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Lake Wales (Current through Ordinance 2023-17, Adopted 7-05-2023) |
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Code of Ordinances |
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Chapter 21. Utilities |
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Article VI. Charges And Fees For Utility Services |
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Division 5. Lifeline Program |
| § 21-191. Lifeline. |
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Latest version.
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Lifeline is an assistance program for Lake Wales' residential water and sewer customers which are low-income households. The Lifeline assistance reduces the residential customer's monthly water/sewer utility bill by an amount equivalent to the established base charge for the residential customer's household water and/or sewer services. The reduction is in the form of a credit on the residential utility customer's monthly bill. |
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(Ord. No. 2007-54, § 1, 10-16-07) |
| § 21-192. Eligibility. |
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Latest version.
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Participation is limited to ten (10) percent of total utility customers. The ten (10) percent quota will be recalculated yearly with an effective date of October 1 each year. Applications will be processed in the order they are received. Applications, in order to be processed, must be filed by the applicant at the Utility Customer Service area located in the City's Municipal Administration Building. Lifeline is available to City of Lake Wales's residential utility customers as limited above who meet one of the following criteria: (a) The utility account must be in the name of the participant who receives public assistance from any one of these programs: Food stamps, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Supplement Security Income (SSI), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or National School Lunch (NSL) Program's Free Lunch Program; OR (b) The utility account must be in the name of the eligible low-income, head of household. Income is determined by the federal poverty guidelines, which are based on the number of people in the household and the total amount of money received by each member in the household. The household income must be less than one hundred thirty-five (135) percent of the U.S. Poverty Guidelines. |
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(Ord. No. 2007-54, § 1, 10-16-07) |
| § 21-193. Documentation. |
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Latest version.
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Documentation, as set forth below, supporting Lifeline eligibility must be submitted with the application for assistance: (a) Proof of participation in any one of the public assistance programs listed in subsection 21-192(a) must be submitted with the Lifeline Public Assistance Application. (b) Proof of household income supporting documents include U.S. Individual Income Tax Statement, W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, Social Security Statement of Benefit, Veteran's Administration Statement of Benefit, Public/Private Retirement/Pension Statement, Unemployment Benefit Statement, Worker's Compensation Statement of Benefit, Divorce Decree, Child Support Decree, or other official agency document. Lifeline applicants may provide proof of the total household income by including copies of the documents that apply with the Lifeline Low-Income Assistance Application. |
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(Ord. No. 2007-54, § 1, 10-16-07) |
| § 21-194. Confidentiality. |
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Latest version.
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All information relating to the Lifeline program shall be considered confidential and will not be disclosed to any other individuals unless required for legitimate business or otherwise compelled by law. |
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(Ord. No. 2007-54, § 1, 10-16-07) |
| § 21-195. Renewal. |
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Latest version.
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To be able to continue in the program, recipients must re-apply annually. Assistance will terminate one year from approval date. Recipients must notify the City's Utility Department when they are no longer eligible for this assistance program. No renewal notifications will be sent. |
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(Ord. No. 2007-54, § 1, 10-16-07) |
| § 21-196. Billing, payment and mandatory discontinuation of service. |
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Latest version.
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All provisions of section 21-154 shall apply to billing, payment and mandatory discontinuation of utility services. |
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(Ord. No. 2007-54, § 1, 10-16-07) |