Residents urged to apply early for heating assistance (July 18, 2008)
State Rep. Peggy Pendleton, (D-Scarborough), would like her constituents to know applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will be accepted early this year, and residents can make an appointment now to apply for heating assistance this winter.
Community action program agencies throughout the state, like the People’s Regional Opportunity Program (PROP), manage the program locally and schedule appointments for applications and delivery.
“I encourage everyone who may qualify for this program to do so as early as possible,” said Pendleton. “The early application process should help ease the concerns that numerous Mainers have about how they will pay their heating bill as winter approaches.”
The program is designed to help low-income Mainers earning less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is currently $15,600 for an individual and $31,800 for a family of four, to purchase heating fuels. Households with senior citizens or children age 2 and younger will get first priority, and the income limits for those homes are $17,680 for an individual and $36,040 for a family of four.
There are different income limits for households of all sizes, from one person up to eight. PROP has information about all of the different income limits.
Pendleton said LIHEAP funds will be stretched thin this year, because the cost of oil has risen sharply since last winter and more people who have not applied for assistance in the past will apply this year. The average benefit is expected to be around $417 per household this year, which at current rates would purchase about a third of a tank of oil.
In recent years, Congress has released additional emergency funds for the program during the winter season, and Pendleton said that she has been working with her colleagues in the legislature and Gov. John Baldacci to urge Congress to appropriate more funds for the program this year, as demand and costs have risen so sharply. Pendleton would also like to remind constituents that there are other state resources available for Mainers of all incomes to save on energy costs, and suggests individuals visit a new state Web site, www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/policy/energy.shtml, which contains information and resources on energy efficiency.
Washington has appropriated $17 million for LIHEAP to Maine this year; last year, the state received a total of $38 million after a series of emergency funds were released throughout the winter.
Applicants will not know if they’ve been approved or the total dollar amount that they will receive until fall, but Pendleton encouraged constituents to apply early in order to beat the rush and have their application processed early. Thousands of households are expected to apply when the weather gets cold, and applying now will prevent a request from being held up for weeks or months with winter looming.
Maine homeowners and renters in Cumberland County can arrange an appointment to apply for assistance by contacting PROP at 553-5900.
In addition to LIHEAP, there are other state resources available for Mainers of all incomes to save on energy costs. For more information, constituents can contact Pendleton at 883-5414.
Community action program agencies throughout the state, like the People’s Regional Opportunity Program (PROP), manage the program locally and schedule appointments for applications and delivery.
“I encourage everyone who may qualify for this program to do so as early as possible,” said Pendleton. “The early application process should help ease the concerns that numerous Mainers have about how they will pay their heating bill as winter approaches.”
The program is designed to help low-income Mainers earning less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is currently $15,600 for an individual and $31,800 for a family of four, to purchase heating fuels. Households with senior citizens or children age 2 and younger will get first priority, and the income limits for those homes are $17,680 for an individual and $36,040 for a family of four.
There are different income limits for households of all sizes, from one person up to eight. PROP has information about all of the different income limits.
Pendleton said LIHEAP funds will be stretched thin this year, because the cost of oil has risen sharply since last winter and more people who have not applied for assistance in the past will apply this year. The average benefit is expected to be around $417 per household this year, which at current rates would purchase about a third of a tank of oil.
In recent years, Congress has released additional emergency funds for the program during the winter season, and Pendleton said that she has been working with her colleagues in the legislature and Gov. John Baldacci to urge Congress to appropriate more funds for the program this year, as demand and costs have risen so sharply. Pendleton would also like to remind constituents that there are other state resources available for Mainers of all incomes to save on energy costs, and suggests individuals visit a new state Web site, www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/policy/energy.shtml, which contains information and resources on energy efficiency.
Washington has appropriated $17 million for LIHEAP to Maine this year; last year, the state received a total of $38 million after a series of emergency funds were released throughout the winter.
Applicants will not know if they’ve been approved or the total dollar amount that they will receive until fall, but Pendleton encouraged constituents to apply early in order to beat the rush and have their application processed early. Thousands of households are expected to apply when the weather gets cold, and applying now will prevent a request from being held up for weeks or months with winter looming.
Maine homeowners and renters in Cumberland County can arrange an appointment to apply for assistance by contacting PROP at 553-5900.
In addition to LIHEAP, there are other state resources available for Mainers of all incomes to save on energy costs. For more information, constituents can contact Pendleton at 883-5414.
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