Cooling assistance from Community Action begins July 19

[July 08, 2010]  Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois announced Wednesday that the summer utility assistance program will begin on July 19 in DeWitt, Logan, Mason, Menard and Piatt counties. The focus of the cooling program is electric service. Funds are very limited and will be available in the form of a one-time lump-sum payment targeted to income-eligible, at-risk households.

To be eligible, household income must be equal to or less than 150 percent of the 2010 federal poverty guidelines. A single-person household can qualify with gross monthly income of $1,354; a two-person household up to $1,821 gross monthly income; and a family of three can gross up to $2,289 monthly.

In addition to income eligibility, only at-risk households with one of the following conditions can receive benefits:

• Households that contain a member with a medical condition that can be ameliorated by air conditioning, such as asthma, emphysema, coronary disease and terminal illnesses. Required documentation must include a doctor's certification letter dated within the last 90 days, stating that the medical condition would be aggravated by extreme heat.

• Households that contain a member who is elderly (age 60 and above).

• Households that contain children under 36 months of age or younger.

• Households that contain a member receiving Social Security disability benefits or with a pending determination case at the Social Security Administration. Required documentation must include a letter of determination from the Social Security Administration or receipt of Social Security disability benefit statement.

The program's benefits are summer energy assistance payments of $150 to electric providers. There will be no cash payments for renters who do not have a utility account.

Kimberly Lucas, assistant coordinator of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, said: "Funds are very limited this year. The program is first-come, first-serve. Once funds are exhausted there will be no more funds available."

Eligible households should contact their local Community Action office no sooner than July 19 to set up an appointment for application. The program ends July 30 or when funds are exhausted.

Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois is a not-for-profit organization that serves DeWitt, Fulton, Logan, Mason, Menard and Piatt counties with a variety of programs, including LIHEAP. Some of the other services are Head Start, Early Head Start, senior transportation and meals, Foster Grandparents, and weatherization.

For more information about all the programs or to set up an appointment, contact Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois on the Web at www.capcil.org or call one of the offices: Logan County, 217-732-2159, ext. 226; Menard County, 217-632-3137; Mason County, 309-543-6988; DeWitt County, 217-935-2455; Piatt County, 217-762-2421.

[Text from file received from Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]