9th District Opportunity invites low-income seniors to apply for home heating help
Stephens County low-income seniors age 65 and older can begin applying for help paying their heating bills on November 1.
The Georgia Department of Human Services, through 9th District Opportunity in Gainesville, is helping to pay heating costs for low-income homes with either gas, propane, or electric heating.
According to Ninth District Opportunity Program Director Brenda Dalin, one-time payments will be made by check issued to the home heating suppliers up to $400. She says eligibility for the program is based on the income of all household members.
To set up your appointment beginning November 1, there is a toll-free number for all 13 counties in the 9th District Opportunity region.
That number is 855-636-3108.
A representative will then call you back and schedule a time for you to come to your local Ninth District Office.
Applicants can also go online to secure an appointment by going to ndo.org/eap.
Dalin says, when you go to your appointment you must bring verification of the age of every person in your home, verification of all household income from the past 30 days, verification of Social Security numbers, proof of citizenship such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, and your most recent heating bill.
Only households 65 years of age and older or homebound due to health reasons may apply for heating assistance beginning November 1.
Depending on the availability of funds, the regular home heating help program will open to the general public on December 1, 2019.
It’s not known yet how much federal funding Stephens County will receive for the home heating help program.