New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII,
Issue 20 / October 20, 2026
8.106.631.8 PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY: [Benefits shall be processed
annually at the beginning of the federal fiscal year dependent on
the availability of funding.]
A. Limited to current SNAP recipients: no
application is needed for an individual or groups of individuals who reside together
that do not pay separate
heating or cooling
costs and do not receive
the heating and cooling standard utility allowance
(HCSUA).
B. Household: Eligible household include
those who:
(1) are receiving SNAP after being determined eligible
as outlined in 8.139.110 NMAC;
(2) have
gross income less than
two hundred percent of the poverty level;
[and]
(3) do not pay for any heating or cooling expenses,
including the payment
of a fee to use an
air conditioner; [and]
(4) are
not receiving the maximum SNAP benefit; [and]
(5) have an identifiable shelter cost; and
(6) include an elderly or disable household member.
C. Eligible households: [will receive the HCSUA is accordance with 8.139.510.11 NMAC.] will receive the HCSUA in accordance with
8.139.520.11 NMAC.
[8.106.631.8 NMAC - Rp, 8.106.631.8 NMAC 3/1/2025; A/E, 11/1/2025; A, 10/21/2026]
A. Effective date: [At the beginning of every federal fiscal year,
October 1, a one-time energy assistance
cash payment will be issued
to eligible households as defined in Subsection A of 8.106.631.9 NMAC.] At the beginning of every federal fiscal year,
a one-time energy assistance cash payment will be issued to eligible households
as defined in Subsection B of 8.106.631.8 NMAC.
B. Benefit
issuance: [Heat
and Eat benefits are issued through a direct deposit into a household’s EBT
account. EBT cards are issued and
maintained as defined at 8.139.610 NMAC. A
Heat and Eat participating household has a definite issuance date so
that benefits are received on or about the same time annually.] The Heat
and Eat benefit is a cash payment issued through a direct deposit onto the
households EBT card and is issued one time per federal fiscal year. For new SNAP households the initial cash
payment is issued upon approval of the SNAP benefits. A heat and eat benefit will not be issued if a
payment was already received in the current federal fiscal year. For active and ongoing SNAP households, the
cash payment will be issued at the start of each Federal fiscal year, on or about October
1. Cash payment benefits are issued and maintained
pursuant to 8.106.610 NMAC.
C. Benefit amount:
Dependent on the availability of state general
fund a cash payment of no less than $20 will be issued.
D. Eligible uses for benefit: This
Cash benefit is intended to help the household meet their heating or cooling needs. Please refer to
8.106.610.8 NMAC for uses of Cash benefit.
[8.106.631.9 NMAC - Rp, 8.106.631.9 NMAC 3/1/2025; A/E, 11/1/2025; A, 10/21/2026]