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Margate Senior Center paying electric bills of those in need
• EHEAP monies available for those whose power is going to be shut off
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Wednesday,
July 21, 2010
Margate’s Northwest Focal Point Senior Center has received $26,000 from the federal Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP) to pay the seasonal electric bills of seniors 60 and older whose electricity FPL has threatened to shut off.
This is the second year in a row that the center’s annual amount from EHEAP has increased significantly.
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When the amount the center received last year quadrupled, Project Director for the Center, Kelly Diaz, said she didn’t think the center would be able to spend it all.
“It was slow at first,” said Diaz, “then we starting calling churches and temples in the area and they got the word out to seniors in need.”
The average amount of the bills paid by Focal Point is roughly $206, but range from around $70 to more than $500.
Households that qualify may receive a single benefit for a maximum of $600 each cooling and heating season: October to March / April to September.
To qualify for EHEAP relief:
• At least one member of the household must be age 60 or older
• A final notice electric bill must be submitted or the electric turned off
• Seniors must be low-income
• You must complete the EHEAP application and submit all required verification
Seniors on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability and food stamps automatically qualify for assistance.
Families taking care of seniors can apply grant monies to their electric bill as long as all family members living in the household meet income guidelines.
Grant monies can be applied to past due utility payments (one step before final notice) expanding the award to Past Due, Final Notice and Disconnect Notices.
The Focal Point Senior Center pays FPL directly. For more information call 954-973-0300. You don’t have to be a Margate resident to qualify.
This program is sponsored by Northwest Focal Point Senior Center District; Aging and Disability Resource Center and the State of Florida, Department of Elder Affairs.
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