PIPP/HEAP

Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus

Households enrolled in PIPP should be aware that the program is now PIPP Plus. Under PIPP Plus, eligible customers pay six percent of their monthly income or $10 a month, whichever is greater, to both electric and gas utilities. Customers in all-electric homes pay 10 percent or $10, whichever is greater. These payments remain the same for 12 months when the customer's income is reverified.

To be eligible for PIPP Plus, customers must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four, that equals an annual income of $33,525.

To re-enroll in the PIPP Plus program, customers will be required to pay up to $50 to their electric and/or gas utility after receiving the Winter Crisis assistance. This payment must be made within five days of re-enrolling in the PIPP Plus program. Customers should make sure they can make the $50 co-payment before they try to re-enroll in PIPP Plus.

Contact Community Action Partnership at (937) 456-2800 to make an appointment at the Preble County office, 304 Eaton Lewisburg Rd., Eaton, Ohio. A limited number of walk-in customers will be seen.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP provides once per season assistance to low-income families who are having difficulty paying heat and fuel bills. A small pool of funding is available during the winter and summer for elderly and disabled households who need assistance with heating and cooling. Specific criteria must be met in order to be eligible for assistance. HEAP programs are only implemented in specific periods during the year.

HEAP Winter Crisis Program

Through the Winter Crisis Program, eligible households in emergency situations may qualify to receive once per heating season up to $175 in payment assistance to help maintain, restore, transfer or initiate their utility services. In addition, those with less than a 10-day or less supply of bulk fuel may also qualify to receive up to $750 in assistance. Those households serviced by a regulated utility company such as Dayton Power & Light or Vectren Energy Delivery Services of Ohio must sign up for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) or another payment plan in order to receive emergency assistance. This program can also help pay for heating system repairs in limited situations.

The Winter Crisis Program begins Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012 and continues through Sunday, March 31, 2013, or until all funds are depleted.

In order to apply for PIPP Plus, the Winter Crisis Program, or the Summer Crisis Program, customers are required to provide the following information:

• Social Security cards for ALL household members (or document showing Social Security numbers).
• Picture ID card for the primary household member.
• Current Dayton Power & Light/Vectren bill and disconnect notice(s).
• Proof of total household income for three or 12 months for everyone in the household age 18 and older. Weekly, 13 pay stubs; Bi-Weekly, 7 pay stubs; Monthly, 3 pay stubs (printout or recent award letter).
• Countable income includes: wages, unemployment, child support, utility assistance, TANF, SS income, SSI, SSD, Disability Assistance, odd jobs, etc.
• If your income is zero, you must provide us proof of your last source of income (TANF, SS income, wages, child support, utility check).
• If you are no longer employed, you must provide proof that you no longer work (unemployment letter, employment verification, letter from previous employer).
• If you attend college, you must provide a current schedule and fee bill showing your refund, if any.
• If your income is zero or your only income is utility allowance, you must provide a notarized statement explaining how you how you have been providing for your household, plus:
• Current documentation of any food assistance.
• Current documentation of Medicare, Medicaid or CareSource eligibility.

Failure to bring in the required documentation will prevent your application from being processed.

View the Customer Documentation Checklist

Following a two-year transition period, PIPP Plus rules will be fully implemented this year. A PIPP Plus customer with a disconnect notice can use the $175 payment to get their service reconnected. However, in order to stay on PIPP Plus, the customer must make up any PIPP Plus payments they have missed.

If the customer is unable to clear the PIPP Plus arrearage, they will still be reconnected and put on one of the standard payment plans. Once the customer retires the arrearage, he or she may return to PIPP Plus.

Contact Community Action Partnership at (937) 456-2800 to make an appointment at the Preble County office, 304 Eaton Lewisburg Rd. in Eaton. A limited number of walk-in customers will be seen.

Summer Crisis Program

The Summer Crisis Program, which provides electric bill payment assistance to eligible families, begins Monday, June 4. In previous years the program, administered by the Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area, began in July. Due to the milder winter and more people signing up for the PIPP Plus payment program, additional funds are available for the Summer Crisis Program. The program will continue through Friday, Aug. 31, 2012.

This year, for the first time, households with a disconnection notice will qualify for assistance if the household income meets the program guidelines. Household income must be at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which is $46,100 for a family of four.

Also eligible for assistance are households with a member whose doctor has verified that they would benefit from having an air conditioner. Households with a member age 60 or over may also qualify.

Eligible customers may receive up to $250 for an emergency payment and/or an air conditioner. In order to apply for assistance, customers must provide:

• Income for the primary applicant and all household members over age 18.
• ID and Social Security Cards for the primary applicant and all household members.
• Documented proof of a chronic medical condition signed by a licensed physician or registered practitioner (if applicable).
• Individuals that will benefit from assistance from medical equipment powered by electricity (if applicable).
• Disconnection notice in the name of a current household member (if applicable).

Contact Community Action Partnership at (937) 456-2800 to make an appointment at the Preble County office, 304 Eaton Lewisburg Rd. in Eaton. A limited number of walk-in customers will be seen.

For more information on the Summer Crisis Program, contact Community Action Partnership at (937) 456-2800.

Click here for documentation required to process your application

Click here for income guidelines for the Summer Crisis Program

Community Action Partnership
Preble County
304 Eaton Lewisburg Rd.
Eaton, OH 45320
(937) 456-2800