Julia Anderson
If COVID-19 has put a strain on your budget, here’s how to find help paying for electricity, gas, water, Internet, and your phone.
Are you up to date on all of your bills? If so, congratulations, as that’s a challenging feat when so many have lost their jobs and income due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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If you’re not so lucky, however, and your bills are piling up, here are some tips to get help with paying them:
Get Help Through 211
You may feel so overwhelmed with bills that you don’t know where to start. If that’s the case, talking to someone can give you the relief you need, which is why calling 211 is a smart move.
Dialing those three numbers on your phone can connect you with a local operator. Tell them what your problems are, and they’ll give you the direction you need so you can start tackling those bills and keep your utilities on.
Call Your Provider
Instead of letting your utility bills pile up, contact the companies directly to speak with a customer service representative. You can find the contact info on your bills.
Tell them your situation. Ask what options they have for payment. Many companies have payment plans in place, or they may offer you a discount to make it easier to pay your bill and maintain service.
While you’re on the phone with the utility company, ask if they work with any local nonprofit organizations. Some do, and this could lead you to financial assistance to make paying your bills much easier.
Apply for LIHEAP
While the pandemic may have made it harder for you to pay your bills, it’s possible you had these issues before the coronavirus appeared. If so, you may want to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It helps low-income households pay cooling and heating costs to make their utility bills more manageable.
Beyond assistance with paying your power bills, LIHEAP can also help you during an energy crisis, plus make your home more energy-efficient through low-cost or free repairs and weatherization.
Reduce the Cost of Internet Service
Your Internet usage has probably skyrocketed since COVID-19 arrived, as we’ve all been forced to stay inside a lot more than usual. Whether you need affordable Internet for your children’s online learning, so you can work from home, or to do online shopping or other tasks, here are some low-cost services that can help:
- Access from AT&T
- Comcast Internet Essentials
- Mediacom Connect 2 Compete
- Verizon Lifeline
- EveryoneOn
Besides looking into those low-cost Internet services, you can also call your current provider and tell them you need help lowering your bill. They may have special discounts or payment plans in response to the pandemic.
Get Discounted Phone Service
Another bill that may be hard to pay due to the coronavirus is your cell phone or landline. You may be eligible for low-cost or free service and possibly a phone through the FCC’s Lifeline program, which also provides Internet.
