County to Help Low-Income Seniors Pay Electric Bills

Hillsborough County’s Family and Aging Services Department is accepting applications for its federally funded Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP).

EHEAP assists low-income households who have at least one member who is 60 or older, and an energy emergency resulting from a past due utility bill, or receiving a shut-off notice.

Households may qualify if they meet the following criteria:

• Have a total household gross income below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines;
• Have at least one member who is 60 years or older;
• Reside in Hillsborough County;
• Be a U.S. citizen, qualified alien or permanent resident of the U.S.; and
• Have a recent past due or final notice energy bill. 

Additional requirements may be necessary for eligibility determination. Applicants will be informed of these requirements at the time of application.

How to apply:

• Applications are accepted at local Neighborhood Service Centers;
• Proof of income for all household members for the last 30 days. Proof of income can be a pay check stub, employer letter, public assistance check, supplementary security income check, unemployment check or a pension check stub;
• Proof of home energy obligation or electric bill;
• Social Security Number verification for all household members;
• Picture identification for all adults in the household;
• Identification for all other household members; and
• Proof of Hillsborough County residency, such as:  valid driver’s license with current address, a letter from your landlord or mortgage company, voter’s registration card, etc.

Residents can apply at their local Neighborhood Service Center:

• Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center, 3402 N. 22^nd St. in Tampa, 813-272-5220
• Plant City Neighborhood Service Center, 307 N. Michigan Ave. in Plant City, 813-757-3871
• SouthShore Community Resource Center, 201 14^th Ave. SE in Ruskin, 813-671-7647           
• University Community Resource Center, 13605 N. 22^nd St. in Tampa, 813-975-2153
• West Tampa Neighborhood Service Center, 2103 N. Rome Ave. in Tampa, 813-272-5074

For more information, visit one of the above neighborhood service centers, or call 813-272-6770.