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OPERATION FUEL
WHAT IS OPERATION FUEL?
Also Known As: Add-a-Dollar Program, or Warm Thy Neighbor, Operation Fuel (www.operationfuel.org/) provides cash assistance for payment of heat bill OR non-heat utility bills for households between 0%-200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) income guidelines. Money donated to Operation Fuel through private donations and through the Add-a-Dollar program at the utility companies is distributed to local fuel banks who then assess client eligibility and make payments to vendors. This is a private program and towns sometimes opt not to participate.
BENEFIT AMOUNT: Maximum grant for the 2007-2008 season is $500 or up to 250 gallons of oil, kerosene or propane. The grant can be used for heating bills or non-heat utility. Amount of assistance is up to the discretion of the local fuel bank, and payments are made directly to vendors.
ELIGIBILITY: Household must be "in crisis" due to children/disabled/elderly in household or unemployment, or death in family, etc.
- Household Income between 0%-200% FPL
- No asset test
- Must be in crisis situation
- Exceptions to income guidelines can be made January-May for households who are above 200% FPL (see Exceptions Program)
- Off-season funding (June-November) can be obtained if the household is in a life-threatening situation.
EXCEPTIONS PROGRAM: The Exceptions Program runs from January-May. The maximum benefit amount for the 2007-2008 heating season is $250 or up to 150 gallons of oil, kerosene or propane. The Exceptions Program is for households who are between 201% FPL and 60% of the State Median Income.
HOW TO OBTAIN SERVICE:
- Call your local Operation Fuel fuel bank and make an appointment for assessment. 2-1-1 is responsible for referring callers to fuel banks; Operation Fuel’s administrative office refers callers to 2-1-1 for referral to fuel bank because they want callers to be assessed for other needs.
NOTE: If town is not served by an Operation Fuel fuel bank, it is likely that they have other resources which take the place of Operation Fuel. In these cases individuals should call their town Social Service Dept.
TIMETABLE:
- Application period: December 1 – May 31
- Exceptions to income guidelines: January 15 – May 31
- Off-season for life-threatening situation: May 31 – Dec. 1
CLEAN SLATE PROGRAM:
Clean Slate Program provides a one-time grant, targeted to families with incomes between 0% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to assist with high utility arrearages. Program grants cover both heat and nonheat utilities. Maximum amount of grant is $1,000 per household. To see if your town's fuel bank participates in the Clean Slate Program, call 2-1-1.
SUMMER FUNDING/OFF-SEASON FUNDING: SOME fuel banks elect to offer summer funding for households who would be in a life-threatening crisis should their utility be shut off. To see if your town's fuel bank participates in the Off Season Program, call 2-1-1.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
• Search by program name: Operation Fuel
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SOURCE: Operation Fuel fact sheets; Operation Fuel website
PREPARED BY: 211/pt
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: January2008
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