PINEVILLE — The Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency (CAA) will begin the “Subsidy” portion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) today, to assist low-income households in Bell County with monthly home heating costs.

The significant cost of energy to heat homes leaves many households in Bell County unable to fully meet heating bills, and unable to purchase adequate amounts of fuel to keep their families safe and warm. LIHEAP, a federally-funded program, provides financial assistance to qualified low-income households, in order to help these impoverished families meet home heating and/or cooling needs.

The LIHEAP home heating program has two main components: Subsidy and crisis funding. The subsidy component operates in Nov. and Dec. to help residents at, or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, pay home heating costs for which they are responsible — either by direct payment or as an undesignated portion of their rent.

The crisis component of LIHEAP operates from early Jan. until the middle of Mar. — or until all funds are disbursed — and it provides assistance to eligible households experiencing a home heating crisis. Emergency benefits may take the form of fuel deliveries, service reconnection, blankets or sleeping bags, loan of space heaters, and shelter.

The Kentucky LIHEAP program helps approximately 150,000 Kentucky families pay their heating bills each winter. According to a recent press release, last year over 2,224 residents of Bell County received financial assistance from the LIHEAP Subsidy component. Most subsidy recipients are either elderly and/or disabled.

A household shall be considered eligible for LIHEAP subsidy when the household meets the basic eligibility criteria:

• Makes and completes an application.

• Be responsible for home energy costs.

• Have a combined household income, for the calendar month prior to the month of application, not in excess of 130 percent of the federal poverty level as listed in the Income Eligibility Guidelines.

• Live in Kentucky when the application is made and apply in the county of residence.

• Not have liquid resources in excess of $2,000 or $3,000 if at least one person in the household is 60 years old or disabled ($4,000 if resources are being used for living expenses due to catastrophic illness).

• Have four or fewer days worth of fuel oil, propane, kerosene, wood or coal available.

• Have received an eviction notice citing unpaid rent.

Applications will be taken at Community Action offices. Applicants are encouraged to apply at the location nearest to them in their county of residence. Days, hours of operation, locations, and telephone numbers are listed below:

• Mon. - Fri. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the CAA Pineville Office located on 129 Pine Street. Contact at 1-606-337-3044.

• Mon. - Thu. from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory located on North 19th Street in Middlesboro.

Applicants must bring the following information: most recent heating bill, or verification that heating expenses are included in rent; Social Security Numbers, or Permanent Residence Card Numbers for each member of household; and proof of all household income from preceding month.

In addition, applicants requesting assistance for natural gas or electric must bring a disconnect/past due notice. Households at or above 75 percent of poverty level must pay a portion or co-payment of the minimum amount necessary to alleviate the crisis. Applicants who are unable to apply for themselves must contact the local community action office to make other arrangements.

LIHEAP is a statewide initiative sponsored by Community Action Kentucky in partnership with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). The U.S. Department for Health and Human Services appropriates funding to Kentucky through the CHFS, which contracts with Community Action Agencies across the state to receive LIHEAP applications and provide recipient benefits.

Adam Young is a Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted by e-mail at ayoung@middlesborodailynews.com.