These inexpensive internet plans, income-based programs, and low-income family plans help reduce the cost of staying connected. “We were getting calls from people who were struggling with their utilities and were about to be disconnected,” says Dobbyn. If you’re behind on your electricity or natural gas bill and face having your service disconnected, you may qualify for emergency financial help through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). Current electricity and gas bills 3. low income assistance program If you are struggling to pay your bill, we may be able to help. Eligible low-income customers that enter into an arrears payment agreement are allowed more time to pay outstanding balances to their electricity utility or unit sub-meter provider. There are both government subsidies and low-income internet programs from internet service providers (ISPs) that can help with your internet bill. One of the organizations that are top is Catholic Charities. There are also special customer service rules available for low-income households. You can ask to have your security deposit waived by your natural gas utility. This is a one-time emergency payment only. Even if you have a budget and stick to it, you may still be left panicking when an unforeseen bill or expense pops up to threaten your delicate financial balance. Identification 2. Learn how you can take part. They can be reached at 557-2000. If you default on your arrears payment agreement or regular bill payment more than twice, your utility or unit sub-meter provider can cancel it. Call 211 any time of the day or night to learn about programs in your community, eligibility criteria and how to apply. In 2009, 211 Central East Ontario began processing applications for the UWBG’s programs, including its Utility Assistance Program, which helps eligible residents with up to $600 every 12 months for wood, oil or propane gas bills and up to $500 for municipal sewer and water bills. Employment Insurance Family Supplement; Employment Insurance Maternity and Parental Benefits; Parents of Murdered or Missing Children; Universal Child Care Benefit; See all for Income Assistance for Families and Children; For Newcomers to Canada. Energy Support for Bruce and Grey County Residents As part of this process, the agency will contact your electricity or natural gas provider and ask them to pause any further disconnection or collection activity on your account until a decision is made. It provides monthly on-bill credits for lower-income customers to reduce their electricity bills. When preparing your taxes, the Ontario Trillium Benefit offers the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, a tax-free payment to help with property taxes and sales tax on energy costs. Families seeking money to pay for stuff may be able to get help. We’re protecting you. If your pet has a disability and needs a device to help … Note: if you are a customer of a unit sub-meter provider, then the special rules regarding billing errors do not apply. Low-income customers can get up to $500 in emergency assistance for their electricity bills ($600 if your home is heated electrically) and $500 for their natural gas bills. They know they need 15 or 16 cords to get through the winter. The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter. All Rights Reserved © Copyright 2020 Ontario. Those time periods are: Your utility may also ask for a 10% down payment when you enter an arrears payment plan. LIHEAP funds may not be used to pay water and sewer bills. The Stanislaus County Housing Authority provides low income families with help paying rent as well as safe and sanitary housing. If your natural gas has been disconnected by your utility, you will not have to pay the reconnection fee. If you qualify, you should let your local utility or unit sub-meter provider know that you want to take advantage of the special rules for low-income customers. Help Paying Your Bills Keeping up with your monthly bills is never easy, especially for families juggling debt payments, household bills, and the day-to-day costs of raising a family. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND The Northern Ontario Energy Credit helps with the higher home energy costs faced by Northern Ontarians. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the primary federal program designed to help financially strapped families pay their utility bills. Grants that Help Low-Income Families Government grants for low-income families. Sharell & Tom, Phoenix, AZ. Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) LEAP is a grant program that helps those who are struggling to pay past due bills or have already received a disconnection notice. In order to qualify, your household income has to fall below a certain limit. That de-stressor is so important to the folks that we’re helping.”. A disconnection notice, if you have received one 4. The program not only helps pay for heating, but the entire utility bill for low-income families. Childcare assistance is provided when parents work or attend school. As well, the Affordability Fund provides eligible residents with Energy Star certified appliances, insulation and weather stripping. You need to meet certain criteria to qualify for these programs, and must go through one of the intake agencies in Ontario listed below. NOTE: Unit sub-meter providers are not required to waive reconnection fees. Those time periods are: Your utility or unit sub-meter provider may also ask for a 10% down payment when you enter an arrears payment plan. The UWBG helps local low-income residents pay utility bills that are beyond their reach. 211 is answered and updated by highly-trained specialists. Please contact your electric provider to see if they participate and what their low-income benefit is. Manage personal finances. The agency looking at your case will decide whether or not you qualify as low-income. When your security deposit is returned, it will either be: If the electricity utility made a mistake and overcharged you, they have to tell you. You will then have 10 days to request a cheque or they will apply the amount as a credit to your electricity bill. Grants are issued on your behalf and paid directly to your utility. However, finding and applying for all these different programs can be a hassle.You can save time and energy by checking out a few general resources that can connect you with a wide variety of aid programs in your area. If you previously paid a security deposit you can ask to have it back (as long as any outstanding arrears have been paid). In 2009, 211 Central East Ontario began processing applications for the UWBG’s programs, including its Utility Assistance Program, which helps eligible residents with up to $600 every 12 months for wood, oil or propane gas bills and up to $500 for municipal sewer and water bills. Among the top charities to turn to for short term financial help, advice, counseling, referrals, and support can be your local church. For example, if you were undercharged for 3 months, you have 3 months to pay back your utility. Thanks to BenefitsCheckUp ®, I have an extra $126 every month to help pay for food. “Need drove us to both create and expand the programs.” (The UWBG initially helped out with natural gas bills, then added electricity and non-traditional heating sources.) Emergency financial assistance is for emergency situations only and is not meant to provide you with ongoing help to pay your bills. The Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) is a year-round emergency financial assistance program developed by the Ontario Energy Board to assist low-income energy customers who may be experiencing difficulty paying current arrears. The important thing is they can usually supply some kind of help, while their financing is generally very limited. The churches and other social service agencies that are part of the charity will help qualified people reg… Your utility will also be notified if your application is denied. You can also chat online with 211 through the link at the top of this page, Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Or you can enter ‘utility assistance’ and your municipality on. And when the 211 Community Navigator has that conversation with a caller, it begins to build trust, and once trust is built, they find out what other needs the caller has.” As she points out, “you could come in struggling with one bill and go out the applications completed for five programs.”, Struggling With High Energy Bills? Few agencies offer support with non-traditional heating sources. The Ontario Energy Board works to ensure a sustainable, reliable energy sector in Ontario. LIHEAP, the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program, helps disadvantaged families with a yearly check of up to $350 to assist with utilities. Rate-regulated natural gas utilities have to follow special rules when dealing with low-income customers; for example, waiving security deposits and allowing longer payment times under arrears payment plans. Greg, Charleston, SC. COVID-19 Energy Assistance Programs (CEAP) The Government of Ontario is making funding available to support residential, small business and charitable organization customers that are struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. We thought our income was too high to qualify. The agency looking at your case will decide whether or not you qualify as low-income. Learn more about rules that electricity and natural gas utilities have to follow in our Consumer Protection section. The survey found a quarter of Canadians described themselves at struggling or on the edge of financial hardship. If you believe that your utility or unit sub-meter provider has broken our customer service rules we want to hear from you. Get information on budgeting, banking, mortgages and credit cards to help you make responsible financial decisions. We offer programs to help lower-income customers with their electricity bills. There are lots of programs to help low-income people with specific needs, such as food, housing, or utilities. Funds may be limited. The LIHEAP assistance program is a federally funded energy program that helps pay energy bills for disadvantaged households. In July 2018, Angus Reid looked at the lived experience of Poverty in Canada. If your power has been disconnected by your utility, you will not have to pay the reconnection fee. You might also qualify for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), which applies a monthly credit directly to electricity bills. Help for low-income consumers Discover programs to help with your energy bills. As part of this process, the agency will contact your electricity or natural gas provider and ask them to pause any further disconnection or collection activity on your account until a decision is made. “The beauty of 211 is that when you have a bill you can’t pay, all you need to do is pick up the phone and call 211, and they can connect you to a program and inform you whether or not you could qualify,” says Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director of the United Way of Bruce Grey (UWBG), one of 211 Ontario’s community partners. Website designed by Evoke Solutions. A copy of a rental contract, lease or mortgage docu… They will rarely, if ever, turn anyone away that is genuinely fighting. Families receiving TANF can enroll in educational programs that can improve income, also job readiness. LIHEAP energy assistance program. NOTE: Emergency financial assistance is provided on a first-come first-served basis. Call the Numbers in this Post or go to Local Church Assistance. As an eligible low-income customer, you can pay the utility back over a longer period of time than other customers. These websites and phone lines can help you find assistance programs and charities that meet your specific needs – all in one step. Free Legal Services for Civil Cases You cannot receive more money than you owe on your bill.Therefore, you may not receive the full amount of the grant. For many low-income Ontario residents, the struggle to meet basic needs, like heating their home, can be just one challenge. Credited to your account with the utility or unit sub-meter provider if it's, Credited to your account with the utility if it's. Lifeline. Additionally, Enbridge Gas’ Home Weatherization Program delivers free insulation upgrades. The Ontario Energy Board’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), provides up to $500 in emergency financial assistance to pay gas or electricity bills. Eligible low-income customers that enter into an arrears payment agreement are allowed more time to pay outstanding balances to their natural gas utility. We’re monitoring the system and holding your utility service provider to account. 1-800-257-8563 I found 35 programs just in my state. This grant includes a cash grant to pay bills. Energy bill assistance: There are at least two federal programs that can help low income families or single people pay their heating or cooling costs, save money on their utility bills and also conserve energy. To find out about the details of utility bill assistance programs in your community, call 2-1-1. “The partnership with 211 is really important to us,” says Dobbyn. They will save up and work with their supplier to buy 10 cord and then apply to our program, and we buy the other six cord and the wood supplier delivers it all at once.”, Dobbyn recounts the story of one family who reached out for support after they had run out of wood. It helps those families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but do not make enough to afford private insurance. If your LEAP intake agency notifies your natural gas utility that you may be eligible for emergency financial assistance, they must suspend any disconnection process for a maximum of 21 days from the notification date. If you default on your arrears payment agreement or regular bill payment more than twice, your utility can cancel it. Understand how your bill works and how rates are set. TANF is given to qualified low-income families with children under the age of 18. If you’re struggling to afford your energy bills, you might be able to take advantage of certain benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers. “They’d been out, tromping in the bush… trying to find as much free wood as they could….They obviously were burning through it, so they … took the child’s bed apart to burn.” Before Ontario’s ban on winter disconnection more than two years ago, Dobbyn heard “tons of stories of people who got their electricity cut off.”, For just over 10 years, 211 Central East Ontario has processed more than 3,000 energy-related intakes for the UWBG. You will likely have to meet with a representative of the social agency for an interview. The GST/HST credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with low or modest incomes offset all or part of the GST or HST that they pay. For a 10 % down payment when you enter an arrears payment agreement are allowed time! 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