Number of Conn. families seeking fuel assistance is ‘just unbelievable’
As state lawmakers prepared to return to Hartford Monday to consider more funding for energy assistance programs, social service organizations in Connecticut are reporting an increase in people seeking help paying their heating bills this winter.
Joanne Balaschak, director of energy programs at New Opportunities, Inc., in Waterbury, said the organization is seeing a “very high number” of new applicants this year, especially as the state’s two largest utility companies, Eversource and United Illuminating, have warned Connecticut customers to expect higher bills.
“We’re seeing people that are
working, sometimes two jobs, they can’t make it. It’s just tough. Everybody is so afraid because the price of oil has skyrocketed. Now they’re hearing that Eversource and UI will be increasing their rates. It’s a scary time,” Balaschak said.
Gov. Ned Lamont has called the General Assembly into special legislative session on Monday to extend the state’s gas tax holiday and free bus service, and to increase funding for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program and pandemic worker bonuses.
The energy assistance program provides between $250 to $600 towards heating bills depending on income level, household size and whether there is a vulnerable member in the household, defined as someone who is under age 6, over age 60, or has a disability. A household of four making $76,465 or less annually would qualify, for example. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may qualify for further assistance.
The program is seeing a 17 percent increase in applications compared to last year – even before the colder months arrive. From Sept. 1 until Nov. 19, the state received 51,980 applications compared to 44,292 applications during the same period last year.
The highest number of applications –11,823 – were received by Balaschak’s organization, which covers Waterbury and Meriden, followed by the Community Renewal Team, which provides services to residents of Hartford and Middletown, with 9,150 applications.
Balaschak said applications to her organization are up by over 31 percent compared to last year. The only organization to report a higher jump in need year-overyear is the Human Resources Agency of New Britain, which is seeing a 33 percent increase in applications.
“The numbers coming in are just unbelievable,” Balaschak said.
Statewide, more applications for the energy assistance program are being approved this year compared to 2021. From Sept. 1 through Nov. 19, there were 33,946 applications for heating assistance approved compared to 31,608 last year – a 7 percent increase.
Annette Buckley, director of information and referral of United Way’s 211 call center, said the hotline experienced a roughly 15 percent increase in calls related to utility assistance during the week of Nov. 14 compared to the first week of November, with cost of electricity and heating fuel representing greatest need.
The peak time for utility assistance is usually between January and March, but Buckley said she expects the need will come earlier than usual with the cost of heating a home expected to spike this winter.
“We anticipate that December will probably be higher than normal because of it,” she said.
Buckley said 211 has a benefits screener on its website where people fill out a short, anonymous survey to gauge eligibility for more than 20 state and federal programs, including those that provide utility assistance. She also encouraged residents to contact their utility company directly to see if they can work out a payment plan , qualify for matching assistance, among other solutions.
Those who don’t qualify for the state’s energy assistance program can apply to Operation Fuel, which provides emergency grants to help people pay their utility bills. In 2021, the organization, which begins accepting applications in December, distributed more than $3 million in emergency utility and energy grants to more than 13,000 Connecticut residents.
Balaschak said she’s heard stories of people heating homes with their gas stoves and ovens, which pose a dangerous fire risk, showing the need for increased funding for these programs. “The benefits right now won’t take the people applying very far into the winter months,” she said.