The State of Georgia, Department of Human Resources, with whom North Georgia Community Action, Inc. contracts, has announced that the FY2010 Regular Energy Assistance Program officially opened Nov. 2 with the beginning of the Homebound/Elderly application intake period.

Homebound households are defined as those households in which every household member is confined to the home because of medical conditions or disabilities. Elderly households are defined as those households in which every member is aged 65 years or older. If anyone in the household is under age 18 and all the other household members are 65 or older that household will meet the definition of Elderly. Any low-income residents of Catoosa County who feel that their household meets the definition of “Homebound” or “Elderly” should contact the North Georgia Community Action, Inc.’s Community Service Center at 706-858-0926.

All households participating in the program must meet the income criteria, which includes being responsible for paying the cost of energy for home heating directly to the supplier and be U.S. citizens or legally admitted aliens, except for certain aliens admitted under section 210A or 245A. To be eligible, households must have a projected annual gross income equal to or less than $21,458 for a one-person household; $28,061 for a two-person household; $34,663 for a three-person household; $41,266 for a four-person household; $47,868 for a five-person household; $54,471 for a six-person household; $55,709 for a seven-person household and $56,947 for a household of eight. For households with nine or more persons, add $1,238 for each additional family member.

Applicants must have proof of all income for all household members. This includes current paycheck stubs, interest income, unemployment benefits, verification of public assistance (SSI, TANF, food stamps), Social Security benefit amount, V.A. amount, child support, etc.

Any household member age 18 or older, who has no income, will have to complete a “Declaration of -0- Income” form. Applicants must have proof of social security numbers of all household members. Applicants must also provide current verification (the bill, statement, printout, etc.) from their primary home heating supplier, showing the supplier’s name, the customer’s name, service address, the customer’s account number (if any) and the fuel/utility type. No application will be approved without verifications.

Assistance will be in the form of a one-time payment on behalf of the eligible household to help offset the cost of their primary source of home heating (gas, electricity, wood, coal, fuel oil or kerosene). The one-time payment will range from $310 to $350 depending on the household income. In most circumstances, the checks are issued directly to the home energy supplier. No checks can be issued until North Georgia Community Action, Inc. receives the funds from the State of Georgia, Department of Human Resources. Assistance is on a first-come, first-served basis while the funds last, or until the State closes the program.