November 11, 2022
Provided by Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency

The Ohio Department of Development and Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency (LFCAA) want to let Ohioans know that assistance is available to help with their heating bills this winter. The Home Energy Assistance Winter Crises Program started November 1 and helps income-eligible Ohioans pay their heating bills and can assist with fuel tank placement, fuel tank testing and furnace repair.  The program will be open until March 31, 2023.

The Winter Crises Program assists low-income households that have been disconnected (or have a pending disconnection notice for gas and/or electric), need to establish new services, need to pay to transfer services, have a PIPP default, have 25-percent (or less) of bulk fuel or wood supply remaining, to help stay warm this winter. This program can also help with furnace repair.

When applying for the program, applicants must provide the following documentation:

• Income verification for the last 30 days (document examples: pay stubs, child support printout, current year Social Security award letter, including disability benefits, public assistance, pension, etc.)
• If self-employed, the ledger showing last 12 months earnings and expenses, and most recent filed tax forms and schedules or most recent IRS Account Transcript.
• If seasonally employed, the last 12 months of paystubs are needed, or seasonal employment form filled out.
• Social Security cards or birth certificates for all household members, and Social Security numbers for all members of the household.
• Most recent gas and electric bills, propane/fuel oil invoice (even if assistance is not needed for both services).
• If disabled, proof of disability.
• If zero income, need to know how you have been maintaining your household. (Food stamps, Metropolitan Housing, monetary assistance from someone outside the household, etc.)

Ohioans can visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov to start their application and upload the required documents. If application is completed online, please call (740) 777-9055 to schedule a phone appointment. If you do not have access to the internet and/or cannot upload your documentation, LFCAA can coordinate a time for you to drop off your documentation or your documentation can be mailed faced or emailed to the local agency. For a list of required documentation and/or to schedule a phone interview, please call our automated appointment line at (740) 777-9055.

Eligible households can receive a payment for their main heating source and/or their secondary heating source (electric). The program can also assist with fuel tank replacement, fuel tank testing and furnace repair. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. See chart below.

For more information about the features of the Winter Crises Program locally and what is needed to apply, contact LFCAA at (740) 653-4146. Additional information can also be found at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0880.