Perry County residents facing rising heating costs have a deadline this winter to apply for federal energy assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP. The program is accepting applications through Dec. 12, and LKLP Community Action Agency officials say the fall subsidy is designed to reduce immediate energy burdens for eligible households across the agency s four county service area, which includes Leslie, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties.

“Fall subsidy is a one time benefit for coal, wood, propane, kerosene, natural gas or electricity. With this program, you do not have to have a disconnect,” said Albert Smith, Community Service Block Grant director for LKLP Community Action Agency. The subsidy covers multiple fuel types that remain common in eastern Kentucky, a local policy design intended to reflect the region s diverse heating needs.

Households with active utility accounts at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify for assistance. Applicants are required to contact their local community outreach office and provide documentation at intake. “They will need to bring with them: their proof of last month’s income, their electric bill or meter bill if they are not applying for electric. If they are applying for something else, they can bring in other meters or utility bills such as natural gas bill or water bill if they are wanting, for example, propane,” Smith said. Applicants must also bring Social Security cards and identification for every household member.

The program served a large number of families last year, underscoring ongoing demand for energy relief in the region. “Last year we helped somewhere around 6,000 households,” Smith said. That scale of need places pressure on local social service providers to maintain outreach and process applications efficiently during a short enrollment window.

Local impact is immediate for households that qualify. By offsetting energy costs during the cold months, the assistance can free up limited family budgets for food, medicine and other necessities. “It helps people be able to use the money they would have spent on energy costs to be able to use it on something else,” Smith said.

The application deadline and documentation requirements highlight two policy and administrative issues for the county. Short enrollment periods can create bottlenecks and increase the administrative burden on both residents and community action staff. Documentation requirements, while intended to prevent fraud, can also pose hurdles for elderly residents, people with intermittent income, and households without ready access to identity documents.

Residents who believe they may qualify are encouraged to contact their local LKLP community outreach office as soon as possible to confirm required documents and complete an application before Dec. 12. Local officials will continue outreach efforts to reach renters and homeowners who rely on non utility fuel sources for winter heating.