WAGAP Energy Assistance phone lines open October 1
From Washington Gorge Action Programs:
Bingen, Wa. Sept. 18, 2024 — Beginning October 1 at 8:00 a.m., Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) will begin taking calls to schedule appointments for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for low-income residents in Skamania and Klickitat counties who need assistance paying their heating bills.
LIHEAP is provided by the Washington State Department of Commerce. It covers all types of heating, including propane, electric, gas, oil, coal, and wood. To qualify for this program, a participant household’s average monthly income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
For those needing energy assistance in Skamania County, call 509-427-8229 to put your name on the appointment waiting list. For those in Klickitat County, contact the Energy Assistance Program at (509) 493-2662 extension 202. A toll-free line is available to those in either county by calling (800) 755-1192 extension 202. The phone lines begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. on October 1. Any calls received before that time will not be accepted for the appointment waiting list.
Callers will be prompted to leave their name, phone number, and the town they live in and should indicate whether they are seniors (age 60+). They will be added to a waiting list, with seniors receiving priority. Callers are asked to leave only one message unless there is a change in their contact information. Staff will then contact callers directly in the order messages were received to schedule a fall appointment.
Even if a caller has applied for energy assistance in the past, each applicant must put together a complete packet of information for their appointment, including:
ID for ALL adults in the household.
Social Security cards for ALL household members (adults and children).
Income received in the prior month for ALL household members.
Proof of their physical address.
A copy of their heating bill.
This complete documentation packet must be brought to the scheduled appointment to apply for energy assistance. Staff cannot hold incomplete applications and must reschedule an appointment if anything is missing.
This is not an emergency program. Scheduling will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. If a caller has been issued a disconnect notice from their energy provider, they must continue to work with that vendor to resolve the issue.
Energy Assistance application events for seniors aged 60 and over will be held at local senior centers and are scheduled at the following locations. All events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.:
Goldendale PUD - Thursday, October 24, and Thursday, November 7
White Salmon Pioneer Center - Monday, October 28, Wednesday, October 30, and Wednesday, November 13
Stevenson Hegewald Center - Monday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 6
Lyle Lions Community Center - Tuesday, November 5
The senior center events are only for seniors. Those aged 59 and younger must go through the phone application process listed at the beginning of the article.
For all qualified participants, the benefit amount will be based on their household income and records of the past twelve months of heating costs. If approved, the participant would receive a one-time credit to their energy account, and the credit would continue to be applied until the entire amount has been used. Those using wood sources receive a vendor voucher, and the vendor would be reimbursed through WAGAP.
To learn more about Energy Assistance and other WAGAP programs, visit https://www.wagap.org/programs.
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Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.
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