Fuel Relief Program

 

GOAL:

The goal of the Fuel Relief Program is to provide some assistance for fuel to Hermon residents who meet the eligibility requirements of this locally administered program.  Persons most likely to qualify for Fuel Relief assistance will likely be Public Assistance recipients and those on fixed incomes.  For applicants determined eligible their regular fuel provider will be contacted; in the event there is no regular fuel provider, a Hermon provider will be contacted to provide service.  The Fuel Relief Program guidelines are approved and the Fuel Relief Program is established by the Hermon Town Council on February 7, 2008.

FUNDING SOURCES:

Initial funds to start the Fuel Relief program will be derived from:

• a Fund Balance amount to be determined by the Hermon Town Council;
• a donation in an amount to be determined from the Council Projects account;
• a transfer of $1500.00 from the Town of Hermon Holiday Account; (the  donation made by a Hermon resident on December 26, 2007 was donated for this purpose); and any and all donations as received.  

Brief articles shall be placed in the Hermon Connection at various times to be determined by the Town Manager and/or Town Clerk and in addition to explaining Fuel Relief eligibility and intent, the article shall make it known that donations for the Fuel Relief fund will be accepted year round.  For the duration of the Fuel Relief Program, the intent of the program and  application process will be explained on the hermon.net website.

FUND ADMINISTRATION:

The Fuel Relief funds will be deposited in an interest bearing account, similar to road escrow accounts.  The Fuel Relief funds will be separate from the Town’s Cash Account and receipts and disbursements will be tracked by the Town Manager and/or Town Clerk.

The Town Manager and Town Clerk will be the signatories for the Fuel Relief Account and will be responsible for dispensing vendor payments in a timely fashion.

The Fuel Relief Account will be subject to annual review by the Town Auditor.

At such time the Town Council determines the Fuel Relief Fund is no longer necessary, the remaining balance in the account will be deposited with the Town of Hermon as a Miscellaneous Revenue.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY:

A two-step process will be used to determine eligibility.  For purposes of this program, applicant and household shall be interchangeable.   An applicant applies and a household is determined eligible or ineligible.

Step 1: Income Eligibility

Income guidelines will be 1 ½ times the prevailing General Assistance guidelines.  (Typically General Assistance guidelines are updated in October.)  All household income will be included with the exception of wages earned by a dependent minor.  The guidelines established for Nov. 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 roughly equate to a single wage earner, minimum wage annual income for a family of 3.

Monthly Income Eligibility Guidelines – Nov. 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011
                                                               
1) $904.50       
2) $1054.50       
3) $1345.50       
4) $1710.00        
5) $1930.50       
6) $2043.00       

ADDITIONAL PERSONS $112.50/PERSON    

Step 2:  Determination of Need

Need  will be determined by calculating all monthly income and all monthly expenses for the household.  When monthly expenses exceed monthly income an applicant will be determined eligible for Fuel Relief assistance.

Step 3:  Limitations

No household shall receive Fuel Relief more than two times in each Nov. 1 to March 31 cycle.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION:

Applications and determinations will be kept as confidential as possible.  This is a locally defined and administered program and therefore not subject to any State Statute mandating confidentiality.

Applications will be processed between November 1 and March 31 only.

Applicants must call the Town Clerk to schedule an appointment and must provide required documentation and complete the application in person.

Applicants determined eligible will receive 100 gallons of oil or kerosene, 100 gallons of propane, 1 cord of wood, or one month’s electric bill depending on the primary heat source of the household.

Payments will be issued to vendors only.

The Fuel Relief Program is intended to serve those most in need and to serve as many in need as possible.