namely, HRS-ES Form 1036-October 82. This form was provided by Respondent and is entitled Household Application for Home Energy Assistance. Question No. 8 on that form relates to the income of Petitioner, to include acknowledgment of income received from AFTC or SSI. That form does not by its terms indicate that income information must be documented through an official document, paper or photo copy for purposes of records of the Respondent, nor does it indicate that the application form related to income must be verified by actions of Respondent in checking departmental records or through telephone calls or personal contact with the source of the income or official of a living facility. Neither does the application form alert the applicant to the fact that the Respondent may request additional information related to verification of income by mailing out a separate request to the applicant with the expectation that the applicant shall respond to the request for additional information within no less than ten working days. Finally, Petitioner was not presented with a copy of Rule 10C-29.11, Florida Administrative Code, which deals with the verification and documentation process, to include the discussion of how documentation and verification is obtained by the Department. Consequently, Petitioner was unaware of the necessity for documentation or verification of her income information. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1 admitted into evidence is a copy of the application submitted on November 26, 1982. Following a review of the application, Respondent determined that sufficient verification of income had not been provided to the agency. This decision was reached notwithstanding the fact that the application form did not explain the necessity for verification of income. After the determination, a Form HRS-ES 2650 was mailed to the address given by the applicant in her application document, requesting her to verify information related to her income. This request was sent out on December 13, 1983, and it instructed Petitioner to comply with the request for information on or before December 28, 1982. A copy of this form may be found as Respondent's Exhibit No. 1 admitted into evidence. The form was sent by ordinary mail and was not returned to the Respondent. At the time of its transmittal, Petitioner was a permanent resident at the 1422 Madison Street address; however, due to an illness she was living with her sister at another address in Palatka, Florida. It was Petitioner's expectation that any mail which she received at the Madison Street address would be forwarded to her by her stepmother. Petitioner did not receive the request for additional information in spite of the efforts by Respondent to transmit it to her and the efforts by Petitioner to receive her mail. During the course of her illness in November and December of 1982, she did not advise Respondent that she would be living at another address part-time. When Respondent failed to hear from Petitioner on the question of additional information related to income verification, it dispatched a Notice of Denial of Assistance on February 4, 1983. A copy of that notice of denial may be found as Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2 admitted into evidence. That notice advised the Petitioner that she had been denied her request for assistance for failing to provide information requested by offering a written response. Prior to the date of the notice of denial, Petitioner had not complied with the request for income information, being unmindful of that request. (In the year 1982, the Petitioner worked for approximately four weeks in the capacity of a laborer, in particular a field worker at $3.65 an hour wages.) Petitioner did receive notification of denial at her Madison Street address and in keeping with the opportunity expressed in that notification requested an administrative hearing to consider her entitlement to be granted the assistance. That request for administrative hearing was made on February 10, 1983. The matter was transmitted to the Division of Administrative Hearings on March 10, 1983, and a final hearing was scheduled for May 19, 1983. That hearing was not held because of the non-attendance of the Petitioner due to her incarceration. The hearing was subsequently rescheduled to be heard on August 31, 1983, after making arrangements to have Petitioner produced at the hearing by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. The hearing was held on that date. At the time of hearing, the Respondent had been incarcerated for a period of approximately four months and is subject to release in November 1983. Upon her release, it is unknown where the Petitioner will reside.
