Keeping Seniors Warm This Winter

My friend Mark Schmidt sent this to me the other day and I thought I should share it:As the weather starts to turn cold and natural gas prices keep rising, many seniors are worried about keeping their house warm this Winter. Fortunately, there are several programs available to those who qualify that can provide help.First, if you are having trouble paying your heating bill, you should call People's Gas (866-556-6001) or North Shore Gas (866-556-6004) to discuss payment plan options.In addition, there are some assistance programs that might be able to help you:LIHEAP: This Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will help customers pay their outstanding bills, reconnect their service, and keep there home's energy on. LIHEAP is available for those living at or below 150% of the poverty level:A family size of 1 must have income of $15,600 or lessA family size of 2 must have income of $21,000 or less* for each additional family member add $5400To apply for LIHEAP, contact Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) at 800-571-2332.Share the Warmth: This is a grant of up to $200 for those who qualify to help offset the costs of heating the home. Call the Salvation Army at 773-725-1100 or visit www.keepingUwarm.com for more information.EHAP: The Emergency Housing Assistance Program provides grants for repair or replacement of heating units, roof repair, and other energy conservation activities. To get more information on EHAP, call 311.Anybody interested in applying for one of these programs should do so IMMEDIATELY! Funds often run out shortly after becoming available due to the overwhelming demand.Too many seniors are not aware of the help that is available to them. Please spread the word about these programs so that everyone can stay warm during the cold Winter months!Thanks Mark!!Mark SchmidtReverse Mortgage Specialist773-504-9633