Hotter temperatures and higher energy prices will make keeping cool this summer more difficult than
ever. Luckily, the Georgia Division of Family & Child Services will be accepting applications to the
federally-funded Low Income Cooling Assistance Program starting April 1st for elderly and home-bound
individuals. Folks over the age of 65 and/or medically confined to the home will have a month long head
start to apply for this program before applications open up to the general public on May 1st.
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In order to qualify for the program, you need to make less than 60% of the median household income in
the state of Georgia; for a single person, this is about $27,000, or around $60,000 for a family of five. You
will need to provide proof of household income, in the form of a pay-stub or a public assistance
verification letter from another program administered by the state. You will also need to provide your
most recent cooling bill (for most folks in our county this is gonna be your electricity bill), as well as
Social Security numbers for every member of the household, proof of citizenship for every member of the
household, and verification of benefits from all applicable members of the household.
In order to apply for this program, you’re going to need to go through our DFCS community service
center. You’ll need to call ahead to be placed on the intake log for an appointment. Due to the volume of
need for programs offered through our local DFCS, it can be difficult to get through to a representative
and make an appointment. Please be patient and keep trying if you can’t get through to someone on the
first try. You won’t need to be on the list on the first day in order to get approved for the program, so don’t
worry if you don’t get to it on the first day. The DFCS service center does not return messages, so make
sure you get hold of a representative and get your appointment confirmed.
If accepted, you will receive a one-time payment to help offset the cooling costs at your home through the
summer. The check will be sent directly to your energy supplier if you are accepted. All assistance is first
come, first served, while funding lasts.
Our local service center is located at the address on your screen and the phone number is listed there as
well.
Please refrain from applying until May 1st if you are not a senior and/or home-bound, as your application will likely be thrown out and not considered after May 1st either.