Section 427.10.8. Payments.

       10.8(1) The following types of energy assistance payments may be made:

        a.           To home energy suppliers in the form of a single payment. One check may be issued to an energy supplier for more than one household. The client’s assistance shall remain as a credit on the client account until the program assistance is expended or the account is terminated. The basic energy assistance award is to be applied to the cost of the heating source supplying the household’s nonbusiness, residential, primary heating fuel.

        b.           Eligible households that pay an undesignated portion of the rent toward energy costs will receive assistance sent directly to the household for the full amount.

        c.           The assistance award for households whose primary source of heat is wood will be forwarded to the household’s electric supplier if a suitable wood vendor is not available. If no electric supplier exists, a direct payment for the “wood/coal” award may be made.

       10.8(2) Duplicate and fraudulent payment control. Each LAA is required to provide a system to monitor and prevent possible duplicate and other fraudulent applications and payments. Duplication cross-checks shall be based on household members’ names, addresses and social security numbers.

       10.8(3) Referrals. Each LAA is required to refer all suspected cases of fraud, including duplicate payments and fraudulent statements on applications, to the DHR/DCAA for investigation.

       10.8(4) Overpayments. If the DHR/DCAA receives information from an LAA or from any source that an overpayment has occurred because of client error, client fraud, client misrepresentation or agency error, the DHR/DCAA may refer the overpayment to the department of inspections and appeals (DIA) for investigation and collection in accordance with the procedures under 481 IAC 71.