HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NEARING START DATE

From WNEG, Toccoa

Temperatures outside are proof that cold weather is here and colder weather is on the way this winter, of course.

With that in mind, the start date is soon approaching for people to sign up for assistance with home heating bills.

Ninth District Opportunity says that households in which every member of the home is age 65 and older or is homebound due to health reasons may apply for assistance with their home heating bills beginning on December 1.

Under the program, the Georgia Department of Human Services will help pay heating costs for gas or electric.

Officials say one time payments will be made by check issued to the home energy suppliers on behalf of eligible households.

According to Ninth District Opportunity, eligibility for the program is based on the income of all household members and all eligible households must be responsible for their home heating bills.

Ninth District says that when applying for assistance, persons will present verification of age for everyone in the home, verification of all household income received within the last 30 days, verification of Social Security numbers for everyone in the home, verification for citizenship, and the most recent home heating bill.

All interested applicants are asked to contact Ninth District Opportunity after 8:30 a.m. by telephone locally at 706-782-3704 or an appointment can be made online at the Ninth District Opportunity website at www.ndo.org by going there and following the link for Heating Assistance.

Appointments will be scheduled until all funds are exhausted.

Again, December 1, is only the date that that households in which every member of the home is age 65 and older or is homebound due to health reasons may start to apply for assistance with their home heating bills.

Depending on the availability of funds, the regular program will open to the general public on January 4, 2016.