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Today is the first day of fall, but summer heating bills continue to pile up.
Missourians now have until Oct. 31 to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Visit the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) website at dss.mo.gov/fsd/formsmanual/EA-1-Application-for-the-Low-Income-Home-Energy-Assistance-Program.pdf to find an application for the program.
This year, DSS has increased the income level for Missourians to qualify for help with their summer cooling bills.
Those who earn up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level may now qualify for assistance (for example, a three-person household with a maximum monthly income of $2,666, or a four-person household whose monthly income is $3,219).
In June, the LIHEAP program doubled its maximum benefit from $300 to $600.
To be eligible for the summer cooling program, applicants must:
Be responsible for paying home cooling costs.
Have less than $3,000 in bank accounts, retirement accounts or investments.
Be a U.S. citizen or have been legally admitted for permanent residence.
Households may apply at dss.mo.gov/fsd/formsmanual/EA-1-Application-for-the-Low-Income-Home-Energy-Assistance-Program.pdf or mail or fax the completed paper application to the office serving their community (as listed on the last page of the application).