Ageless and Evergreen--the Obama Utility Payment Scam.

Six years into Obama's presidency, the myth that he is magically paying all kinds of bills is alive and well. If you are paying your Detroit water bill online, you will see a warning to not give your bank account number to someone who says they are part of the Obama utility relief fund.  The scam is so old and widespread that it even hit the urban legend big leagues: debunking by Snopes.

What to do if you are having a utility payment problem?  First, contact the utility and ask what relief plans they know of. If you live in an area that has a 211service, try calling that number for utility help.  Another source of help is your state's public utility commission.  Search their website or call them for more information.

If it's heating bills--and tis getting near the season--find the Liheap program for your state.  Also, find the Community Action Agency that covers your area.  But of someone goes looking for you, and particularly if they ask for bank information,vrun the pther way fast.

Summer Electricity Payment Help in 2012

Even though it's only mid May, the temperatures are heating up.  While most people know that there is help for heating bills for low-income people, fewer people know that in many places, there's also the possibility of help to pay for cooling bills--and maybe even a window air conditioner or fan.

In Ohio, the summer heat emergency program begins taking applications on July 1, and runs through August 31st.  But besides income restructions--recipients have to living in households making no more than 200% of the poverty level--households are only eligible for the aid if someone in the household is  60 years or more old, or has a qualifying medical condition, and have that condition verified by a doctor. The aid is a one-time per year payment of $175, plus (in some places) a fan or air conditioner, if they do not have one and did not receive one within the last 3 years from the program.  In Ohio, the HEAP programs are administered locally by community action agencies--check yours when the time comes to apply.

Some other states have summer programs, too.  If so, that money comes through the same state agency that administers the winter heating program.  Check them to see if there is a summer energy program for your state.

Laugher of the Day

We at Free Money Ate My Brain aren't all work and no play--we enjoy a good laugh, too.  Image our surprise when this one fell in our lap.  Yes, that's the Queen of England trying to tap into a heating fund for the poor to warm up her palaces.  Silly girl!  As we say incessantly in this blog, most of those types of programs are means-tested--meaning you have to be poor or at least of moderate income to qualify.  Qualification for many programs vary, but that aren't usually generous enough to cover richer-than-God folk.  Unless they are farm subsidies.  And then, you may not have to even be breathing.

If you want to check out how to apply for heating assistance in your state, see this site.  It will give you direct links.  If you don't see your state listed, click on the drop-down list to find out where to apply.  If you want to see about the legal requirements for shut-offs of power, see this website.  But also contact your local utility provider.  They may have more information about payment plans to help you out.

Energy Help Isn't Just for Winter

Everyone knows that there are assistance programs to help with winter heating bills. But for the elderly, or those with certain medical conditions, heat can be as deadly as cold. That's why the federal program to help low-income people with their energy bills has a component for helping those particular low-income groups get help for summer cooling bills. In Ohio, the program offers help with electrical bills, and box air conditioners for low-income elderly and infirm that do not have them. Assistance varies in other states. To find out if your state has a summer cooling program, go the website of the state office in charge of your LIHEAP (low income heating assistance program) and see if they offer any help.

Where to Find Heating Money? Think About it NOW!

Even in the long and sweltering days of summer, people are worried about how to find money to heat their homes in the coming winter. Some are already "hooked up" in the system, but many who are newly unemployed or otherwise financially jammed up have no idea where to go.

The federal government's Department of Health and Human Services now has a site to help, the LIHeap Clearinghouse. At this site, you can get state-by-state information on local agencies where you can sign up for heating assistance. Because like most programs, the money comes from the feds, but it's distributed locally. When you click on the site, choose your state. It will then show you a phone number to make inquiries (usually toll-free), and you will also get a link for local LIHEAP administering agency contacts. Click this to find a list of agencies in the state, and contact the one that covers your city or county. It will also give some eligibility requirements, and other possible sources of assistance for heating and weather proofing. While you might not be able to apply right away (in Ohio, you generally can't apply until September), you should find out when you can file, where to file, the eligibility guidelines and the documentation you need (like pay stubs, or power bills) to prove your eligibility.


Remember: the program only lasts as long as the federal funding holds out. Find out what you have to do now!