(1) Households with one through seven members with annual gross income at or below 60 percent of the estimated state median are eligible for LIEAP benefits on the basis of income. Households with eight or more members are eligible for LIEAP benefits on the basis of income only if the household's annual gross income is at or below 150 percent of the 2015 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines for a household of that size. Households with annual gross income above the applicable income standard are ineligible for LIEAP benefits, unless the household is automatically financially eligible for LIEAP benefits as provided in ARM 37.70.402 because all members of the household are receiving SNAP, SSI, TANF-funded cash assistance, or county or tribal general assistance.

(2) If a household that is otherwise eligible for LIEAP benefits has annual gross income in excess of the applicable income standard, the local contractor will determine the household's total gross monthly income for the three months immediately preceding the month in which the application for assistance was filed. If the product of four multiplied by the total gross monthly income for the three months immediately preceding the month of application is at or below the applicable income standard, the household is eligible for a three-month annualized income benefit as provided in ARM 37.70.601.

(3) The department adopts and incorporates by reference the department's Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) Table of Income Standards, 2015-2016 heating season. The LIEAP table of income standards, 2015-2016 heating season, 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.

(4) Households eligible for LIEAP are also eligible for LIEAP client education and outreach activities.