Skip to main content

Heating assistance available through AAA7 partners

By
Jenni Lewis, Area Agency on Aging District 7

The Ohio Department of Development and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) want to remind Ohioans assistance is available to help with their home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines pay their heating bills.

Ohioans can visit energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply online, download a copy of the application, or find contact information for a local Energy Assistance Provider. Senior citizens may go to their local Area Agency on Aging office for help with assembling the required documents and completing their HEAP application.

Individuals will need to have copies of the following documents to include with their application:

• Most recent utility bills.

• A list of all household members (including birth dates and Social Security numbers).

• Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members (12 months for certain income types).

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.

• Proof of disability (if applicable).

HEAP benefits are applied to an individual’s energy bill after Jan. 1. If you need immediate assistance with your energy bills, please contact your local Energy Assistance Provider. A list of providers can be found at energyhelp.ohio.gov.

The last day to apply for the regular HEAP benefit is May 31, 2024. For more information or assistance with applying for a HEAP benefit, contact the AAA7 at 1-800-582-7277 or email info@aaa7.org.

Local partners in the AAA7’s core 10-county district include:

• Adams County – Adams County Senior Citizens Center

• Brown County – Adams-Brown Economic Opportunities, Inc.

• Gallia County – Gallia-Meigs Community Action

• Highland County – Highland County Community Action

• Jackson County – Jackson-Vinton Community Action

• Lawrence County – Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action

• Pike County – Community Action Committee of Pike County

• Ross County – Ross County Community Action

• Scioto County – Scioto County Community Action

• Vinton County – Jackson-Vinton Community Action.

Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their residence of choice through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state resources, as well as private pay.

The AAA7’s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.

Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a specially-trained Resource Specialist who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through email at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.