How to Apply for Energy Assistance Funding in Wisconsin
The winter weather in Wisconsin can be pretty darn cold and rising fuel and other energy costs can quickly drain a family's budget as residents try to maintain a comfortable temperature in their homes. Low and middle income families, in particular, struggle to pay energy bills during the heating season. That's why most counties in Wisconsin offer Energy Assistance to qualified families. Here's how you and your family can determine if you are eligible and apply for available energy assistance funding.
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Things You'll Need
- Income tax records for the previous calendar year Veritifcation of income received such as pay stubs Verification of child support, social security, veteran's benefits, SSI, or other payments received Social Security cards for household members Copy of lease or statement from the landlord if heat is included in the amount of rent payment Copies of current heat and electric bills
Instructions
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Contact the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP). Call WHEAP's toll free number at (866) 432-8947 to determine what agency provides energy assistance services in your county. Also go online (see Resources).
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2
Determine if you are financially eligible for energy assistance. Each year, the income limitations vary slightly, but for the winter 2008-2009 heating season, energy assistance may be available to you if your household's income for the last three months was less than $3,900 for a household of one. Add $1,350 for each person living in your household to determine the income threshold for larger households. For instance, the 3-month income limit for a household of two is $5,250 and the limit for a household of three is $6,600 and so on. Look at all of the income everyone in your household received during the last three calendar months from all sources to determine if your income is below the limitations for the year. Consider self-employment income, veteran's benefits, child support, railroad retirement, social security or SSI income and all wages.
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Call your local agency to set up an appointment if your income qualifies you for possible assistance. You will need to schedule an appointment to meet with an energy assistance program worker, who will take your application.
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Assemble all the materials you will need to take with you to your appointment. This will include social security cards for all the members of your household--whether they are related or not. You will also need to provide verification of income for each member of your household (as outlined in Step 2) and you will need to bring proof of all income along to complete your application. You will also need to take a copy of your most recent energy and heat bills and a copy of your lease or a written document from the landlord identifying how much, if any, of your heating costs are included as an allowance for heat in your monthly rent payment.
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Meet with an energy assistance program worker to complete an application for heating and energy assistance. Be sure to take all the materials listed in Step 4 along with you, along with any other additional materials the worker may have requested you to bring along when you set up the appointment. Be patient, courteous and friendly when you meet with your worker. Services are provided to Wisconsin residents based on your household's size, income level and heating costs. Your worker should be able to tell you whether you qualify--and perhaps even how much energy assistance you may qualify for--at the conclusion of your application appointment or within a week or so afterward.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are self-employed, you will need to bring copies of your income tax returns--both personal and business--for the previous year to your application appointment.
Since the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) is supported by state and federal funding, assistance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Your chances of receiving a one-time payment to help offset your heating and energy costs are best if you apply early in the heating season, which begins October 1 of each year.
