Seasonal Fuel Assistance The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), funded by the
federal government, is designed to help low income individuals and families pay their heating bills. Benefits assist with payments for propane, gas, electric, and wood heat.
Benefit amounts are determined once annually and based on the number of people
in household, number of bedrooms, type of heat, and the household’s income. Grant amounts have decreased in recent years due to reductions in federal funding for the program (e.g., for the heat season of 2011/12, benefits decreased 50%). The median amount was about $200 in 2011/2012.
Applications are process from July through last day of February, and benefits are
issued in winter months from November through March. Recently, DCF modernization has implemented year long application process.
Where a household finds itself without adequate heat in an emergency, they may
also access the emergency Crisis Fuel Program at their local Community Action office. Crisis Fuel has a higher income limit than the Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program, so even if denied for SF, families without heat should be encouraged to apply for CF. For more information, see
http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel_assistance/crisis_assistance.
Denials for Seasonal or Crisis Fuel Assistance are reviewed by the Seasonal Fuel
Chief. If unresolved after review by the Chief, the applicant may go through the Human Service Board appeal process.
WIC WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children. It is a 100% federally funded program that provides nutritious food (via vouchers), individual counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care. Unlike 3SquaresVT benefits, WIC vouchers may only be used to purchase particular types of foods, for instance, to buy Cheerios, but not Fruit Loops cereals. The purpose of the WIC Program is to prevent poor birth outcomes, reduce infant mortality rates and low birth weights, and to improve the nutrition and health of infants and their mothers.
WIC is provided in addition to 3SquaresVT and other food programs. The following individuals may also qualify for WIC coupons:
pregnant women, women who have had a baby in the last 60 days, women who are breastfeeding, and children under age six years.
92
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118