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April 1, 2009
LEAP BENEFITS STILL AVAILABLE FOR COLORADANS STRUGGLING TO PAY HOME HEATING COSTS
DENVER – April 2009 – Freezing temperatures and early April snowstorms are making it hard to believe it is spring in Colorado. Thankfully, Colorado residents struggling during these winter-like conditions still have time to apply for help. The Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) offers monetary assistance to help pay home heating bills and is accepting applications until April 30, 2009.
LEAP provides cash assistance to help families and individuals pay winter home heating costs. The program pays the highest benefits to those with the highest heating bills and lowest incomes by family size. Applicant income cannot exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty index, which equals a maximum income of $3,269.00 per month before taxes for a household of four people. The anticipated average LEAP benefit for 2008-2009 is approximately $430.00 per family.
As of March 24, LEAP has helped more than 94,000 Colorado households. Even though this figure is up 12 percent from the same time last year, there are still thousands eligible for the program who have yet to apply.
"Although winter may be winding down, layoffs and foreclosures are way up. We know that more families each day find themselves in the position where heating assistance can help," said Colorado LEAP director Todd Jorgensen. "Those eligible for the program need to know that if they apply before April 30, they will receive assistance."
Completed LEAP applications can be faxed, mailed or delivered to the appropriate county office. Potential program applicants can apply several ways:
- Call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) to have an application mailed to your home.
- Visit any county department of social/human services across the State. To locate your county's office, visit the program's Web site at http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap/index.htm
- Download and print an application from http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap.
To find out if you qualify for LEAP, call toll-free 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432- 8435). Applications for LEAP are accepted anytime between November 1 and April 30 of each year. For more information about LEAP, please call 1-866- HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) or visit www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap/index.htm to view the most current program application requirements.