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Chapter 24 – Home Energy Assistance Program Page 15 of 33

6) Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program;

7) Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education;

8) Veterans Education Outreach Program;

9) Special Child Care Services for Disadvantaged College Students;

10) Payments to veterans for Aid and Attendance benefits.

An adjustment to a Household’s gross income may be made if the Household is over income and has documented medical expenses that were paid during the income period. The amount of medical expenses deducted will be equal to only the amount necessary to make the Household eligible. Medical expenses are defined by Internal Revenue Service Publication 502, as the same may be amended from time to time.

The income of Household Members who do not meet the citizenship or legal status requirements must be included in the Household’s income.

2. Categorical Income Eligibility. Adult Household Members who are included on a Maine DHHS Notice of Decision or similar document containing the same information, as determined acceptable by the Subgrantee, for TANF or SNAP assistance will have Categorical Income Eligibility for HEAP. Household Members with Categorical Income Eligibility may have their income determined at a pre-established percentage of the federal poverty level, or using actual vetted income if provided by Maine DHHS. Adult Household Members who are not included in the Notice of Decision must provide income documentation as outlined in this Rule and HEAP Guide. 4. Benefit Determination.

Benefits are determined to ensure that the highest level of assistance will be furnished to Eligible Households which have the lowest incomes and the highest Energy Costs or needs. Benefit availability is based on HEAP funding availability.

A. MaineHousing, or the Subgrantee as allowed by MaineHousing, will assign a number of points to an Eligible Household that correlates to their Energy Costs. The number of points will be adjusted by an assigned percentage that correlates to the Eligible Household’s poverty level and prorated based on any ineligible Household Members. The adjusted number of points will then be multiplied by a dollar value.

MaineHousing will announce the actual dollar value of points no later than the fifteen (15) calendar days following receipt of the federal HEAP grant award.

The number of points assigned to an Eligible Household will be determined pursuant to the following: