(1) Households with one through seven members with annual gross income at or below 60% of the estimated state median income for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2012 are eligible for low income energy assistance on the basis of income. Households with eight or more members are eligible for low income energy assistance on the basis of income only if the household's annual gross income is at or below 150% of the 2011 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines for a household of that size. Households with annual gross income above the applicable income standard are ineligible for low income energy assistance, unless the household is automatically financially eligible for LIEAP benefits as provided in ARM 37.70.402 because all members of the household are receiving SSI, TANF-funded cash assistance, or county or tribal general assistance.

(2) If a household that is otherwise eligible for low income energy assistance has annual gross income in excess of the applicable income standard, the department will determine the household's total gross monthly income for the three months immediately preceding the month in which the application for assistance was filed. If the product of four multiplied by the total gross monthly income for the three months immediately preceding the month of application is at or below the applicable income standard, the household is eligible for a three-month annualized income benefit as provided in ARM 37.70.601.

(3) The table of income standards for households of various sizes for the 2012 heating season may be accessed at the department's web site at www.dphhs.mt.gov, or a copy may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Human and Community Services Division, Intergovernmental Human Services Bureau, P.O. Box 202956, Helena, MT 59620.

(4) Households at or below 60% of the estimated state median income amount for FFY 2012 for the household's size are eligible for LIEAP client education and outreach activities.