(1) Eligible households that are billed for energy costs directly by the fuel vendor shall be paid a benefit in the amount provided by ARM 37.70.601 and shall be paid as follows:

(a) Reimbursement may, at the discretion of the department only, be made by check payable to the household for any eligible energy costs which have been paid by the household at the time of the benefit or adjusted award. Paid eligible energy costs claimed by the household must be supported by fuel receipts.

(b) The amount of the benefit or adjusted award remaining after the application of (1)(a) will be paid by check directly to the fuel vendor and will be applied by the fuel vendor against any unpaid, including any future, eligible energy costs of the household in accordance with the department-provided vendor application and contract. Any credit balance in excess of $50 attributable to the benefit or adjusted award after the end of the heating season must be returned to the department.

(c) Application for benefits for the current heating season will not be processed until the credit balances for each of the household's fuel vendors attributable to previous years' program awards total less than $50.

(d) All credit balances are presumed to be from previous program awards unless the applicant provides proof to the contrary.

(2) Eligible households that pay energy costs for heating their homes that are not billed directly by the fuel vendor because the fuel account is not in the name of a member of the household shall be reimbursed for eligible energy costs paid by the household, provided that the amount paid to the household for the heating season shall not exceed the benefit amount provided by ARM 37.70.601. Reimbursement shall be made by check payable to the household. The household must provide receipts to document paid eligible energy costs claimed. The household must provide receipts to support the paid eligible energy costs to the local contractor within 45 days of the end of the heating season or by June 25 if the department has extended the heating season beyond April 30 for which benefits are sought.

(3) For eligible households that have their energy costs included in their rental payments:

(a) The household shall be paid a benefit computed on a monthly basis. For each month of the current heating season for which the household provides a paid rent receipt, the household shall be reimbursed a pro rata portion (determined by dividing one by the number of months in the heating season) of the benefit amount provided in ARM 37.70.601; provided, however, that the benefit paid to the household for any month shall not exceed 50% of the rent paid for that month as evidenced by the rent receipt. Failure to provide rent receipts to the local contractor within 45 days of the end of the heating season or by June 25 if the department has extended the heating season beyond April 30 shall result in the forfeiture of any benefits to which the household would otherwise be entitled.

(b) The benefit shall be paid by check payable to the household.

(4) Benefits for eligible households using wood to heat their dwelling shall be paid as follows:

(a) by payment to a wood vendor for purchases of wood;

(b) at the option of the local contractor, by payment directly to the household for future purchases of wood, provided, however, that households which receive a direct payment shall not be entitled to any additional benefits for the current heating season which the household might otherwise be entitled to receive due to a move to a different dwelling or other change in circumstances, except an emergency as defined in ARM 37.70.901; or

(c) when the household provides receipts to verify that the household has purchased wood between July 1 and the end of the heating season of the current state fiscal year, by a payment directly to the household reimbursing the household for wood already purchased. Households which are reimbursed by a direct payment do not lose their right to additional benefits for the current heating season as provided in (4)(b). Failure to provide receipts verifying wood purchases to the local contractor within 45 days of the end of the heating season or by June 25 if the department has extended the heating season beyond April 30 shall result in the forfeiture of any benefits to which the household would otherwise be entitled.

(5) Reimbursement may, at the discretion of the department only, be made to or on behalf of residents of publicly subsidized housing whose energy costs are included as a portion of their rent and whose rent is a fixed portion of their income.