SECTION 340:20-1-4. Coordination with tribal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to prevent duplication of assistance

  Some, but not all, Oklahoma Indian tribes receive federal funds to operate their own Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) per Section 8623 of Title 42 of the United States Code. Tribes may choose to use their funds for one assistance payment per household or through multiple application periods throughout the federal fiscal year that runs from October through September each year.

(1)   The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and participating tribes share information regarding tribal member's receipt of LIHEAP to prevent duplication of assistance.

(2)   Tribal members are not eligible to receive energy assistance from their tribe and DHS for the same federal fiscal year.

(3)   When a tribal member applies for LIHEAP through DHS, the person's eligibility is treated in the same manner as any other household when the person is a member of a tribe that:

(A)   does not operate its own LIHEAP; or

(B)   operates its own LIHEAP, but the person has not applied to the tribe for energy assistance.

(4)   When a tribal member applies for DHS LIHEAP and it is determined that a household member received energy assistance from a tribal LIHEAP program for the same federal fiscal year, the LIHEAP application is denied.

(5)   When a tribal member approved for DHS LIHEAP later applies for tribal LIHEAP for the same federal fiscal year, the tribe denies its application unless the tribal member requests DHS cancel its certification before payment is made.

[Source: Amended at 10 Ok Reg 637, eff 12-14-92 (emergency); Amended at 10 Ok Reg 2259, eff 6-11-93; Amended at 11 Ok Reg 483, eff 11-15-93 (emergency); Amended at 11 Ok Reg 1671, eff 5-12-94; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 152, eff 12-1-97 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 1604, eff 5-11-98; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1301, eff 6-1-08; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 760, eff 7-1-12; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1620, eff 9-17-18]