(1) The department adopts and incorporates by reference the department's LIEAP Benefit Award Matrix and Table of Multipliers, for the 2018-2019 heating season. The LIEAP Benefit Award Matrix is located at the department's web site at http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/energyassistance.aspx 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. These matrices are used to establish the benefit payable to an eligible household for a full heating season. The benefit varies by:

(a) household income level;

(b) type of primary heating fuel;

(c) the type of dwelling: single family unit, multi-family unit, and mobile home;

(d) the number of bedrooms in the dwelling;

(e) the heating district in which the household is located, to account for climatic differences across the state;

(f) verification of the identities and citizenship or qualified alien status of those residing in the household; and

(g) the household's resources.

(2) The benefit payable to an eligible household will be computed by multiplying the applicable amount in the table of base benefit levels found in the LIEAP Benefit Award Matrix for the 2018-2019 heating season by the applicable matrix amount in the table of income/climatic adjustment multipliers found in the LIEAP Benefit Award Matrix for the 2018-2019 heating season.

(3) Households may claim no more bedrooms than household members except that single elderly and disabled individual households are entitled to claim two bedrooms if their dwelling unit contains more than one bedroom.

(4) Publicly subsidized households whose energy costs are included as a fixed portion of their rent or who reside in publicly subsidized housing and have an out-of-pocket obligation to pay a base-load electric bill are not eligible for a regular LIEAP benefit computed using the benefit matrices and multipliers in the LIEAP Benefit Award Matrix and Table of Multipliers for the 2018-2019 heating season. However, these households may be eligible for a modified LIEAP benefit. The modified LIEAP benefit is equal to five percent of the amount of a regular LIEAP benefit computed using the benefit matrices and multipliers in the LIEAP Benefit Award Matrix and Table of Multipliers for the 2018-2019 heating season or a minimum payment of $25, whichever is greater, would be paid to the household annually. Households determined eligible for the modified LIEAP benefit whose economic and housing situation does not change would be determined eligible for a period of five years.