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(1) Definitions. For the purpose of determining eligibility, the following definitions apply unless otherwise provided for:

“Disabled minor child” means person under 18 years old who is a child or under the guardianship of the adult applicant who is receiving permanent supplemental security income (SSI), Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), non-grant medical assistance (NGMA), receiving permanent disability insurance benefits, or qualifies for state permanent disability benefits or qualification for other institutional or governmental programs that provide a determination of a disability that is permanent in nature.

“Disabled person” means person who is receiving permanent supplemental security income (SSI), Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), veteran disability compensation (VDC), non-grant medical assistance (NGMA), receiving permanent disability insurance benefits, or qualifies for state permanent disability benefits or qualification for other institutional or governmental programs that provide a determination of a disability that is permanent in nature. The general manager may review additional information or records supplied by an applicant that documents the applicant’s ability to qualify for the aforementioned programs.

“Full-time resident” means a person, or persons, who reside at the property for which the water and sewer service is provided.

“Low-income senior/disabled rate applicant” means a person who has submitted a completed low-income senior/disabled rate application including any supporting documentation requested by the district to determine their eligibility for the discounted water and sewer rates. The applicant must either be the property owner or property renter.

“Low-income senior/disabled rate application” means a form developed by the general manager or designee, to review the status, qualifications, and residency of a low-income senior/disabled rate applicant.

“Property owner” means person or legal entity that owns and resides at the property for which the water and sewer service is provided.

“Property renter” means person or legal entity that rents and resides at the property for which the water and sewer service is provided.

“Qualifying low income” means the gross income adopted by the board of commissioners to qualify a low-income senior/disabled rate applicant for the discounted water and sewer rates.

“Senior citizen,” for the purposes of this section, means a person who is 61 years of age or older at the time of their application for low-income rates.

(2) Application Requirement. The low-income senior/disabled rate applicant must complete a low-income senior/disabled rate application provided by the district. The low-income senior/disabled rate application shall include a signed declaration certifying, under penalty of perjury, that all material representations of the applicant are true and correct and that the signator(s) will promptly notify the district in writing should such individual(s) move to a new location or experience a change in income that would disqualify the signator(s) from receiving the reduced water and sewer rates and agree to pay the district for any undercharging that has been or will be made if it is determined that the signator(s) is not qualified for the reduced water and sewer rates.

(3) Qualifying Annual Low Income. The low-income senior/disabled rate applicant must have an annual gross household income of less than $55,743 per year to qualify for the low-income senior/disabled rate program. The general manager shall have the authority to change the qualifying low-income threshold based on changes adopted by Snohomish County for qualification for the low-income senior/disabled rate property tax program.

(4) Residency Requirement. The low-income senior/disabled rate applicant must be the property owner and full-time resident of the property receiving water and sewer service in the district or the full-time resident tenant(s), that by written agreement with the property owner is required to pay the district’s water and sewer bills and that the property owner is authorized to receive a copy of the district’s water and sewer bill.

(5) Subsequent Income or Residency Verification. The district may request an applicant receiving the reduced low-income senior/disabled rates to resubmit supporting documentation verifying their eligibility in the program. The district may cancel a customer’s eligibility to receive the adjusted low-income senior/disabled rate if the customer has not responded to a written request to provide supporting documentation to verify their eligibility in the program.

(6) Back Billing for Undercharges Due to Disqualification. Low-income senior/disabled rate customers shall inform the district of changes to income levels that may disqualify them from receiving the adjusted low-income senior/disabled rate. The district shall back bill a customer for any undercharges due to either disqualification or false or inaccurate supporting documentation.

(7) Discounted Amount. The low-income senior/disabled rates shall be 75 percent of the single-family residential rate paid by property owners in the same sewer basin as the senior/disabled low-income district customer resides.

(8) Authority to Prepare Documents to Implement Resolution. The general manager and district staff are hereby authorized and directed to prepare and use district application forms and other documents, and to develop administrative processes to implement a senior/disabled rate reduction program in accordance with the terms of this section. [Res. 826 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2022; Res. 724 §§ 2 – 9, 2016.]