(Host) Vermonters will get a little more heating assistance this winter because the Obama administration has released a small surplus left over from last year.
But as VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the total amount of help people will get this season is still unclear.
(Sneyd) Debates between the House and Senate and administration about how much money should go toward low-income home energy assistance have become annual affairs every fall.
The federal budget year ends on September 30th and the new year’s heating assistance, or LIHEAP, budget is seldom approved by Congress until well after then.
(Moffi) "It’s a little frustrating …"
(Sneyd) Richard Moffi coordinates heating assistance for the state.
(Moffi) "…because winter in Vermont does not wait for Congress. As every Vermonter knows from the temperatures last night, it’s getting colder. You drive around, you see the firewood in people’s door yards. People are getting ready for winter. And that includes applying for fuel assistance."
(Sneyd) One thing is certain. There’s $101 million in LIHEAP money left over this year. Moffi says Vermont’s share of that is almost $600,000.
(Moffi) "And that’s going to go right into the pot to help Vermonters stay warm this coming winter. … Every little bit helps."
(Sneyd) Moffi would like to tell applicants how much assistance they could expect. But here are the problems.
First, Congress may not adopt even an interim budget until some time next month. A permanent plan may have to wait until early next year, depending on how the elections turn out.
Vermont’s expected share of the heating assistance budget could be as little as $16 million and as much as $25 million.
And that will have to be divided among a larger population. The Vermont Legislature expanded eligibility this year. Where only about 20,000 homes qualified last winter, assistance could go to 27,000 households this year.
For VPR News, I’m Ross Sneyd.
(Host) The state says a single person earning up to about $1,600 a month may qualify. The income limit is higher for larger households. To request an application, you can call 1-800-479-6151.