Special to the Daily News

The Bell -Whitley Community Action Agency will begin the subsidy portion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) providing heating assistance to eligible households on Nov. 5.

A household will be considered eligible for the LIHEAP subsidy if the household meets the basic criteria which includes:

• Completing an application;
• Be responsible for home energy cost, directly or as an undesignated portion of their rent;
• 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;
• And, live in Kentucky when the application is made and apply in the county of residence.

Those who apply must 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. The amount is $4,000 if resources are being used for living expenses due to catastrophic illness.

Applications will be taken at convenient community actions offices. Applicants are encouraged to apply at the location nearest to them in their county of residence.

The Pineville office is open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The significant cost of energy to heat homes leaves many households unable to fully meet heating bills or purchase sufficient bulk fuel to keep their families safe and warm.

Last year, Bell-Whitley was able to assist 1,862 households during the LIHEAP subsidy component.