Special to The Times-Tribune
KCEOC Community Action Partnership’s “crisis” portion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that provides heating assistance to eligible households is set to get underway Jan. 4, 2010 and continue through March 31, or until available funds have been expended.
The significant cost of energy to heat homes leaves many households unable to afford the cost of keeping their families warm.
A household is considered eligible for LIHEAP crisis funding when the household meets the basic eligibility criteria:
• Makes and completes an application;
• Be responsible for home energy costs, directly or as an undesignated portion of their rent;
• Have a combined household income, for the calendar month prior to the month of application, not in excess of 130 percent of the federal poverty level as listed in the Income Eligibility Guidelines;
• Live in Kentucky when the application is made and apply in the county of residence; and
• Not have liquid resources in excess of $2,000 or $3,000 if at least one person in the household is 60 years old or disabled, ($4,000 if resources are being used for living expenses due to catastrophic illness).
In addition to these requirements, applicants requesting assistance for natural gas or electric must bring a disconnect/past due notice. Households at or above 75 percent of the poverty level must pay a portion or co-payment of the minimum necessary to alleviate the crisis. Applicants whose rent includes heat must bring an eviction notice from the landlord.
Applicants must bring their most recent heating bill or verification that heating expenses are included in the rent, Social Security numbers or permanent residence card numbers for each member of the household, and proof of all household income from the preceding month.
Benefits are limited to the amount necessary to relieve the crisis, with the maximum amount not to exceed the local cost for a deliverable supply of the household’s primary heating fuel or $400 for gas or electric.
Benefits may take the form of fuel deliveries, service reconnection, blankets or sleeping bags, loan of space heaters and emergency shelter. Crisis relief will be provided within 48 hours or 18 hours if an emergency.
Applications will be taken at Community Action offices, including the KCEOC Community Action Agency main office in Gray. Applicants can call 606-546-3152 for more information.
