Federal officials announced in September that the U.S. inflation rate for August hovered right around 8.26 percent. For those on a fixed income like Moore County’s elderly and handicapped or those struggling to make ends meet, every penny counts. The South Central Human Resource Agency announced this week that open enrollment for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins October 1.
LIHEAP is designed to provide financial assistance to elderly, handicapped, and low-income persons to help offset a portion of the cost of energy used to heat their homes. Priority assistance is given to those with the lowest income.
The following services are available under this program: 1) heating assistance is provided to eligible households through payment to a utility company or through the purchase of coal or wood or 2) crisis heating assistance is provided to households having an official shut off notice or who are out of fuel and meet the other criteria listed for assistance.
In addition to general eligibility requirements applicants must be responsible for their own energy costs and meet certain criteria for emergency assistance as set forth by the State of Tennessee. To apply, you’ll need to provide the following documentation: legal name, phone number, photo ID, Social Security card of all family members over the age of 18, proof of current household income, and a copy of your most recent utility bill that includes the last 12 months usage.
You can apply at the Moore County Neighborhood Service Center located inside the Moore County Building at 241 Main Street in Lynchburg. They are open each Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Carrie Holt at 931-759-7827 or via email at [email protected]. To learn more about the program, click here. •
{The Lynchburg Times is an independently-owned, community newspaper located in Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We focus on public service, non-partisan, rural journalism. We cover the Metro Moore County government, local tourism, Moore County schools, high school sports, Motlow State Community College, as well as whiskey industry news and regional and state stories that affect our readers.}