ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606050066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
Participants in a federal energy assistance program that helps the poor stay warm during the winter will receive as much as $45 in extra benefits next week - just before the official start of summer.
"I guess it will help, but they're sending the additional money way after the fact," said Elliott Bayer, eligibility supervisor for the Roanoke Department of Social Services. "And there are no answers about what will happen for this coming winter."
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps the working poor, the elderly on fixed incomes and welfare recipients buy coal, kerosene or wood or pay bills to gas, electric and oil companies during the winter.
The program was snagged in the 1996 federal budget debate. It was one of the points of contention that held up congressional action on a $250 billion budget bill to fund the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
The House of Representatives had proposed killing the program. It survived the attempt, but a third of its funding was cut. Funding has been rationed out to states in increments ever since.
A memo Monday from the Virginia Department of Social Services notified local departments that the state had received its final increment and that it had to be spent this fiscal year, which ends Sept.30.
Additional benefit checks to people who received lump-sum assistance to buy coal, kerosene or wood will be mailed June 11. Payments to gas, electric and oil companies will be mailed June13.
The announcement of the additional energy assistance benefits comes as the Virginia Department for the Aging and Virginia Power begin their Fan Care program, providing box fans to help low-income elderly Virginians keep cool during the summer.
The program, begun Monday, will continue until Sept. 30 or as long as funds last. To be eligible, an individual must live in Virginia, be 60 or older, need cooling assistance and meet income guidelines defined by the Area Agencies on Aging.
For information on Fan Care, call the LOA Area Agency on Aging Inc. in Roanoke at 981-1487; the New River Valley Agency on Aging in Pulaski at (540)980-7720 or 639-9677; or the Central Virginia Area Agency on Aging Inc. in Lynchburg (804)385-9070.
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