How to Apply for Fuel Assistance
Fuel assistance applications are generally handled by the social services and welfare offices in each city and county in the U.S. There are income guidelines that must be followed. Usually there must be an elderly person, disabled person or children in the household. It is available when a family is at risk of a service being cut off and it may also be available to keep the family from reaching that point. The program provides payments for electricity, heating oil or wood directly to the provider. Summer cooling assistance is also available in some areas.
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Instructions
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Contact your local social services or welfare department. Ask if they are accepting fuel assistance applications. In most areas you can receive the application by postal mail and it may be available on the Internet at your state social services department. Once you have the application, call and make an appointment, if necessary.
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Provide the social worker who handles your application with your most recent pay stubs and proof of any other income. Take your lease or rental agreement and your heating bill with you to the appointment. They will make copies of these documents to be placed in your file.
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Give the social worker any other information they require. Generally, if you are receiving food stamp benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, you are more likely to be automatically qualified. Cooling assistance is also available in some states. This may be a direct payment to the provider of your electricity or an actual voucher for a new air conditioner. The cooling assistance program is also handled by the Fuel Assistance office.
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