The LIHEAP Summer Energy Assistance Program is targeted to income-eligible at-risk households and provides benefits of $150.00 payments to electric providers.

At-risk households are defined as having; seniors, persons with disabilities, families with children less than 60 months (5 years) of age at the date of the application and those with medical conditions that would be aggravated by extreme heat.  To qualify, these at-risk households must have incomes equal to or less than 150 percent of the poverty level as defined in the 2012 Federal Poverty Guidelines published by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Benefits can be provided only to income-eligible households that can be included in one of the following groups:

-Households that contain a member with a medical condition that can be ameliurated by air conditioning, such as asthma, emphysema, coronary disease and terminal illness.  Required documentation must include adoctor's certification letter dated within the last ninety days, stating that the medical condition would be aggravated by extreme heat.

-Households that contain a member who is elderly (age 60 and above)

-Households that contain children under 60 months (5 years) of age or younger at the date of the application

-Households that contain a member receiving social security disability benefits or with a pending determination case at the Social Security Administration (SSA).  Required documentation must include a letter of determination from the SSA or receipt of social security disability benefit statement.

The focus of this cooling program is electric service.  The program benefits are Summer Energy Assistance payments of $150.00 to electric providers.

The program begins on July 11, 2012 at will conclude on July 27, 2012 or when funds have been exhausted.

To apply for the LIHEAP Summer Energy Assistance Program, please contact the Community Action Partnership office in your area.