Manatee County offering power bill assistance to needy seniors

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Aug. 16, 2011) – Manatee County is now accepting applications for Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly grants which offers financial help to residents age 60 and older who have an economic hardship.

Tracie Adams, Manatee's Human Services Manager, said with state grant money the county may approve up to $600 in assistance for a household twice a year: Once during the cooling season, April 1 to Sept. 30, and again during the heating season, Oct. 1 to March 31. Manatee has about $78,000 to distribute to needy customers through March 31, 2012.

 

The program is extended to Florida Power & Light and Peace River customers.

 

"These are crisis benefits -- you're in jeopardy of having your power turned off," Adams said. "Recipients must have a final notice, past due amount or a deposit owed in order to have your electric turned on.”

 

To be eligible for assistance, applicants must:

 

* Be part of a household with at least one person age 60 or older in the home;

* Have a documented heating or cooling emergency (a past due amount on your bill; a final notice of disconnection has been issued or you owe a deposit);

* A gross household annual income equal to or less than 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. That means a one-person household could have an income of about $16,000 or less to be eligible, and a two-person home must show an income of less than about $21,500. (If the applicant receives food stamps, income verification may be waived.)

 

For more information call (941) 749-3030 or visit the Aging Services area of mymanatee.org