Help with utility bills is available in St. Mary

St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency will begin accepting appointments for LIHEAP Utility Assistance from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Wednesday, CEO Almetra Franklin said in a news release.

You may call the central office at 337-828-5703/5705 to set up your appointment. No walk-ins will be accepted.

You can be eligible for this service once every six months, provided funds are available. If you don’t have all information, your application will not be accepted. The payments the applicants qualify for will be sent to the vendors according to:
October through March are considered heating months, which means the payment can only go to the vendor the applicant uses to heat the homes.

April through September are considered cooling months, which means the payment can only go to the vendor the applicant uses to cool the homes.

Under the Crisis Assistance Program, households are eligible for one crisis payment not to exceed $475. A crisis exists when a household’s energy source for heating and/or cooling has been disconnected or scheduled for disconnection, faced with a health and/or medical safety risk (risk must be documented) or experiencing a social or economic hardship (income and basic living expenses must be considered).

A crisis also exists for weather-related and emergency shortages declared by state and federal government.

To apply the following information is needed

—Current Proof of Income (Examples: Last four consecutive paystubs, award letters, food stamp printout, which must be printed out in last 30 days).

—Unexpired driver’s license or state I.D. with same address as the service address for applicant.

—Social Security cards for everyone in household.

—One to six months of gas and/or electric bills (actual bills or printout).

—Proof of residence (Examples: Tax bill, voter registration card, insurance bill, cable, telephone, credit card or medical bill). The document must have name and physical address on it.