Big Sandy Area Community Action Program is accepting applications for two components of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Cooling Program. Residents can apply for the subsidy and crisis components on a first-come, first-served basis through Sept. 30 or until funds are gone.
BSACAP collectively operates outreach offices in Martin, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin and Pike counties. Applicants in Martin County should apply at the Inez office in the Collier Center, 387 Main Street, Suite 203. To locate other offices, call 1-888-658-3641.
Income eligibility for the program is up to 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Households may be eligible for electric benefits up to the maximum allowable from one or both components.
Benefits are paid directly to electric vendors.
The subsidy component helps households offset electric costs by providing a one-time benefit ranging from $100 to $400 depending on income levels and housing categories.
The crisis component can assist households demonstrating a home energy crisis, with the minimum not to exceed $600.
Households can reapply each time they experience a crisis until they have reached their maximum benefit.
Applicants must provide at least one of the following: disconnect notice; eviction notice for non-payment of rent (if electric costs are included as an undesignated portion of rent); demonstrate a late amount, overdue amount or that they are within 10 days of running out of pre-paid electric; or demonstrate that they would be disconnected or evicted if not for a moratorium due to a local, state or federal state of emergency.
All applicants will be required to supply the following documentation at the time of application:
• Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each household member.
• Proof of all household members’ income from the preceding month.
• Most current electric bill, statement from your landlord if electric is included in your rent, statement from utility company if you participate in a Pre-Pay Electric Program.
• The account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric bill.
Telephone and in-person appointments are available. You can call the agency’s toll-free hotline at 1-888-658-3641 to book an appointment over the telephone or online by visiting the agency’s website at www.bsacap.org/bookings. You must choose the county you reside in, then pick a date on or after July 25 and a time that would be best for you, add your contact details, and click “Book.”
Appointments and applications will be taken during business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Community Action Kentucky administers LIHEAP in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which receives the funding as a pass-through block grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find more information about LIHEAP and a listing of LIHEAP outreach offices at www.CAPKY.org.