Page 99

2. Recipients who retain responsibility for the payment of their own heating bills should be made aware of and encouraged to use budget billing programs offered by their heating vendors. 3. When the heating and/or domestic energy bill of a public assistance recipient/grantee has been placed on vendor payment as a result of a mismanagement determination, voluntary request, or administrative ease provision, the district must determine if there has been an under/overpayment. This reconciliation must be conducted at least annually, at case closing, and upon termination of the vendor payment arrangement. Identified under/overpayments are to be reconciled in accordance with 18 NYCRR 352.31(d), (e), and/or (f). (h) The social services official must designate a staff member to function as a liaison to energy vendors, other agencies, and to individuals seeking energy-related information and/or assistance. (i) The social services official must ensure that 24-hour/seven-day-a-week referral capability exists for receipt of referrals from energy vendors, outside agencies, and individuals with energy-related emergencies. The official may either designate social services district staff to be available on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis or may choose to designate an agency/organization in the community which agrees to accept calls after normal business hours and on weekends and to assist a referred household in the temporary alleviation of a life-threatening energy emergency until the household can make application for financial assistance on the next normal business day.

Miscellaneous Shelter Allowances and Grants (a) 1. A social services official must provide funds for household moving expenses utilizing the least costly practical method of transportation, a rent security deposit, and/or a brokers' or finders' fee only when, in his judgment, one of the following conditions exists: i. the move is to a less expensive rental property and the amount paid for a security deposit and moving expenses is less than the amount of a two-year difference in rentals; or ii. the move is necessitated by one of the following criteria: a. the need to move results from a disaster/catastrophe and/or a vacate order placed against the premises by a health agency or code enforcement agency; b. the move is necessitated by a serious medical or physical handicap condition. Such need must be verified by specific medical diagnosis; c. the individual or family is rendered homeless as a result of having been put out by another occupant with whom they were sharing accommodations; d. the move is from temporary to permanent housing; e. the move is from permanent housing to temporary housing whenever necessary due to the unavailability of permanent housing;