COLUMBUS, Ohio — Income-eligible Ohioans have until Sept. 30 to apply for help paying summer electric bills or fixing broken air conditioning through the state’s Summer Crisis Program, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The program, run through the department’s Home Energy Assistance program and administered locally by The Breathing Association, opened July 1 and offers help with electric bills, air conditioner or fan purchases, and central air conditioning repairs. It is aimed at households with a disconnection notice, those already shut off, those establishing new electric service, those requiring air conditioning, or those with a household member age 60 or older or with a documented medical condition such as lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, the department said.
To qualify, a household’s gross income must fall at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of up to seven members, or 60% of the State Median Income for a family of eight or more, according to the release. For a family of four, annual income must be at or below $57,750.
Last year the program served more than 55,000 households across Ohio and distributed $12.4 million in benefits, the department said.
Applicants must schedule an appointment with The Breathing Association by calling 380-213-1444 or using the online scheduler at ba.itfrontdesk.com. Clients are asked to bring copies of their most recent energy bills; a list of household members with proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member; proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members; proof of disability, if applicable; and, if cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health, physician documentation of that need.
Ohioans already enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus program who meet the same criteria may also qualify for central air conditioning repairs or for an air conditioning unit or fan, the release said.
More information on the Summer Crisis Program is available at energyhelp.ohio.gov, or by contacting Teresa Ragland of The Breathing Association at 614-457-8574.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
