Energy Assistance Program for Low Income Residence

With utility costs increasing in Blue Hill and across Nebraska, many individuals are struggling to keep homes cool in the summer and heated in the winner. The current economic instability makes the monthly utility bill a crushing expense for many low income households, including those with young children or elderly residents. Assistance with utility expenses is available for low income Nebraskans. The Nebraska Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps people with limited incomes offset the cost of heating and cooling their homes. The program will partially pay the cost of electricity, fuel oil, gas, coal, wood, kerosene, propane, or other fuel source. Apply Online Eligibility is based on a household's resources and income. Some resources aren’t counted like your home, one car, and personal belongings such as furniture and clothing. The resource limit is $5,000. Resources that are counted include cash, checking and savings accounts, time certificates, CD's, stocks, bonds and property other than your home. Effective for the time period October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009 the income limits are: Household Size / Maximum Income 1 $13,005 2 $17,505 3 $22,005 4 $26,505 5 $31,005 Grant amounts are based on your income, type of residence, and the type of fuel used. The minimum LIHEAP payment per fuel type is:

• Electricity, Natural Gas and Coal/$290; Fuel Oil and Kerosene/$483;
• Propane/$504 Wood/$395.

If you’ve been threatened with a utility shutoff, or have received a shutoff notice, you may be eligible for up to $500 in additional assistance. To be eligible for crisis assistance you must meet the resource and income guidelines, have attempted to keep your utility bills current but unforeseen circumstances have created the crisis.

In most instances the LIHEAP payment will be sent to the utility providers.

There's also a cooling program available to households in the summer. To be eligible for the cooling program, there must be someone in the household that is 70 or older or meets some specific medical condition that makes a person susceptible to heat. The household must still meet the resource and income guidelines.

For further assistance, or an application, contact the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services office in your county.