Residents Can Apply For Winter Heating Assistance Starting Monday
Last updated Friday, January 2, 2009 7:06 PM CST in News
By Rose Ann Pearce
THE MORNING NEWS
Low-income residents of Northwest Arkansas can begin applying Monday for help paying their winter heating bills through the Winter Home Energy Assistance Program.
The program is operated in Washington County by the Economic Opportunity Agency in Springdale and in Benton, Madison and Carroll counties by the Office of Human Concern in Rogers.
Directors of both agencies expect a larger number of applications because more people in the region are out of work this year than last. Monthly income limits have also been increased, assistance amounts are higher and Congress allocated more money to the program.
The agencies have each received just over $1 million to aid local residents, which is nearly triple the amount in previous years.
The new monthly income limit will be beneficial for lower middle-income families living paycheck to paycheck, said Peg Palmer, heating assistance coordinator for the Office of Human Concern.
The income limit was raised from 125 percent of the federal poverty level to 150 percent, said Kathleen Randall, director of the Washington County agency. That calculates to a monthly income of $2,650 for a family of four.
Proof of income is required for the application. If not employed or receiving public assistance, such as Social Security, applicants must provide proof for how living expenses are being met.
The regular assistance program provides a one-time payment, based on family size and income, Randall said.
The emergency program offers assistance if the applicant has received a shut-off notice or is living in a home without heat or has another extenuating circumstance, she said.
The Rogers office has established satellite locations in Berryville, Huntsville, Siloam Springs and Gravette where applications can be made on specific dates in January, February and March, Palmer said.
Applications are available at local offices of the state Department of Human Services for persons younger than 60 years old and at local senior activity centers for people 60 and older, Palmer said.
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
