Need Assistance With Utility Bills?

Utility costs can force some lower-income seniors to give up their homes. Federal and state assistance, however, is available for low-income families; in particular low income seniors may be eligible for assistance. These programs are important for seniors who are at risk for life threatening illness or even death if their home is too cold in the winter or too hot in summer. If you don’t qualify for assistance, you can still lower your monthly utility bills by following some simple energy saving tips provided at the end of this article.

State and Federal Assistance – Periods of extremely hot weather–heat waves–can cause serious health problems for everyone. In fact, among weather-related events, heat waves are a leading cause of death. In July 1995, Illinois experienced this when extreme heat contributed to the deaths of more than 700 people in the Chicago area.

At the other extreme, hypothermia kills about 600 Americans every year, half of whom are 65 and older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hypothermia occurs when a person’s normal body temperature drops from 98.6 degrees to 95 degrees. Older people may be at greater risk for this condition if their body’s response to cold is diminished by certain illnesses like arthritis and medications like some over-the-counter cold remedies.

Seniors who are unable to pay their utility bills are at risk. For this reason, Congress passed LIHEAP to help seniors stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. LIHEAP stands for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.

LIHEAP, while funded by the Federal government (some states also provide funding) is operated by state governments. The LIHEAP program in each community determines if a household income qualifies for the program. Assistance is not guaranteed – if the program runs short of funding (which usually occurs during the winter months) you may not be able to receive financial assistance.

Eligibility is tied to a number of factors depending upon the state you are living in. For example, in some states your income must be no more than 150% of the Federal poverty level. In 2008 the Federal poverty level was $14,000 in annual income for a two person household (higher in Alaska and Hawaii) meaning that 150% of that amount is $21,000. Many states will also establish minimum levels of annual assistance (e.g., $100) and maximum levels of assistance (e.g., $1,045).

States also have established a variety of other programs to provide assistance. Some have established programs funded through a utility bill surcharge to assist seniors with their utility bills. For state by state information go to http://liheap.ncat.org/. Grants and special funding may also be available directly from the utility companies. Call your local utility company for more information.

LIHEAP provides the following types of assistance:

• • Bill payment assistance;
• • Energy crises assistance (for example, providing assistance to prevent your heat or electricity from being shut off by the utility company during the winter or the summer months);
• • Weatherization and energy related home repairs.

When you apply, you may be asked for the following information:

• • Recent copies of your utility bills;
• • Proof of your current gross income;
• • Documentation showing income from Social Security, pensions, disability, etc.
• • If you have received a shut off notice from your utility company, you will be asked for a copy of the termination notice;
• • Proof of your current address and the total number of individuals living in your home;
• • Social Security card and proof of U.S. citizenship.

You may also be eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This includes a free energy audit and home repairs to make your home more energy efficient. The WAP pays a contractor to visit your home and determine if better weather proofing can save you money.

Services are provided by the states, and each state has slightly different criteria for eligibility. All energy services are handled by local weatherization agencies.
If you receive Supplemental Security Income or Aid to Families with Dependent Children, you are automatically eligible to receive weatherization services. In other cases, states give preference to:

• • People over 60 years of age
• • Families with one or more members with a disability
• • Families with children (in most states).

One of the primary factors affecting eligibility is income. Depending on what state you live in, you are eligible for weatherization if your income falls below the “125% or 150% poverty level”. Note, however, that some states use a third alternative to set eligibility if your income is less than 60% of the median income in your state; and minimum incomes for Hawaii and Alaska, respectively, are slightly higher. For additional information go to http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/about.cfm.

If you don’t qualify for Federal or state assistance, consider these energy saving tips from the U.S. Department of Energy:

• • Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings.
• • Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• • Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
• • Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• • Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• • Use fans during the summer to create a wind chill effect that will make your home more comfortable. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
• • Turn off kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing to retain heated air.
• • Install a programmable thermostat that can adjust the temperature according to your schedule.
• • ENERGY STAR® labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent. Find retailers near you at www.energystar.gov when you are ready to replace your heating and cooling systems – as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics.
• • Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes to prevent heat loss.
• • Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss of up to 60 percent at the registers.
• • Heating can account for almost half of the average family’s winter energy bill. Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when replacing your system.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. One of its purposes is helping consumers identify and save money through the use of energy efficient appliances. Energy efficient choices can save households about a third on their energy bill.

If looking for new household appliances, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.