Programs can help with high heating bills
As the temperatures drop and the wind chill dips past freezing, one thing keeps increasing: your heating bill.
Whether you have gas heat or electric heat inside your house, there's no doubt about it: Keeping your home toasty warm can be very expensive.
But if utility bills have you overwhelmed, some local programs may be able to help.
The Marion County SRS office, located in Marion, offers the LIEAP program. That stands for "low income energy assistance program."
Through LIEAP, individuals and families meeting specific income guidelines can receive financial help to pay their heating bills. It's a program that began January 21 and runs through March 31, according to Noreem Weems of the Marion County Department for Elderly.
But don't let Weems' agency fool you: LIEAP funds are available for all ages, young and old, she said.
To qualify for LIEAP, an individual or family must have their utility bills caught up, with no balance, Weems said.
For a single person, you can make no more than $960 per month in order to qualify. That rises to $1,294 per month for a household of two, $1,627 for a household of three, $1,961 for four — all the way up to $4,630 for a 12-person household. These numbers include children, Weems said.
Aid received from LIEAP can pay for either gas or electric heat, depending on your home, Weems said. People can even use half of the money for electric and half of the money for gas.
The funds can also cover propane heat, she said.
To apply for the LIEAP program, people can get applications from the Marion SRS office, either in person or by mail. Weems' office at the Department for Elderly provides free help in filling out the forms, which can sometimes be complicated, she said. Individuals also need copies of recent utility bills.
After SRS receives the application it usually takes two to four weeks for the funds to come through, Weems said.
For more information about LIEAP, contact the Marion SRS office at 382-2131 or Weems at 382-3580.
Another option for those who don't fit into the income guidelines is Project Deserve, a program run by the local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Project Deserve is funded by the customers of local gas companies, according to Patty Robinson, director of the Sunflower Chapter of the Red Cross. The Sunflower Chapter covers Marion and McPherson counties.
When you receive a bill from Atmos Energy and a line asks you if you want to donate money for those in need — that's Project Deserve, Robinson said.
Project Deserve is open to two groups of people: Those over 60, and those on the SSI or SSDI social security programs (or with a family member on social security).
Individuals can also apply if they're in the process of applying for disability, Robinson said. They can qualify if they have an outstanding balance on their bill, but they shouldn't expect the Red Cross to pay all of it.
Funds are paid directly to the utility companies. After the application process, payment usually comes in two to three weeks.
Also, since Project Deserve is funded through gas companies, individuals must have at least part of their heat source through gas, Robinson said. They can't get Project money for electric-only heat.
But right now might not be the best time to utilize Project Deserve — that's because the program has almost no money left, she said. The program is funded quarterly, and the Sunflower Chapter has already used its allocation for January and February.
The end of the quarter is at the end of March, so the new funds won't be allocated until April, Robinson said. Until then, her office is trying to steer individuals to other sources.
But if an individual or family has an emergency situation, the Red Cross will do what it can and at least speak to the utility company, she said.
To contact the Sunflower Chapter office, call (620) 241-2386.
A third source of utility assistance is Mid-Kansas Community Action Program, with an office in Marion. Contact this office at 1-888-877-5948 or 382-8807.
Both Weems and Robinson also suggest contacting the utility company directly to try to work out a method of payment. Most companies will work with you, they said. Another way to get assistance might be to contact local ministerial associations in the county.
Remember: Under the Kansas "Cold Weather Rule," gas or utility companies aren't allowed to cut off heat to a home when temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing.
