Sec. 07.03.25.05. Office Response to Application

A. Upon receipt of the application from a navigator, the Office shall:

(1) Record the date the application was received by the Office;

(2) Assess the application for completeness; and

(3) Contact the fuel vendor or utility vendor to place any protections on the account for which the applicant is eligible to prevent termination of service.

B. The date of application is the date the complete and signed application was submitted by the navigator.

C. Incomplete Application.

(1) If the application is incomplete, the Office shall, by the close of business on the next business day following the date of application, notify the navigator and applicant of all missing information and request such missing information be submitted to the Office within 10 calendar days from the date of the notification.

(2) The Office shall provide notification of an incomplete application:

(a) To the navigator by email or facsimile; and

(b) To the applicant by first-class mail, postage prepaid.

(3) If the navigator or applicant does not provide the requested information to the Office within 10 calendar days from the date of the notification, the Office shall deny the application.

D. Decision on Application.

(1) The Office shall, within 10 calendar days of receipt of a completed application, approve or deny the application.

(2) Denied Application. The Office shall deny the application for benefits if:

(a) The applicant’s household countable income exceeds 175 percent of the federal poverty level;

(b) The applicant has failed to submit a complete application pursuant to §C of this regulation;

(c) The applicant dies while the application is being processed;

(d) The applicant establishes residency outside Maryland while the application is being processed;

(e) The applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria as prescribed in Regulation .03 of this chapter;

(f) The applicant abandons the applicant’s residence;

(g) The applicant withdraws the application for assistance;

(h) The information supplied at application was incorrect and the household was originally ineligible; or

(i) The applicant resides in an assisted living facility.

(3) Approved Application.

(a) The Office shall notify the recipient and navigator of the approval within 2 business days after sending benefits to the applicant’s fuel vendor or utility vendor.

(b) The Office shall provide notification of an approved application:

(i) To the navigator by email or facsimile; and

(ii) To the applicant by first-class mail, postage prepaid.

(c) The written notice of the Office’s approval decision shall include:

(i) The amount or description of benefits approved on behalf of the recipient’s household;

(ii) The duration of the benefits;

(iii) The name of the fuel vendor or utility vendor to which the benefits are paid;

(iv) An explanation of the recipient’s right to appeal any part of the Office’s decision and the method for requesting an administrative hearing set forth in Regulation .10 of this chapter; and

(v) the date by which the Office must receive the applicant’s administrative hearing request.

(4) Delaying Benefits. The Office may delay the delivery of energy benefits when:

(a) The recipient moves to another residence and cannot be serviced by the household’s originally designated fuel vendor or utility vendor;

(b) The Office has reason to believe the recipient or navigator provided incorrect information on the application; or

(c) Therecipient or navigator fails to notify the Office of a new address and the Office cannot contact the recipient.

(5) The Office shall mail notification to the applicant of the decision to deny the application within 2 business days of the decision. The written notice shall include:

(a) The reason for the denial;

(b) The COMAR citation of the regulation supporting the decision to deny the application;

(c) An explanation of the applicant’s right to appeal the decision and the method for requesting an administrative hearing set forth in Regulation .10 of this chapter; and

(d) The date by which the Office must receive the applicant’s administrative hearing request.