Energy Assistance for Low-Income Households

May 2008

Energy Assistance Programs
Other Assistance with Utilities
Protection From Shutoffs
Arrearage Forgiveness Programs
Weatherization Assistance to Help You Cut Your Energy Use
Where to go - Help Applying for Assistance
Where to go - Help to Resolve Problems

Are you concerned about paying your bills?

If you are low income, you may need help paying for your utility bills (electric and gas) and energy or deliverable fuel bills (oil, propane gas, and wood). This pamphlet describes programs that can help you with these costs. You may be eligible for more than one program, so consider applying to all for which you may be eligible. It may be possible to budget your utility bills throughout the year to avoid having your utility service shutoff, and energy assistance programs can reduce what you must pay each month. Winter is a good time to set up a budget payment agreement because you will l avoid the risk of a spring utility shutoff and l be able to get the benefits from utility arrearage forgiveness programs where in exchange for regular payments, the utility forgives part of your debt. To figure out how much you must pay each month, use the Legal Aid pamphlet, How to Keep Year 'Round Utility Service/Resolving a Utility Shutoff, available on the web or from the legal aid offices.

Where to Get Help

To find the energy assistance application site nearest your home, call Infoline at 2-1-1. When you apply, you will need proof of income for everyone in the house. Ask what documents you will need to bring when you apply (for example, photo identification, paycheck stubs, Social Security checks, a copy of your gas or electric bill if this is your heat source, etc.). Use the space below to record the information. Note: The Community Action Agency can help you complete your energy assistance application if you are homebound because of disability or illness and cannot go to an appointment.

Community Action Agency Energy Assistance Application Site:

Phone number:___________________________ Hours open:______________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
Documents needed:________________________________

Local Fuel Bank Site:
Phone number:___________________ Hours open: _____________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
Documents needed: _______________________________

For more information on programs described in this booklet, call the Connecticut Energy Assistance Hotline at 1-800-842-1132 or on the web go to www.ct.gov/staywarm.

Energy Assistance Programs

Apply for energy assistance at the Community Action Agency energy assistance application site for your area (call Infoline at 211). One application covers CEAP (Connecticut Energy Assistance Program) benefits and a request for weatherization assistance (both are described below)Applications are taken between the beginning of November (and sometimes earlier) and a date set each year, typically between mid-March and mid-May, unless funding runs out before that deadline. To find out the deadline for applications, call 1-800-842-1132.

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP).

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) will help pay your winter heating bills if you are low income. Help is only available for your main source of heat (called "primary heat").

CEAP Crisis and Safety Net Benefits

CEAP crisis and safety net benefits are available only to households that heat with deliverable fuels. Once you use up your basic CEAP benefits, a one-time crisis assistance payment of up to $200 or $400 (depending on household income) may be available. More safety net benefits may be available after that. Ask for this assistance from the Community Action Agency handling your CEAP benefits. (Again, households using utility services as the primary heat source cannot get crisis and safety net benefits.)

CEAP Furnace Repair/Replacement

Where a heating system is unsafe or inoperable, repair or replacement is available to some very low-income CEAP eligible homeowners. Contact the Community Action Agency handling your energy assistance application if you need this assistance.

CEAP Food Stamp Related Benefits

You may be able to get higher food stamp benefits. Households receiving CEAP can have the Department of Social Services (DSS) calculate their food stamp benefits using the "standard utility allowance" (SUA). This results in higher food stamp benefits when the SUA is more than actual utility expenses.

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Other Assistance with Utility & Fuel Bills

Operation Fuel and Fuel Banks

Operation Fuel provides emergency energy assistance for people who are not eligible for CEAP or who have used up their CEAP benefits. Payments are made directly to the company that supplies the household with energy or utility services. Local fuel banks may also have other funds available.

Apply at the fuel bank serving your area. To find your local fuel bank, call Infoline at 2-1-1.

Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund

If you or your spouse were in the armed services and were honorably discharged, you may be eligible for assistance that can be used for energy and utility bills. Every town has an application site. For information, call Infoline at 2-1-1.

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Protection From Shutoffs

Life-Threatening Shutoffs:

If a lack of service is life-threatening to someone in the household, electric and gas companies may not shut off or refuse to turn on utility service at any time during the year, regardless of the amount of money the customer owes. A doctor must certify that the shutoff is life-threatening by filling out a form. Each utility has its own form.

Protection from Winter Shutoffs:

The best long-term protection from a shutoff is a payment agreement you can afford to keep. Protection for low-income persons from winter shutoffs is available under certain circumstances, depending on whether the company provides electric or gas service:

Electric Utilities: Protection from a winter shutoff is available to low-income electric utility customers by applying each fall to their electric company for "hardship" status. "Hardship" customers cannot be shut off between November 1 and May 1, even if they owe the company money. If electric service is shut off, the utility must turn it back on by November 1, even if the customer is unable to make a payment.

Gas Utilities: Protection from a winter shutoff is available only to low-income gas heat customers by applying each fall to their gas company for "hardship" status. "Hardship" heating customers cannot be shut off between November 1 and May 1, even if they owe the company money. If gas heating service is shut off, whether the utility must turn it back on by November 1 depends on the customer's situation:

Whenever possible, if you are low income, you should

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Arrearage Forgiveness Programs:

An arrearage forgiveness program means that some of your back debt (bills) will be forgiven in exchange for making regular payments on your bill. Households are put on a budget plan. As long as you make the payments agreed to in the budget plan, your back bills will be erased or forgiven. Your utility bill can be reduced to $0 in the arrearage forgiveness program, but it cannot result in a credit on your account. There are two parts in the arrearage forgiveness program:

Arrearage forgiveness programs are available to gas and electric heat customers who are low income and heat with:

Apply for the arrearage forgiveness program by calling your local Community Action Agency, local fuel bank, or the utility company.

For the winter part of the arrearage forgiveness program,

For the summer part of the arrearage forgiveness program,

CL&P and UI also have arrearage forgiveness payment programs available to customers who are not eligible for the programs described above. Contact the utility company to find out how to participate in these programs.

Note: See the Legal Aid pamphlet, How to Keep Year Round Service/Resolving a Utility Shutoff. It has information about payment programs and how to get the most from energy assistance. It also has worksheets to help you determine what you must pay toward your utility bill when you do not qualify for an arrearage forgiveness program.

Weatherization Assistance to Help You Cut Your Energy Use

Renters and owners who are low income can get free help to reduce energy use through weatherization and conservation assistance. This assistance helps low-income households make their home or apartment more comfortable while reducing utility and energy bills. Examples of weatherization include insulation, furnace repairs or replacement, storm windows, caulking, refrigerator replacements, information on reducing energy use, cutting down on drafts from outside, and more. If you rent, the landlord may need to agree to some of the weatherization services. In some cases, the landlord may be asked to make a small contribution to the property improvement.

 Where to Go for Help

Applying for Energy Assistance:

Use the following list to locate possible sources of energy assistance, including information on where to apply and program deadlines.

Help Resolving Utility Problems:

OCC, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051.
Phone: 860-827-2900. (Web: www.ct.gov/occ)

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This document was produced by the Legal Assistance Resource Center of CT in cooperation with CT Legal Services, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, New Haven Legal Assistance Association, and Statewide Legal Services.

The information in this document is based on laws in CT  as of May 2008. We hope that the information is helpful. It is not intended as legal advice for an individual situation. If you need further help and have not done so already, please call Statewide Legal Services (see above) or contact an attorney.Copyright:  May 2008.            www.larcc.org