State makes more money available on top of federal program
New Hampshire residents faced higher heating fuel and energy bills this winter compared to the past few, leading more people to ask for help.
Because demand for help was so high, the state offered its own programs on top of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
The New Hampshire programs were available to anyone making 60-75% of the state’s median income, which allowed more people to apply for help.
Southern New Hampshire Services is one of New Hampshire’s Community Action Programs, which connect people to programs such as the fuel and energy assistance fund. Workers there said they said a 45% increase in requests for fuel and energy assistance, processing 3,000 more applicants this year than last.
Because of the high demand, the Department of Energy said there has been a small backlog when it comes to getting applications processed. The CAP organizations needed to get policies, documents and software in place because the program was new this year.
Officials with Southern New Hampshire Services said they were impressed with how fast they were able to get payments out for the new program.
Source: W Mur
