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Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Division 10 Service 415 Program 415 Chapters 05 - 65 North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services

can be determined that the paycheck is representative of wages and hours in the following month.) If there is terminated source income, include the income in the three-month average. Example: Application month is October. Household’s job ends October. Use the regular earned income (from that source) for September. For October, use the actual amount received for that month. If there is no income predicted for November, then use 0.00. If there is income predicted for November, use the client’s best estimate for income. Total the three months and multiple by 4, then you will have the annual income. The second example under 25-05-15-10 is a good example of how to handle terminated source income. • If income for the following month is not known or cannot be verified, the income in the month of application will be used twice in determining the three-month average. The earned income deduction will be applied to the sources of income to which it is appropriate. Then, the three monthly figures will be totaled, and the total multiplied by four to arrive at an annual figure.

NOTE ON AVERAGING: Averaging is one method of determining a household's benefit level. When using averaging to determine a benefit level, eligibility for month of application ongoing will be established based on the annual income test. Therefore, income ineligibility during the month of application DOES NOT automatically disqualify the household for that month and future months. However, the household must still be income eligible during any prior month for which LIHEAP benefits are to be paid.

EXAMPLE: Income Limit: $1,600 monthly ($19,200 annually)