New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Federal Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) known locally as the Fuel Assistance Program has been extended to May 15, 2015.
Persons who have never applied to the PACE Fuel Assistance Program and have either paid or owe their heating companies for oil, propane, kerosene or N-Star Gas and Electric (now EverSourse) are urged to apply before the Program ends on May 15th.
Those who apply will receive a retroactive credit to their utility company if they are income eligible. This means that although they may have paid their bills this past winter, since November 2014, the PACE Fuel Assistance Program will issue a credit to their heating company for the amount they have already paid or still owe up to their eligible amount.
According to Fran Stubbs, Fuel Assistance Program Director “The fast rise in the cost of heating your home this winter coupled with the unusually cold weather, has put an enormous amount of undue economic stress on families and the elderly whose incomes cannot afford the fuel increases”.
All interested persons from New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. When applying, each household must provide the last four weeks of gross family income, regardless of how it is received, along with a current utility or oil vendor bill. Other information may be requested.
The PACE Fuel Assistance Program is located at 166 William Street, New Bedford. Office hours are 9:00AM-11:30AM and from 1:15PM-3:30PM Monday through Friday.
