Julia Anderson
1. Your Local Community Action Agency
The Community Action Partnership (CAP) has thousands of agencies spread across the country to help families in need. They have offered assistance since 1964, and you may have luck with getting all of your past due utility bills paid through your local Community Action Agency.
2. Your Utility Company
When it comes to services like electricity and water, time is of the essence. You need to buy time to keep those services from getting shut off, which is what you can achieve by contacting your utility providers directly.
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Let the customer service agent know that you’re having financial issues, which is why you cannot make a payment. They should respond with a payment plan that fits your budget and maintains your service, so you don’t have to worry about living without electricity or water.
3. 211
Are you so stressed about your utility bills and other financial issues that you simply need someone to talk to who can help? Then give 211 a call, as it will put you in touch with a local operator who can provide the assistance you need.
211 offers utility bill assistance via local organizations like Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, Vincent de Paul Society, and more. Even better, you can ask your local operator for assistance with other needs, such as housing, food, child care, healthcare, counseling, etc. In short, calling 211 can help you solve a lot of financial problems in one shot, which is why you should make this move as quickly as possible.
4. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Do you live in an area where the temperatures are incredibly hot or cold? Then each month, you probably notice that your heating or cooling costs are out of control, making it hard to afford your electricity bill. That’s where LIHEAP can save the day, as this program specializes in covering heating and cooling costs in the following ways:
- It can pay the heating and cooling portions of your monthly utility bill.
- It can repair or replace faulty heating and cooling equipment in your home.
- It can make your home more energy-efficient, so your utility bills will decrease in the future.
Those are the long-term benefits of LIHEAP that make it worth applying to. Here is the short-term benefit: LIHEAP can help if your electricity has been or is close to being shut off.
To qualify for LIHEAP, you will need to meet certain income requirements. You can learn more about this program here.
5. Temporary Assistance For Needy Families
TANF is a program worth looking into if you need help with much more than just your utility bills. Yes, TANF can help with those expenses, but it can also help with other necessities like housing, food, and child care. To learn more about TANF so you can see if you qualify, go here.
Eric Tomasso
