The Service Tree lists all services in "branched" groups, starting with the very general and moving to the very specific. Click on the name of any group name to see the sub-groups available within it. Click on a service code to see its details and the providers who offer that service.
Utility Assistance
Utility and home heating fuel companies that offer their services at below normal rates for people who meet age, disability, income, need or other requirements.
Utility Bill Payment Plan Negotiation Assistance
Programs that help people negotiate manageable utility bill payment plans in situations where there are some resources available for this purpose.
Utility companies that offer a variety of utility bill payment plan options that facilitate the ability of customers to bring delinquent accounts up to date and/or make their regular payments on time.
Programs that provide cash grants or loans for people who need to have their electricity, gas, water or telephone service turned on but do not have the assets to pay the required deposits. Utility deposits are not required everywhere.
Utility Disconnection Protection
Programs, generally funded through utility rates, that prohibit utility disconnections during severe weather for households with vulnerable members including people who are ill or elderly or have disabilities or other hardships. In some jurisdictions, low income individuals and families may qualify. Regulations vary from state to state , but generally specify high and/or low temperatures that trigger a disconnection ban (though some jurisdictions in the U.S. require a special order by the Public Utility Commission) and explicit eligibility criteria. In some areas, the regulations apply year-round to people with serious illnesses.
Utility Service Payment Assistance
Programs that pay all or a portion of the utility bills of people whose utilities have been or are at risk of being shut off including any reconnection fees that may apply. Also included are non-emergency programs like those funded through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), also referred to as LIEAP or HEAP in some states, that provide home energy assistance, generally in the form of a credit, for low-income households that apply. The assistance is usually available once per calendar year (or heating season). Utility bill payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.