<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 07.03.25.05" title_num="07" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="25" heading="Office Response to Application.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Upon receipt of the application from a navigator, the Office shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Record the date the application was received by the Office;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Assess the application for completeness; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The date of application is the date the complete and signed application was submitted by the navigator.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Incomplete Application.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Office shall provide notification of an incomplete application:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>To the navigator by email or facsimile; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>To the applicant by first-class mail, postage prepaid.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Decision on Application.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Office shall, within 10 calendar days of receipt of a completed application, approve or deny the application.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Denied Application. The Office shall deny the application for benefits if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The applicant’s household countable income exceeds 175 percent of the federal poverty level;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The applicant has failed to submit a complete application pursuant to §C of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The applicant dies while the application is being processed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The applicant establishes residency outside Maryland while the application is being processed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria as prescribed in Regulation .03 of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The applicant abandons the applicant’s residence;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>The applicant withdraws the application for assistance;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>The information supplied at application was incorrect and the household was originally ineligible; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>The applicant resides in an assisted living facility.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Approved Application.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>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.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Office shall provide notification of an approved application:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>To the navigator by email or facsimile; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>To the applicant by first-class mail, postage prepaid.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The written notice of the Office’s approval decision shall include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The amount or description of benefits approved on behalf of the recipient’s household;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The duration of the benefits;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The name of the fuel vendor or utility vendor to which the benefits are paid;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>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</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>the date by which the Office must receive the applicant’s administrative hearing request.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Delaying Benefits. The Office may delay the delivery of energy benefits when:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The recipient moves to another residence and cannot be serviced by the household’s originally designated fuel vendor or utility vendor;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Office has reason to believe the recipient or navigator provided incorrect information on the application; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The  recipient or navigator fails to notify the Office of a new address and the Office cannot contact the recipient.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>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:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The reason for the denial;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The COMAR citation of the regulation supporting the decision to deny the application;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>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</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The date by which the Office must receive the applicant’s administrative hearing request.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>