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Do you see red when you open your PG&E bill? If you answered yes! And need help paying your utility bill this month, maybe you should call the:

Economic Opportunity Council of San Francisco
@ 415.749.6490 – 415.749.3964 or stop by the office at
1426 Fillmore Street, Suite # 301
San Francisco, CA 94115 between the hours of
(8:30am – 5:00pm)

Established in 1981, HEAP is a federally funded program that helps low‐income households pays their energy bill. Assistance is in the form of a dual or single party warrant or a direct payment to a utility company on behalf of an eligible applicant. Eligibility is based on the household's total monthly income, which cannot exceed the HEAP income guidelines listed on the other side of this page. Because of significant funding cuts, the federal government enacted a law requiring that states target households with low-incomes and high energy costs, taking into consideration households with elderly and disabled persons, and children under six.

This means there could be households that received assistance in the past and will no longer receive assistance because they fall into a low priority group and are not considered among the neediest of the needy. The amount of assistance is based on the number of persons in the household, total household income, the cost of energy within the county the household resides, and funding availability. HEAP provides one payment per program year.   The statewide maximum payment is $449, the minimum payment is $121, and the average statewide payment is $244.78. Under most circumstances, it takes approximately three weeks to process an application and pay the applicant. However, an incomplete/incorrect application will take additional time to process. Persons living in board-and-care facilities, nursing or convalescent homes, or in jail or prison, are not eligible for HEAP. 

(1) Households must be able to demonstrate monthly income and meets the income guideline. (2) Energy Bill must contain a billing period within 6 weeks of application intake date or if the energy costs is included in the monthly rent or sub-metered; one of the following documents must be obtainable: Rental agreement, Letter from the landlord/manager or a HUD statement showing zero utility allowance.

EOC does not discriminate in the provision of services on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, or sexual orientation.

EXAMPLES OF PROOF OF INCOME

All proof of income must be current and must show an income amount.

	Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Notice of Action; computer printout; benefit letter; copy of welfare check;
	Supplement Security income: Notice of Planned Action or Form 2458; computer printout from Social Security Office; copy of bank statement showing SSI direct deposit; copy of SSI check;
	Social Security: copy of current check (s); SSA Form 4926, or 2458; computer printout from Social Security Administration Office; Bank Statement showing direct deposit;
	Pension and Annuities: copy of a current check; verification on letterhead or annual statement from pension plan;
	Wages: Copy of current paycheck stub(s) covering a one‐month period and showing gross income;
	Interest Income: monthly or quarterly bank statement; statement of interest income from bank or agency;
	Disability Compensation: copy of current check; printout or letter from agency or insurance company verifying the compensation amount;
	Unemployment Benefits: copy of current check(s); printout from Employment Development Department;
	Child and/or Spousal support: copy of current check;
	Support of an Individual: copy of check or statement signed by person providing the support;
	General Assistance: Notice of Action from County Social Services; copy of current check;
	Veteran’s Benefits: letter indicating receipt of Veteran’s Pension; copy of Administration check;
	Signed Federal Tax Form 1040: ONLY FOR SELF‐EMPLOYED

The Economic Opportunity Council of San Francisco’s energy department also offers free weatherization service to low-income households in the city of San Francisco. The program is designed to help individuals and property owners to meet the rising energy costs in California.

Send mail to teresa@cencomfut.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2010 Economic Opportunity Council of San Francisco. All rights reserved.
Last modified: February 25, 2010 at 8:45 a.m. PST.