Government Assistance Programs For Utilities

A Customer Is Eligible To Receive Rate Assistance If:

• The bill is in their name and
• The bill is for an individually metered residence and
• The applicant resides at the service address and
• The customer receives one or more of the following at their current address:

OR, the customer declares their household income to be less than twice the federal poverty rate

*Documentation submitted with application must show the account holder’s full name as well as the service address. The documentation must also include date of issuance or expiration, and will need to be uploaded as a Word or PDF document. A photo or JPEG image of your CalFresh card will not be accepted.

Subsidized Housing Vouchers Public Housing

The government issues housing choice vouchers to families in need of low-cost rented homes. Typically, Public Housing Agencies that moderate these vouchers pay the subsidized rent directly to the landlord. The tenant, who is entitled to the voucher, just pays the difference, if any.

Houses that are allotted under this program vary in categories, starting from townhouses to apartments, and families. They can choose the home they need, as long as the landlord agrees to rent it to them under the government program guidelines.

Some families may also be eligible to purchase a house at a subsidized rate. To know whether you qualify for subsidized housing, find your local Public Housing Agency from the following link.

You may also for further information.

All of the above-mentioned government benefits programs from the fed. These programs are in place to ensure that low-income individuals and families. They can meet their basic needs, mainly those of food, housing, health, and education. Talk to your local agency for further information and ways to enroll. If you are eligible you can get the financial support you need.

Electricity And Natural Gas Assistance

Any residential customers may contact their electric or natural gas company to request budget billing. Budget billing means each monthly bill will be the same amount. The company may adjust the bill up to four times a year, up or down, depending on your usage.

Customer Assistance Programs are designed to help low-income residential customers maintain utility service. CAPs can help lower your monthly utility bill, and may also reduce or remove the amount you already owe. The company works with you to determine what you can pay based on your household income.

The CARES program provides referral service for customers experiencing temporary hardships, such as family emergencies, divorce, unemployment or medical emergencies. CARES may provide support, direction and resources to help customers address their hardship situations and make it easier to pay their utility bills.

LIURP helps eligible low-income residential customers lower the amount of electricity or natural gas used each month. The company may install energy saving features in your home to help reduce bills. A smaller bill means you’ll be able to cover more of your bill.

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Food Stamps And Meal Programs During The Covid

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be easier for you and your family to get food stamps and take part in meal programs. Contact your state’s social services agency to see if you’re eligible.

During the pandemic:

• Food stamp recipients may receive additional funding. More people may be eligible to receive SNAP during the pandemic than normally.

• Parents whose kids’ schools are closed can pick up school meals for their kids to eat at home.

• People can enroll in food programs remotely rather than in person. This applies to programs for pregnant women, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Rural Or Remote Rate Protection

The RRRP program is designed to support eligible customers in rural or remote areas with electricity costs, where the costs of distributing electricity to these customers are higher.

The RRRP revenue allows rural and remote electricity distributors to reduce the amount they would otherwise have to charge eligible customers for distribution service.

For more information about the RRRP, visit the OEB’s website.

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Us Department Of Agriculture

The USDA offers several programs aimed at all sectors of the agricultural community. Programs include farm loans, housing assistance,loans and grants for rural economic development, loans for beginning farmers and ranchers, livestock insurance, and more.Detailed information on all USDA programs, including how to apply, can be found on the USDA Grants and Loans program webpage.

Michigan Energy Assistance Program

The purpose of the MEAP is to establish and administer programs statewide that provide energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to eligible low-income households. Self-sufficiency services include assisting participants with the following: paying their energy bills on time budgeting for and contributing to their ability to provide for energy expenses, which may include enrollment into an affordable payment plan and utilizing energy services to optimize on energy efficiency.

Concerned about your gas, electric, telecommunications or broadband service because of COVID-19? For the latest on what utilities and telecommunications providers are doing to assist customers, .

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What Help Is Available For My Home Energy Bill

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program may be able to help with:

• Assistance to pay your heating or cooling bills
• Emergency services in cases of energy crisis, such as utility shutoffs
• Low-cost home improvements, known as weatherization, that make your home more energy efficient and lower your utility bills.

LIHEAP funds may not be used to pay water and sewer bills.

Program Now Live Apply Today

The new federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program will provide financial assistance to low-income Californians to help manage their residential water utility costs. Established by Congress in December 2020, this federally funded program will help low-income households pay down their outstanding water bills. California has been allocated $116 million in one-time funding to provide LIHWAP assistance.

• LIHWAP will offer a one-time payment to help you pay your past due water/wastewater bills.
• LIHWAP will help pay overdue bills which accrued during any timeframe .
• Eligibility for LIHWAP services can vary depending on income, household size, place of residence, and other factors.
• LIHWAP drinking water and wastewater benefits are scheduled to be available until August 2023.

• Visit CAPSLO to learn more about the LIHWAP

  The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program will offer a one-time payment to help you pay your past due water/wastewater bills.

  https://capslo.org/water-assistance

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The First Nations Conservation Program

The First Nations Conservation Program helps qualified on-reserve First Nations customers improve the energy-efficiency of their homes and manage their energy use more effectively. The program is offered by the Independent Electricity System Operator and is delivered free of charge to eligible customers.

To give communities more time to participate, the IESOIESO relaunched all First Nation conservation programs. For more information on the status of these programs, visit Save on Energy.

The province offers a suite of conservation and demand management programs to on-reserve First Nations communities, that are delivered by the IESO. They provide incentives and tools to help customers manage their electricity usage and costs. These programs include:

Home Weatherization Assistance Program

Ohio’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program is a federally funded low-income residential energy efficiency program. The program reduces low-income households’ energy use, thus creating more affordable housing for those in most need. Services include attic, wall and basement insulation blower-door-guided air leakage reduction heating system repairs or replacements and health and safety testing and inspections. All measures are provided based on an on-site energy audit and on cost-effective guidelines developed using the NEAT computerized energy audit. Individualized client education is an important component of the program. Ohioans with a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the program.

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Cons Of Student Financial Aid

• Loan repayment required
• Lifetime limits on Pell Grants
• Private loans are more expensive and restrictive
• Defaulting on loans hurts credit

Student loan payments, including principal and interest, on federally held student loans, have been suspended through Aug. 31, 2022. However, the suspension only applies to federal student loans held by the Department of Education.

The Department of Education also stopped the collection of defaulted federal student loans. This applies to loans in nonpayment. As a result, garnishment of wages and any offset of tax refunds and Social Security benefits have also been stopped through May 1, 2022.

The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in March 2021 includes a provision that makes all student loan forgiveness from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2025, tax-free.

Housing Utilities & energy Assistance

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides temporary help to cover rent and utility payments for eligible households. Check now to see if your household is eligible for assistance to help pay for rent, utilities, and internet. ERAP also is open to Wyoming households without a current residence that do not have a lease/rental agreement.

Wyoming Homeowner Assistance Fund Program

The Wyoming Homeowner Assistance Fund Program focuses on helping Wyoming homeowners stay in their home safely.

Low Income Energy Assistance

LIEAP pays part of winter home heating bills for eligible people .

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Am I Eligible For A Discount Rate Or Other Payment Option

You may be eligible for a discount rate from your utility if you are eligible for LIHEAP, or if you receive any means-tested public-benefit program, such as:

• Supplemental Security Income
• Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children
• Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children
• Food Stamps
• MassHealth Standard, CarePlus, or Limited1
• Head Start
• Dependency & Indemnity Compensation for Surviving Spouse or Parents of Veterans
• Improved Veterans Disability Pension

Childs Health Insurance Program

CHIP is a separate program designed to help families who do not qualify for Medicaid. In short, if your family income falls above the threshold mentioned for Medicaid, you can still find out if your children could be covered under CHIP.

For other services, there may be a nominal copayment. CHIP coverage varies between states and may cover pregnant women in some states, too. But in general, CHIP is about providing preventive care as well as emergency care for your children.

CHIP Pays for,

• testing,
• dental visits all free of cost.

To find out whether your children are eligible for CHIP, you may visit the state-run health insurance agencies at the following link. Another way to apply for CHIP is to call 1-800-318-2596. government assistance program. Here is a link to more information

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Need To Apply For Energy Assistance

Now you can schedule an appointment to complete both your application and interview virtually using Microsoft Teams from your smart phone or tablet or computer. This is a link that will be emailed to you when you schedule. You dont have to download any software you are able to access the link through the web.

If you schedule an appointment you do not need to fill out or submit an application by another method Your application and interview will be completed during the scheduled appointment.

Please use CRISIS option only if you currently do NOT have any heating or cooling already disconnected or need new service or you have a scheduled disconnection within 2 days.

Please use regular appointment if you have a past due notice or a disconnection date 3 days or further.

Need Bill Payment Assistance

The UNC EFC works with water and wastewater utilities but does not provide any environmental services ourselves to customers, nor do we have any funds to distribute for bill payment assistance. We recommend you reach out to your local utility provider and see if they have a bill payment assistance program or other ways to assist you. Another place to check would be local charities and your countys human services or social services department to find information about organizations that might be able to provide bill payment assistance. Finally, another avenue that may be helpful is to check 211 to see if your state has a regional program.

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Percentage Of Income Payment Plan

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan , helps make monthly payments more affordable on a year-round basis. And, when a PIPP Plus household pays the monthly PIPP Plus payment on-time and in-full, some of their old debt and the rest of that month’s bill goes away in the form of a credit on their utility account.

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Department of Development. It is designed to help all eligible, low-income Ohioans meet the high costs of water and wastewater. LIHWAP pays a one-time payment for most PUCO-regulated utility customers beginning Oct. 25, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022.

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Air Conditioner And Air Purifier

To be eligible for an air conditioner or air purifier unit, you must apply and qualify for LIHEAP. To apply for LIHEAP, please get in touch with your local LIHEAP agency in your county by clicking on the map in the How to Apply section. Air purifiers are only offered in connection with a state of emergency declared by Gov. Inslee for wildfire emergencies and are only offered in those counties named in the declaration.

Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are paid to people who cannot work for at least one year due to a medical condition or who are expected to die from that condition.

To be eligible, you must:

• Have worked in a job or jobs covered by Social Security
• Meet Social Securitys definition of disability
• Have worked long enough and recently enough to qualify for disability benefits

Additional information about SSDI can be found in the Social Security Disability Benefits brochure. The Social Security Disability Planner helps you determine if you are eligible. If you believe you qualify, you can apply online.

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Federal Energy Assistance Programs

LIHEAP is the federal program that provides financial assistance to needy households for home energy bills. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services administers the LIHEAP program. The LIHEAP program provides both cash and crisis benefits to low-income households. Cash benefits help low-income customers pay for their home energy needs, while crisis payments may help resolve emergency home energy situations.

Your household income must be within certain limits to qualify. These limits are listed on the DHS website.

The LIHEAP Application Form is located on the DHS website. For more information, contact the LIHEAP hotline at 866-857-7095.

Your household income must be within certain limits to qualify. These limits are listed on Department of Human Services website at Energy Assistance – General Information.

For more information on LIHEAP and an application for, visit the Department of Human Services’ website: LIHEAP Application Form.

Partners for Warmth – LIHEAP Outreach for customers of Peoples Natural Gas, Columbia Gas of PA, Equitable Gas and Peoples TWP.

Small Business Lending Fund

The Small Business Lending Fund , created as part of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, is a dedicated fund that provides capital to community banks and community development loan funds to encourage those organizations to lend to small businesses. Information about this fund, including the location of lending institutions near you, can be found on the U.S. Treasury Small Business Lending Fund website.

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Era Grantee Coordination With Homeowners Assistance Fund

ERA grantees may also consider coordinating with HAF administrators. The purpose of the Homeowner Assistance Fund is to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020. Funds from the HAF may be used for assistance with mortgage payments, homeowners insurance, utility payments, and other specified purposes. The law prioritizes funds for homeowners who have experienced the greatest hardships, leveraging local and national income indicators to maximize the impact. Incorporating coordination with HAF program administrators would further serve to improve messaging, operational implementation, and overall program effectiveness of providing a range of utility assistance programs locally.

What Your Loan Servicer Must Do If You Request Forbearance

If you’re having trouble making payments on your federally backed mortgage because of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact your loan servicer. They must:

• Defer or reduce your payments for six months if you contact them to make arrangements.

• You can request an extension if you need it. For most loans, your forbearance can be extended up to 12 months.

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Unemployment Insurance And Covid

Unemployment insurance is a joint federal and state program that pays part of your wages when you lose your job through no fault of your own. UI benefits are based on a percentage of a year’s earnings and last for a maximum of 26 weeks. Keep in mind that UI benefits are also subject to federal taxes. If needed, you can apply for an extension but it’s not guaranteed. Individual states run the program, each with its eligibility and filing requirements.

Many allow you to file online, by phone, orin person, though the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily halted in-person applications in many places. Some states provide extended benefits when unemployment is high. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you qualify for extended help.

The federal government provided relief for unemployed individuals during the pandemic through three special programs:

All three of these programs officially expired on Sept. 5, 2021. Eligible individuals may still qualify for unemployment claims as long as they are still unemployed and are within the first 26 weeks of their UI benefits.