October 26, 2018 – Georgia’s annual Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) Heating Assistance Program will begin accepting applications from low-income seniors on Nov. 1. In Georgia’s Chatham County, low-income seniors are given priority eligibility for heating assistance starting in the month of November.
The Heating Assistance Program is “first-come, first-serve,” as the funding is distributed from the Georgia Department of Health and Human Services. EOA Deputy Director Terry Tolbert said, “We have a lot of seniors who have fixed incomes. Some of them receive SSI. Some of them receive Social Security Disability, and so they rely on us heavily."
In 2017, as many as 1,500 seniors and homebound individuals received heating assistance through Georgia’s EOA.
“Every one of them (seniors) goes back to square one when the application process begins. It's not necessarily a guarantee because you received it in previous times that you automatically get it this time. You have to re-apply and because we don't have enough to go around. There may be people who might have gotten it last year who may not get the opportunity to get it this year,” said Tolbert.
To learn about LIHEAP application dates and deadlines in your state, visit the LIHEAP Clearinghouse here.
