Need Help With Heating Costs? | Moms Need To Know ™

With the economy the way it is, I know that many of you are struggling to pay your bills,especially heating bills. Luckily, we have had an extremely warm winter (so far) in the Philadelphia area, but I have friends all over the country who tell me that they have NOT been so blessed!

There are benefit programs in place to help people heat their homes. While some programs will be better than others (depending on your state), I hope that this list helps those who are struggling!

In addition to utilizing available assistance programs, one of the best ways to save on heating costs is by ensuring that your HVAC system is running efficiently. Regular maintenance can go a long way in preventing costly breakdowns and keeping your energy bills in check. By scheduling routine check-ups and cleaning for your system, you can ensure that it’s working at peak performance, avoiding the need for costly repairs later on.

For those in the Philadelphia area, a trusted partner in maintaining your HVAC system is Kickin Comfort HVAC. They offer comprehensive services designed to optimize your system’s efficiency, ensuring that you’re not wasting money on unnecessary energy consumption. With a well-maintained HVAC system, you can experience consistent warmth without worrying about sky-high heating bills.

Simply click on your state below to be taken to the energy assistance program for your state:

Have you ever taken advantage of an Energy Assistance program? What is your experience?

Thanks A Proverbs Wife!

WelfareWarriorWoman

January 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm

I absolutely encourage everyone to apply for LIHEAP! As someone who works in a County Assistance Office (CAO - where LIHEAP, Food Stamps, and Medicaid, etc. are handled), my top tips (for the local PA residents) are:

1) completely fill out the application, and attach all the documents it asks for at the end. The workers need to document EVERYTHING when they're processing the paperwork. Even if your 17year old had a 5 hour a week temporary job at the mall before Christmas, they still need those paystubs. If anything is missing, your application will be "pended", and a letter sent to you requesting the missing documents, dragging the process out even longer.
2) They really do need 3 months of income, and the income they need is for the 3 calendar months prior to your application. Apply in January? They need Oct-Nov-Dec. They can sometimes work around missing one or two paystubs if they have the ones immediately before and after (to go off the year-to-date totals).
3) The payment is usually sent directly to your utility provider and applied to your account. If you don't have an outstanding bill, it's applied to your account as a credit for your future bills.
4) If you think that the CAO made an error in calculating things, you can appeal the decision and have a hearing with an administrative law judge. Don't be discouraged if it takes months. The CAOs get THOUSANDS of applications, and very very very few additional staff members to handle the load. Hearings can go on for months (and if you win the appeal, LIHEAP will still issue the payment).
5) If you are in a crisis situation (almost out of oil, wood, your service was disconnected, etc.), there is a special part of the program called Crisis that can help even faster than a regular application.
6) You can apply by mail, in person at your County Assistance Office, or online at https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/compass.web/CMHOM.aspx

Comments

lena p

January 20, 2012 at 8:02 pm

Wonderful article Mindy. I live in Philadelphia and I called PECO(electrucity company) and PGW (gas) and asked them to put me on a budget program. It's very easy and I advise to do it during months with most gas/electricity usage. It makes budgeting easier by spreading your bill payments evenly throughout the year. 🙂
WelfareWarriorWoman

January 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm

I absolutely encourage everyone to apply for LIHEAP! As someone who works in a County Assistance Office (CAO - where LIHEAP, Food Stamps, and Medicaid, etc. are handled), my top tips (for the local PA residents) are:

1) completely fill out the application, and attach all the documents it asks for at the end. The workers need to document EVERYTHING when they're processing the paperwork. Even if your 17year old had a 5 hour a week temporary job at the mall before Christmas, they still need those paystubs. If anything is missing, your application will be "pended", and a letter sent to you requesting the missing documents, dragging the process out even longer.
2) They really do need 3 months of income, and the income they need is for the 3 calendar months prior to your application. Apply in January? They need Oct-Nov-Dec. They can sometimes work around missing one or two paystubs if they have the ones immediately before and after (to go off the year-to-date totals).
3) The payment is usually sent directly to your utility provider and applied to your account. If you don't have an outstanding bill, it's applied to your account as a credit for your future bills.
4) If you think that the CAO made an error in calculating things, you can appeal the decision and have a hearing with an administrative law judge. Don't be discouraged if it takes months. The CAOs get THOUSANDS of applications, and very very very few additional staff members to handle the load. Hearings can go on for months (and if you win the appeal, LIHEAP will still issue the payment).
5) If you are in a crisis situation (almost out of oil, wood, your service was disconnected, etc.), there is a special part of the program called Crisis that can help even faster than a regular application.
6) You can apply by mail, in person at your County Assistance Office, or online at https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/compass.web/CMHOM.aspx

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