2 Energy Assistance Sessions Set For Moorestown

MOORESTOWN, NJ - Moorestown will host a pair of informational sessions for those in need of energy assistance over the course of the next two weeks.

The first will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m. in council chambers at town hall, 111 West Second Street.

The other will take place on Thursday, Dec. 27, 6 p.m. in council chambers at town hall, 111 West Second Street.

The sessions focus on the Burlington County Community Action Partnership’s Home Energy Assistance programs. There are 3 types of programs available that help both low income households and moderate-income/working households. Below is a list of the programs an eligible applicant qualifies for today:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP): If the applicant applies during the heating season (Oct 1-April 30), they are entitled to

- Heating Energy Assistance (HEA) If they are responsible for heat (gas/electric/ deliverable fuel) they will receive a one time heating credit directly to their source of heat (gas/electric) or a check for to purchase their deliverable fuel during this heating season (that can be renewed annually).
If an applicant is not responsible for heating, such as it is included in their rent but they are not living in subsidized housing/HUD housing they still qualify for a one time (a season) heating supplemental payment (called a renter's payment) to help offset some of their rent cost since heat is included.

-Universal Service Funds (USF) if they are responsible for gas or electric or gas and electric, processors will calculate the applicants' energy burden to see if they qualify for monthly USF credits (monthly for up to a year = 12 months, able to renew annually). Every person despite their income are responsible for paying 3 percent their income on each basic needs utilities (gas and/or electric total of 6 percent of income if you have both accounts). Processors work with utility companies to assess the applicants actual annual energy burden (will review applicant's utility usage for the last 12 months. Any usage amount that exceeds the applicants 3 percent or 6 percent threshold for energy burden will be divided by 12 and the applicant will receive an assistance credit (in the maximum amount of $150 combined for both utility types- not $150 max for each utility account) monthly for up to 12 months to assist with the energy burden. Applicants can apply for this year round. There is no end or start date for the benefits. It takes roughly two weeks to process energy burden and credit amounts, if any, after receipt and processing of a complete application.

-Cooling Assistance- If the applicant has a medical necessity documented by medical prescription or other verification type that requires them to stay cool during the summer months, then they are able to apply for cooling and submit verifying documents from the beginning of the season Oct 1 to the end of the heating season April 30th. A supplemental check will be provided to the applicant from May-June to be able to purchase an air conditioning unit or pay towards their summer energy costs which will naturally be higher because of their medical need.

-Deliverable Fuel Emergency Assistance- AVAILABLE NOW until April 30th. If an applicant heats with a deliverable fuel (propane gas, oil, kerosene, wood burning stove, etc.) they are eligible to receive (in addition to their original HEA one time benefit) an emergency delivery of fuel within 48 hours of processing their Emergency Application Request in the amount of $600.

-Gas/Electric Emergency Assistance- Any applicant that applies during the Heating Season (Oct 1- April 30th) and heats using gas or electric will be classified under protected under the Winter Termination Law created by Board of Public Utilities (BPU) which state these identified applicants/individuals shall not have their source of heat suspended for non-payment during the time period of November 15-March 15 annually. Staring March 16th of every year until the end of the heating season (April 30th) applicants that have applied for LIHEAP may submit an Emergency Assistance Request to prevent shut off. The amount of Emergency Assistance is determined during the heating season by the State of NJ but on average is between $450-600.

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