{"id":3423,"date":"2016-09-26T13:34:30","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T18:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texaselectricityratings.com\/blog\/?p=3423"},"modified":"2019-05-15T14:51:25","modified_gmt":"2019-05-15T19:51:25","slug":"trouble-income-texas-electricity-customers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texaselectricityratings.com\/blog\/trouble-income-texas-electricity-customers\/","title":{"rendered":"Trouble Ahead for Low Income Texas Electricity Customers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FinalThe LITE-UP Texas program<\/a> that helped 700,000 Texas households in 2015 ended with this past August\u2019s bill. LITE-UP Texas doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance. The Star-Telegram reports<\/a> that lawmakers occasionally tapped its funding source \u2014 called the System Benefit Fund \u2014 to prop up the state\u2019s budget. But three years ago, lawmakers stopped funding the program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now as September draws to a close, some overwhelmed Texas electricity<\/a> consumers are worriedly asking themselves, \u201cNow what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Now What Do I Do?<\/h5>\n

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)<\/a> integrates all Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)<\/a>-funded programs. Assistance is available through local CEAP distributors (called \u201csubrecipients\u201d) in all 254 Texas counties, regardless of your energy provider.<\/p>\n

Programs provide relief to low income, low income elderly and\/or disabled households by providing financial assistance, paying up to four of the highest bills during the year. Furthermore, it provides assistance in an energy-related crisis or during severe weather or supply shortages.<\/p>\n

Who Qualifies?<\/h5>\n

Beginning January 25, 2016, eligibility for CEAP will be at 150% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. for example, a family of 5 must have an income of $42,660 or less to qualify for CEAP assistance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Texas.<\/p>\n

Typical qualifiers for special assistance programs also include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 You receive Food Stamps, Medicare, Medicaid or other HHSC benefits
\n\u2022 Your household includes a person who is elderly, disabled, or 6 or younger.<\/p>\n

How to Apply<\/h5>\n

YOU must contact the subrecipient agency or CEAP service provider nearest you.<\/p>\n

You can also call toll free (877) 399-8939 Monday through Friday during daytime business hours. (CEAP prefers that you use a land-based phone.)<\/p>\n

\u2014OR \u2014<\/p>\n

Go to Help for Texans<\/a>, click \u201cUtility Bill Help\u201d, scroll to bottom of page and enter your city or county, and then click \u201cFind Help\u201d.<\/p>\n

When you apply you will need to be able to provide<\/a>:<\/p>\n