If you want financial assistance that you do not have to pay back here is what you could do. Go to or call your local social services department. If you qualify they have a variety of programs that you can apply for.

An example of these programs are fuel assistance, crisis assistance and cooling assistance. These are programs you can apply for if you need assistance with your fuel cost. If you have a gas or light bill they may be able to assist you.

Below is a description of each.

Fuel Assistance: This program helps with home heating costs; but can also be used for furnace re-starts, late charges, delivery charges, and connection or re-connection fees.

Crisis Assistance: is intended to meet a household’s emergency heating need, when no other resource is available. Here are some examples on how crisis assistance can be used. During winter months it can be used for a one time only heat security deposit; portable space heater for temporary use, payment for emergency shelter, and/or heating equipment repair/purchase. Assistance is based on the availability of funds.

Cooling Assistance: provides purchase or repair of cooling equipment and/or payment for electricity to operate cooling equipment. To be eligible, a household must contain at least one vulnerable individual who is age 60 or over, disabled, or under age 6. Assistance is based on availability of funds.

Programs like these have application cut off dates. So you will want to find out this information when applying. If you find that you missed the deadline for heating assistance ask about the crisis assistance or cooling assistance program.

Keep in mind that these programs vary state to state. Not everyone qualifies for these programs. Social Services will determine if you qualify by the income guidelines set for the state you are in. If indeed you do qualify you will be informed by mail after completing the application. Since there is quite a bit of people applying for these services please allow the agency ample time to respond back to you. The agency will also tell you about when you should receive a response from them.

If you are approved you will receive in the mail a letter containing how much you are approved for. It will have the date, worker number, phone number of the agency, case number, city or county information, and client notice of action.

Client notice of action simply summarizes how much you have been approved for, the company’s name they are sending the payment to, what type of expense it is for whether it be heating or cooling, and when the benefits will be paid by. It is very important that you pay close attention to this information to ensure it is correct. Sometimes the agency may make mistakes and sends the payment to the wrong company or account number: although this is very rare.

Client notice of action also can contain disapproval. If you are ever disapproved it will explain why. If you are disapproved you have the right to appeal the agency’s decision. Information on how to appeal will be included in your letter.

Also if you are approved and you don’t agree with the agency’s decision you have the right to appeal as well. That information is included with your letter.

So now that you know about the various types of assistance: Fuel Assistance, Crisis Assistance and Cooling Assistance I will now tell you what you will need when you apply.

Things you should bring when you apply for these services are:

A copy of your bill

Your drivers license or state identification card

Your social security number

The majority of the time when you call your local social services and ask them to mail you an application they will tell you this information. Depending on where you live they may require more information. Make sure if they don’t tell you during the first few minutes of the conversation you find this information out before you end the call.

I have found that the quickest method is to call, have the agency mail the application to you, fill it out at home and then take it to the agency yourself. If you have a printer at home make copies of everything prior to leaving. It will make things run much smoother. If you don’t have a printer just ask someone in the agency to make copies for you. They will be glad to assist you.

Another way to get financial help is to call your local First Call For Help, United Way, Crisis Hotline, 211, American Red Cross or Salvation Army. These agencies may be able to give you referrals to other agencies that can help you with your specific need. If it is your first time calling they will need to get information from you like your name, phone number, address, household size, social security number etc. They will need this information in order to help serve you better. They use this information to find referrals closer to where you live.

Nacita Moore http://loadsofinfo.blogspot.com/

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