Western Egyptian EOC offers utility assistance
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Beginning September 1st, residents in Jackson, Monroe, Perry, and Randolph, Counties will be able to apply for a home energy grant through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The LIHEAP is designed to help income eligible households pay for their upcoming winter energy services and reduce their energy burden. Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council whose central office is located in Steeleville, Illinois will administer the program for the State of Illinois for the counties of Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Monroe. The program begins on September 1, 2010 with a special priority period for households with an elderly (age 60 or older) or a disabled household member. Also beginning September 1st, any households that are disconnected from their primary and/or secondary energy source may also apply. On November 1st, the program will be available to all income eligible households. Applications will be taken through May 31, 2011 or until funding is depleted, whichever comes first.
LIHEAP is a state and federally funded energy assistance program that assists households with income up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Benefits of eligible participants will be paid directly to the household's appropriate utility company or fuel source vendor such and propane, oil, kerosene, and wood.
Households who wish to apply for the program should call the outreach office in the county they reside to schedule an appointment for an application on or after September 1st. Documented proof of the following will be required at the time of the application: gross income for all household members over the age of 18 for the previous 30 days, current copy of primary and secondary energy bills, state issues medical cards, and proof of Social Security numbers for all members of the household. Applications can not be processed until all documentation is provided. County Outreach Offices are staffed for LIHEAP assistance Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Evening appointments can be arranged. An outreach office is located in each of the following counties: Jackson County in Murphysboro (618-684-3341) Randolph in Sparta (618-443-5231), Perry in DuQuoin (618-542-4656), and Monroe in Waterloo (618-939-8715). For more information about income eligibility and program guidelines interested households may visit the Western Egyptian website at www.weeoc.org or the Illinois website at www.liheapillinois.com.