By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri and Kansas residents struggling with paying heating bills this winter might be eligible for federal help.
Maria Lopez with Evergy says the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known by its acronym LIHEAP, provides an average of $200-to-300 to offset heating bills. And Lopez says too many people don’t know about it.
“A common misconception about LIHEAP and that initial energy assistance benefit is that you have to be in threat or disconnected to receive it, but that’s not true,” Lopez tells St. Joseph Post. “You can apply. You do not have to be in crisis. You could have a credit on your account and still apply for this great benefit.”
This year, money is available to help with bills for whatever is used as primary heat for a residence and money is available from the Winter Crisis Fund, which provides a maximum of $800.
Lopez says it surprises her that so few people know about LIHEAP.
“Those who are familiar with it that’s fine, but I think a majority of people that I speak with when we use to go out into the community at different resource fairs, people were surprised to hear that this was even available,” Lopez says.
Lopez says the program might be needed this year more than in the past.
“So many people are in a position that they haven’t been in before where they can use this assistance to help with their gas or to help with their electric,” Lopez says. “So, we’re hoping to see an increase in those numbers.”
Missouri residents can apply for funding now. Missouri residents can click here to learn more about the program. Kansas residents can apply, beginning January 4th. For Kansas residents, click here for more information.