When family members are laid off, someone is injured and unable to work, or when money simply gets tight, sometimes it’s hard to make monthly utility bill payments. When termination notices arrive in mailboxes it might be too late for help. Before that happens, there are ways to find assistance to help pay utility bills.
There are local agencies and programs available to help with utility bill payment assistance that can be found through local churches, government agencies and charitable organizations. This article will explore some common national and state resources for utility bill assistance as well as discussing alternatives to help redistribute finances to help pay utility bills.
Government Assistance Programs
Low-income families might qualify for government welfare or assistance programs. These might provide temporary or long-term assistance, depending on a family’s needs, but there are different qualifying levels for each program.
Food Stamp Assistance—Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
A family food budget can consume a lot of money, and if utility bills are due and a family needs assistance paying them, moving money from the food budget to the utility bill can make a difference. Food stamps, now called SNAP, can provide benefits to purchase food, which lets money be diverted to utility bills. Families can find more information about applying for food stamp benefits here.
Medicaid or Medical Assistance
Medical payments can take up a big chunk of a family’s income. If there are monthly medical bills, insurance premiums or unpaid medical bills diverting funds from paying utility bills, there are government assistance programs that might help a family to pay those medical bills. Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Programs and others assistance in various states for both children and adults, can reduce or eliminate medical and insurance bills. The saved money can be used to pay utility bills.
Public Utility Commission
The Public Utility Commission (PUC) might have assistance programs to help pay utility bills. Generally, a family must show financial need or have a temporary financial crisis, such as the loss of a job, injury or health issues or a family disaster. There are also programs for people with disabilities and for the elderly.
In Texas, the PUC offers a program called the Lite-Up Texas Program. According to the PUC’s website for Texas, the program offers: "17% off of the rate for the Provider of Last Resort in your territory. This should equal a little more than 17% off of the electric charges on your electric bill excluding taxes and fees." (Retrieved: April 15, 2010)
Some public utility assistance programs also help pay a portion of a family’s telephone bill. Families can check with the local or state PUC agency for more information.
Charitable Organizations
Temporary utility bill payment assistance can be received from charitable organizations like churches or other social services agencies. These agencies usually offer a one-time payment to help a family get caught up from a temporary financial situation or to help a family keep their utilities on while waiting for other assistance or looking for work.
These charitable organizations have limited funds. There can sometimes be waiting lists to receive assistance. Because of this, families should not wait until termination notices are already pending on utility bills to ask for help.
Some charitable organizations that might help with utility bill payment assistance include by are not limited to:
- Salvation Army
- Catholic Charities
- United Way or United Way Related Agencies
- Church Community Outreach Programs
- Local Churches
- US Department of Health and Human Services
- Local Charitable Organizations
Families in need of utility bill payment assistance can contact the local Department of Human Services and ask for referrals to other agencies that assist with utility payments.
Utility Companies
Lastly, families should be honest with utility companies about their financial status should a family be unable to pay a utility bill. Many utility companies have their own internal programs to help. Some utility bill payment services allow families to skip a bill and have it spread out over three, six or twelve months, called a deferred payment plan. Some utility companies might have contacts with local charitable organizations that can help. At the very least, the utility company should provide an extension for paying the bill while the family seeks assistance.
Michelle L Devon - ~~Michelle Devon has 15 years of writing and over a decade of editorial experience, working with hundreds of publications and ...
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