LIHEAP Households Served (Estimate for FY 2009 Heating)
633,682
LIHEAP Program Dates
Heating: January 1 - September 30
Crisis: Year-round
State
Low-income Rate Assistance
Home Heating Credit
A state tax credit to assist low-income families living in Michigan with the cost of heating their homes. The Credit is based on household income, the number of exemptions claimed and the home's actual heating costs. Special exemptions may be available to customers 65 and older and to people with disabilities. Obtain forms in late January from: Your tax preparer or wherever other tax forms are provided; download the forms from the Michigan Department of Treasury Web site (see below) or call The Michigan Department of Treasury at 1-800-827-4000. Applications, E-filing and more informtaion is available at: www.michigan.gov/heatingassistance/0,1607,7-215-33210---,00.html
Arrearage forgiveness and deposit and fee waivers are provided by utilities that participate in the state's automated positive billing system and other payment plans. Under positive billing, a participating household must pay a percentage of its monthly assistance grant to its utility.
Winter Protection Plan
This plan protects senior and low-income customers of Commission-regulated natural gas and electric companies, rural electric cooperatives and alternative electric suppliers from electric or natural gas service shut-off and high utility payments between December 1 and March 31. Persons qualify for the plan if they meet any of the following criteria:
are age 65 or older, or
receive Michigan Family Independence Agency cash assistance, or
receive Food Stamps or Medicaid, or
have a household income at or below 200 percent of poverty level.
Winter Protection allows eligible low income customers to make monthly payments of at least 7 percent of their estimated annual bill, along with a portion of any past-due amount, December through March, and avoid shut-off during that time even if their bills are higher. Eligible senior citizens participating in Winter Protection are not required to make specific monthly payments between December 1 and March 31, but are encouraged to do so to avoid higher bills when the protection period ends. At the end of the protection period, both low-income and senior citizens taking part in the plan must pay off any money owed in installments between April and November.
To apply, contact your natural gas or electric utility company or alternative electric supplier.
DTE, 800-477-4747
Aquila, 800-303-0752
SEMCO, 800-624-2019
Consumers Energy, 800-477-5050 www.michigan.gov/documents/homeheatinghelp_106697_7.pdf
Emergency Charitable Assistance
Please note these charitable funds are last resort emergency funds with limited resources and limited times of operation.
The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW)
An independent non-profit organization, THAW distributes funds for bill-payment assistance across the state and promotes energy conservation, weatherization and energy efficiency education. THAW partners with several utility companies, who provide funding to administer and operate the program. Most match customer and other donations dollar for dollar and all contributions go directly to low-income bill payments.
1-800-866-8429 www.thawfund.org/
Consumers Energy
PeopleCare
Begun in 1983, PeopleCare is a partnership between Consumers Energy and The Salvation Army to help Michigan households who may not qualify for other assistance yet are struggling to make ends meet. Charitable donations from Consumers Energy customers and employees allow The Salvation Army to extend material assistance to families, ranging from food to transportation to medical needs. Consumers Energy also donates PeopleCare bill credits for its low-income gas and electric customers, which are applied directly to a customer’s bill based on The Salvation Army caseworker assessment and authorization. To apply, contact your local Salvation Army office, which can be found at: www.usc.salvationarmy.org/wmni or www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/winterwise/energy_assistance.htm
Cherryland Cooperative
Operation Round Up®
Customer donations for Operation Round Up® go to the locally administrated Community Caring Fund. Funds are distributed to individuals and organizations through grant requests submitted to Community Caring.
231-486-9200, 800-442-8616 www.cecelec.com/memberprograms/roundup.cfm
Lansing Board of Water & Light
Pennies for Power Program
Customer donations fund the Pennies for Power Program that provides utility shutoff protection for low-income families in the Lansing area.
517-371-6006 www.lbwl.com/pennies.asp
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army provides utility assistance throughout the State of Michigan. Over 120 caseworkers, working at more than 90 service locations, help families pay their utility bills in order to get through crisis. The Salvation Army receives in-person requests throughout the year during normal weekday hours, as well as telephone inquiries and referrals from other human service agencies. It provides a holistic approach to meet more than just the utility need—including budget counseling, food, rental assistance, and emotional support as necessary. Contact your local Salvation Army at www.usc.salvationarmy.org/wmni or www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/winterwise/energy_assistance.htm
Tri County Electric
People Fund and Operation Round Up®
Customer donations provide funds for individuals and community organizations. Grant Guidelines include: $2,500 maximum in grants to any one family or individual per year; an applicant may not re-apply within 6 months from a previous application; and individuals or families must submit copies of previous federal income tax forms. To qualify for a grant, your family or organization must be located in the Tri-County Electric service area, which includes portions of Barry, Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola, and Saginaw counties. Application form.
1-800-562-8232 http://www.homeworks.org/6_People_Fund/About_People_Fund.html
