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Dept. of Community Affairs (DCA) contracts with a network of local, community-based agencies that deliver weatherization services throughout the state. For more information on DCA’s energy programs, call the Energy Assistance Unit at 1-800-510-3102.
Weatherization performs energy audit analysis on residential homes to maximize and determine its energy efficiency. Where needed, the program will repair, caulk and weather-strip windows and doors, wrap hot water tanks and pipes with insulation, stop drafts by sealing areas of air infiltration, install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators, clean, tune and make minor repairs to your heating system and when funding permits, make major repairs or replace entire systems. The program also insulates attics, walls and floors, replaces light bulbs with high efficient CFL’s, and provides instruction on simple techniques that can help save money on a household’s energy bills.
The State of New Jersey Weatherization Assistance Program is designed to provide weatherization services to low-income households (which is determined by gross household income and number of household members). Households that receive home energy assistance are automatically eligible for Weatherization Assistance Program. Priority is given to elderly and disabled residents and households with infant children.
Yes you can finance and pay for your service with a credit card. We use PaymentSphere for processing your payments.
- The Weatherization Assistance Program training provides jobs to persons interested in becoming weatherization technicians.
- Helps expand businesses and/or create new businesses in the energy conservation field.
- Helps existing business that produce the equipment and supplies needed to weatherize homes such as trucks, insulation, light bulbs, refrigerators, windows, doors and caulking.
- Helps low income households lower energy consumption, decrease utility bills and improve health and safety at home, thus allowing them to use their resources for other needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, education and/or healthcare.
- Reduces energy demand thereby decreasing the environmental impacts of energy production.
- Has a positive effect on reducing the overall carbon footprint of the state.
75% of the stimulus funds must be spent on weatherizing homes by July 2010.
LIHEAP is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills.
LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of health and safety problems (such as illness, fire, or eviction).
The federal government does not provide energy assistance directly to the public. Instead, LIHEAP operates in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and the U.S. territories.
The LIHEAP program in your community determines if your household's income qualifies for the program. The LIHEAP program may also require households to meet additional eligibility criteria to receive LIHEAP assistance.*
*NOTE: The availability of LIHEAP assistance is not guaranteed. Often most of the Federal LIHEAP funds are spent during the winter.
Your LIHEAP program may be able to offer you one or more of the following types of assistance:
- Bill payment assistance payments processed with PsBill.
- Energy crisis assistance.
- Weatherization and energy-related home repairs.
YOU MAY NEED THE FOLLOWING:
- Recent copies of your utility bills.
- A recent payroll stub or other proof that shows your current gross income.
- Documentation showing income from Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, Pension Funds, disability, etc.
- Final Utility Termination Notice (if you've received a shut-off notice from your energy company).
- Proof of present address (e.g., rent receipt, lease or deed, property tax bill).
- Proof of total members living in your household (e.g., birth certificates, school records, etc.).
- Social Security cards (or numbers) for all persons living in your household.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has created the Universal Service Fund (USF) program to help make electric and natural gas bills more affordable for lowincome families. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) administers the USF program.
To be eligible for USF you must meet two qualifications:
- Your total gross annual household income must be less than or equal to 175% of theFederal Poverty Level (FPL) (see below); and
- You must also spend more than 3% of your income for electric service or more than 3% of your income for natural gas service. If you heat your home with electricity, you must spend more than 6% of your income on electricity.
USF recipients must reside at the address provided on their utility account, and USF benefits will only be offered to the person/head of household listed on the utility account.
Please Note: Municipal utilities and the services they provide are not covered by USF.
If you are found eligible to participate in the USF program, you will receive a credit on your electric and/or natural gas bill to help reduce the cost. The size of monthly USF credit is based on total household income and the amount of money you typically pay for gas and electric service. Therefore the amount of the USF credit is determined individually for each eligible customer.
The USF benefit is calculated based on a number of factors, including your annual household income, benefits that your household receives from the Lifeline program and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and your annual energy burden which is based on the electric and natural gas bills for your household.
Yes. A customer’s energy burden is calculated using an adjustment for any anticipated changes in energy prices in the coming year.
You can use the joint USF/LIHEAP application to apply for USF at any time of year, or to apply for USF and LIHEAP at the same time during the winter months (typically November – March). While applicants may apply for USF at anytime of year, they are encouraged to submit the joint USF/LIHEAP application during the winter months when their eligibility can be determined for both USF and LIHEAP. Please note: If you apply for Food Stamps, the data on your Food Stamps application will also be checked for eligibility into USF and LIHEAP. This does not guarantee enrollment in either or
both programs because you will still have to meet each program’s eligibility criteria. In addition, you may be asked to provide additional information to assist in determining your eligibility for USF.
USF/LIHEAP applications and a list of agencies in your area that accept applications are available on the Internet at: www.energyassistance.nj.gov or you can call the USF Hotline at: 1-866-240-1347.
You will be notified by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) regarding your USF eligibility status. If found eligible, you will receive a notice in the mail from DCA with your USF benefit amount. If you are found ineligible, you will receive a notice advising you of the reason your eligibility was denied. This notice will include information on how to request an administrative review if you believe your denial was in error. All applicants will receive two notices, one concerning their eligibility for a natural gas benefit, the other for the electric benefit.
USF benefits are only credited to natural gas and electric bills. However, even if you heat with oil or propane, any expenses you have for electric and/or natural gas service will potentially be eligible for a USF benefit if it is more than 3% of your household’s gross income.
Renters and homeowners are both eligible for USF. Even if your heat is included in your rent, you may be eligible for USF for your electricity if you have an electric account in your name.
No. While all LIHEAP recipients meet the income eligibility criteria for USF, eligibility for USF is also based on how much you pay for energy each year. Some LIHEAP and Lifeline recipients that are income eligible for USF might not meet this
second eligibility requirement. Therefore if you receive LIHEAP or Lifeline benefits and meet the USF income equirements but pay less than the required amount of your household income for electricity or natural gas, you will not receive a USF benefit.
If you receive a Section 8 subsidy and have an electric or gas account in your name, you may be eligible for USF.
The USF credit is individually calculated based on each household’s income and
energy burden. Since the income and energy burden of each USF recipient is different,
the benefit that each USF recipient receives will be different.
No. Your participation in USF will not affect the benefits you are now receiving from other benefit programs. Please make sure you continue to maintain your current benefit program enrollments.
The USF benefit will appear on your electric or natural gas bill in the form of a credit. For many customers, it will be listed as either “USF Credit” or “Universal Service Fund Credit.” This credit will be subtracted from what you owe your utility company. You will only be responsible for paying the balance that remains after the USF credit is subtracted. No actual cash benefit will be given to customers to ensure that the benefit is used only for electric and gas expenses.
Some people are eligible for a USF credit on their natural gas bill, others are eligible for a USF credit on their electric bill, and some are eligible for both a natural gas and an electric USF credit. If you get separate natural gas and electric bills you may get a USF credit on your natural gas bill and another on your electric bill. The actual calculation
of a benefit will depend on how much electricity and natural gas you use in comparison
to your household income.
In most cases, you will receive benefits for the maximum 12 months per benefit year. However, certain factors including when you submit your USF/LIHEAP application, if you move during your benefit year and other possible circumstances, may result in your USF benefit lasting less than 12 months. You will receive a notice to remind you to reapply for USF and you will need to reapply for USF every year. (If you are a Food Stamps recipient, you do not have to fill out a USF or LIHEAP application).
Your USF benefit may change because it is based upon your current reported income and your projected energy usage. The amount of USF benefit you receive may change during the program year.
You are still eligible to receive your USF benefit if you remain a customer of one of the seven natural gas or electric companies (energy company)* in New Jersey and are responsible for the energy bills at your new location. If you are receiving USF benefits when you move, you should tell your new energy company that you were receiving USF at your former residence and how your new home is heated so that the level of your benefit can be reviewed and activated for your new account.
* The seven regulated natural gas and electric (energy) companies in New Jersey are: New Jersey Natural Gas Company, Elizabethtown Gas Company, South Jersey Gas Company, PSE&G, Rockland Electric Company, Jersey Central Power & Light and Atlantic City Electric Company.
No. USF benefits are not recalculated for changes in income during a program year. However, if you submit an updated USF/LIHEAP application before the 12 months of your USF program year are over, any remaining months of your current USF program year may be lost and a new program year will begin at a new amount.
All electric and natural gas customers contribute funding for the USF program through a charge to their electric and gas rates.
If you have a balance of $60 or more on your energy bill as you enter the USF program, you may be eligible for additional benefits under the New Jersey Fresh Start Program.
The Fresh Start Program is a component of the USF program and is only available for your first year of participation in USF. Fresh Start is a partnership between the customer and USF to forgive past due balances and improve your payment record. Simply pay your current USF-supplemented bill on time and in full every month and after 12 months of full on-time payments, your pre-USF program overdue balance will be erased. If you are eligible for Fresh Start when you enroll in USF for the first time, you will be automatically enrolled by your energy company and will be sent additional information about how the Fresh Start program works.
Your natural gas or electric service can be interrupted if you do not pay your portion of your utility bill each month, unless you are eligible for and have contacted your energy company to request protection through the Winter Termination Program. (See “Winter Termination Program” below).
For more information about USF go on line to: www.energyassistance.nj.gov or call the Department of Community Affairs’ toll-free USF hotline at: 1-866-240-1347
It is a long-term literacy-based life skills program designed to provide families with the tools required to meet needs and reach goals. The ESFL program consists of five components:
- Adult Education – ESL, Adult Basic Education, etc.
- Early Childhood Education – Literacy-based enrichment activities.
- Parenting Education – Workshops, Parenting Skills series, Life Skills series, etc.
- Parent and Child Interactive Literacy Activity – Literacy and life skills enrichment activities both parent and child do together.
- Home-based Education - Home instructor visits home and helps family to implement tools/skills learned throughout program.
The basic qualifiers for this program, families must:
- Be a Passaic resident.
- Have a household income at or below poverty level (proof must be provided).
- Have children between the ages of 0-7 years of age.
- Parent AND child/ren must enroll and attend sessions. The program is not for individuals.
Placement in program is not guaranteed based on the above qualifiers. Families may be placed on a waiting list, until an opening becomes available.
No, social security # or TIN#’s are not required.
No, there are no fees required.
Program Services will be appropriate for youth and their families who are either involved with or at risk involvement with the Passaic Country Family Part of New Jersey Superior Court Specifically, youth are eligible for the program if they meet one or more of the below listed characteristics and don ot have any severe mental / behavior problems.
- Children of substance abusers and / or domestic violence victims.
- Children who are experiencing difficulty / failure in school.
- Children who have excessive absences.
- Children who have repeated discipline problems in the classroom or with peers.
- Children who are in foster care and / or kinship care.
- Children who have committed a non-violent delinquent act.
This population was selected as risk focused: school, child and peer as well as community risk factors are highly susceptible to following a negative path. Early prevention has been proven to help to enhance protective factors for the above categories and build resiliency early in a child's life; thus preventing delinquency or ameliorating delinquent behavior.
Sink or Swim enlists the support of the Passaic Board of Education for referrals and our community; our youth have been referred by the Police Dept., school counselors, teachers, or other community agencies.
The word mentor means enduring. A mentoring program is defined as a sustained relationship between a youth and an adult. Through continued involvement, the adult offers support, guidance, and assistance as the younger person goes through a difficult period, faces new challenges, or works to correct earlier problems. In particular, where parents are either unavailable or unable to provide responsible guidance for their children, mentors can play a critical role. Our mentoring program is not advertised as an educational program; however it has several constructive educational components. The youth will not only enjoy the program, but they will also benefit from it greatly.
Any youth from Passaic County that qualifies can enroll in our program
Everyone in the program has to provide their own transportation.
- Must bring Court Eviction Notice.
- Primarily for Passaic or Clifton residents.
- Must first meet Poverty Guidelines at 125% or below.
- Must show justification of emergency via documentation in writing.
- Must present all documents pertaining to assistance.
- Must show PSE&G Shut-off Notice.
- Must meet Poverty Income Guidelines at 125% or below.
- Must show justification of emergency via documentation in writing.
- Must agree to counsel designed to prevent future emergencies.
- Must show proof of homelessness such as eviction notice from court, shelter records, prison release papers.
- Proof of Income such as pay stubs, welfare (GA appointment letter).
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