When fuel prices rose this summer, Leah Richards started getting more calls about home heating assistance for the upcoming winter at the Community Action Program for Belknap and Merrimack County.
“There is more panic from people and households regarding how they will be able to balance the increased costs of everything, including electric and how to heat their home,” she said. “People are very worried.”
The fuel assistance program, which Richards oversees, provides credits for clients to use towards home heating bills. This can be for all types of heat – whether that be a propane or natural gas, oil or electric.
In anticipation of higher costs this winter, the benefit for applicants has increased by 20%. This means customers can receive more money toward their heating costs.
Eligibility for fuel assistance program is determined by income and household size. The income threshold is 60% of the state’s median income, which equates to $38,969 or below for a household of one, or $74,941 or below for a household of four.
Next, energy costs for a household are factored in to determine the client’s benefit amount. This allows those with the lowest incomes and highest energy costs to receive the highest benefits, according to the New Hampshire Department of Energy.
Benefits, which are paid directly to utilities or landlords – range from $210 to $1,575, according to the Community Action Program for Belknap and Merrimack County.
The fuel assistance program in New Hampshire is an offshoot of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Department of Energy contracts with local community action agencies, like the Community Action Program for Belknap and Merrimack County to administer the program.
A record amount of money – $64,347,626 million – was available last year through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This funding came from the bipartisan infrastructure package, the American Rescue Plan Act and fiscal year appropriations funding.
Last year, most clients used their entire benefit due to the rising heating costs, Richards said. This will likely be the case again this winter.
Applications for the fuel assistance program open on Sept. 1. The program runs from November 1 to April 30.
Priority is for households with elderly or disabled residents and those with children under the age of 6.
Eligible customers can apply for a credit at any period throughout the program dates. This means that if someone receives a $900 bill for an oil delivery in January, that individual could apply for a credit to offset that cost afterwards, said Richards.
To apply locally, contact the Community Action Program’s Fuel Assistance department by phone at 603 223-0043 or email at FuelAssistance@capbm.org.
“I encourage anyone who is in need of assistance to keep their lights on and stay warm this winter to give us a call,” said Richards. “We would love to help.”