2008 national energy assistance survey

2008 National Energy Assistance Survey

NEADA Winter Meeting

February 3, 2009

Jackie Berger

Prepared for NEADA By

Background

• 2003 NEA Survey– Baseline survey– LIHEAP recipients in 20 states– Energy needs (beyond bill payment)– Importance of LIHEAP

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Background

• 2005 NEA Survey– Follow-up with 2003 respondents– Issue: not all current LIHEAP recipients– Cannot project to LIHEAP population

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2008 Survey

• LIHEAP recipients in 12 states

• 3 states were not able to participate and were replaced

• Energy needs and importance of LIHEAP

• Change in circumstance over the past year

• Comparison to 2003 Survey

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States Surveyed

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California Maine New York

Delaware Minnesota North Carolina

Georgia Montana Ohio

Iowa New Mexico Pennsylvania

Survey Topics

• Screener – eligibility for survey

• Experience with energy assistance– When received, how often received, plans to apply

next year

• Actions taken to meet energy expenses– Constructive– Sacrifices: housing, food, health, utility service

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Survey Topics

• Energy Insecurity– Worry about energy bills, reduced expenses– Borrowed, skipped paying energy bill– Close off part of home, left home, unsafe

temperature– Use stove or oven for heat– Threatened with service termination, shut off– Access to heating and air conditioning

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Survey Topics

• Change in Circumstance– Energy bills– Financial situation

• Impact of LIHEAP– Would you have experienced some of these problems if

LIHEAP had not been available?– How important has LIHEAP been in helping you meet

your needs?

• Demographics

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Methodology

• Use of state LIHEAP databases– Samples selected by APPRISE or state office staff– Stratification by vulnerable group and poverty level

• Telephone survey– Fielded 9/30/08 – 11/3/08– 1,256 completed interviews– Response rate ranged from 41% in NY to 73% in OH

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Demographics

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Household Characteristics

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Percent of Respondents

Senior 43%

Disabled 50%

Children under 6 18%

Children under 18 40%

Nonvulnerable 7%

Own Home 50%

Income Sources

12


Employment Income 30%

Retirement Income 40%

Public Assistance 37%

Non Cash Benefits 59%

Poverty Level

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Poverty LevelPercent of

Respondents

0% - 50% 17%

51% - 100% 46%

101% - 125% 18%

126% - 150% 10%

>150% 6%

Missing Income 2%

Health

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Health Insurance

15


Entire Household 70%

No one in Household 10%

Health Conditions

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All Senior DisabledChild

Under 18

Non-Vulnerabl

e

Health Condition*

70% 80% 80% 63% 42%

Medical Equipment Uses Electricity

24% 20% 32% 31% 3%

*Health conditions included asthma, emphysema, COPD, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.

Health Status

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Under 18

Non-Vulnerabl

e

Excellent 6% 4% 2% 11% 5%

Very Good 15% 13% 8% 20% 22%

Good 31% 27% 23% 34% 51%

Fair 31% 36% 40% 26% 18%

Poor 16% 19% 27% 10% 3%

Don’t know/ Refused

<1% <1% <1% 0% 2%

Energy Costs

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Energy Costs

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< $500 3%

$501 - $1,000 10%

$1,001 - $1,500 13%

$1,501 - $2,000 15%

Over $2,000 36%

Don’t Know/ Refused 24%

Energy Burden

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Pre-LIHEAP

Post-LIHEAP

≤ 5% 11% 25%

6% - 10% 28% 30%

11% - 15% 21% 21%

16% - 20% 16% 10%

21% - 25% 9% 6%

>25% 14% 8%

Mean Energy Burden

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Under 18

Non-Vulnerabl

e

Pre-LIHEAP 16% 14% 17% 16% 19%

Post-LIHEAP 12% 11% 12% 13% 14%

Change in Energy Bills

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Same 24%

Lower 13%

Higher 49%


Change in Difficulty Paying Energy Bills

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Same 42%

More Difficult 43%

Less Difficult 9%


Increased Difficulty Paying Energy Bills

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Reasons for Increased Difficulty Paying Energy Bills

Main Reason (Unprompted)

Reasons (Prompted)

Increased Energy Bill 50% 87%

Lower Income/ Lost Job 37% 75%

Increased Medical Expenses 2% 57%

Increased Prescription Cost <1% 54%

Increased Property Taxes <1% 43%

Increased Rent <1% 38%

Higher Gasoline Costs 0% 88%

Unaffordable Energy Bills: Signs and Responses

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Signs of the Problem

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2003 2008

Worried About Paying Home Energy Bill 72% 72%

Reduced Expenses for Household Necessities 78% 80%

Borrowed from a Friend or Relative 46% 43%

Signs of the Problem

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All Children ≤50%

Worried About Paying Home Energy Bill

72% 86% 84%

Reduced Expenses for Household Necessities

80% 85% 92%

Borrowed from a Friend or Relative

43% 63% 69%

Constructive Actions

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2003 2008

Winter

Put plastic on windows 44% 48%

Turn down heat when you go to bed 76% 85%

Summer

Keep shades closed in daytime 83% 88%

Use fans and open windows 78% 80%

Other Actions

Wash clothes in cold water 65% 73%

Use CFLs 44% 66%

Responses to the Problem

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2003 2008

Closed off Part of Home 39% 44%

Kept Home at Unsafe or Unhealthy Temperature 25% 28%

Left Home for Part of the Day 24% 23%

Used Kitchen Stove or Oven to Provide Heat 31% 33%

Responses to the Problem

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All Children ≤50%

Closed off Part of Home 44% 37% 47%

Kept Home at Unsafe or Unhealthy Temperature

28% 32% 29%

Left Home for Part of the Day 23% 27% 28%

Used Kitchen Stove or Oven to Provide Heat

33% 40% 42%

Inability to Pay Energy Bills

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2003 2008

Skipped Paying Energy Bill 52% 47%

Received Disconnect Notice 38% 37%

Electricity Shut Off 8% 9%

Inability to Pay Energy Bills

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All Children ≤50%

Skipped Paying Energy Bill 47% 70% 68%

Received Disconnect Notice 37% 57% 57%

Electricity Shut Off 9% 15% 18%

Energy Sacrifices

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Unable to Use Heat

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2003 2008

Heating System Broken 10% 13%

Unable to Pay for Fuel Delivery 10% 13%

Electric or Gas Service Shut Off 11% 13%

Unable to Use Heat

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All Children ≤50%

Heating System Broken 13% 15% 20%

Unable to Pay for Fuel Delivery 13% 18% 14%

Electric or Gas Service Shut Off 13% 18% 20%

Unable For Any of 3 Reasons 28% 38% 39%

Unable to Use Air Conditioning

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2003 2008

Air Conditioning Broken 12% 12%

Electric Service Shut Off 6% 7%

Unable to Use Air Conditioning

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All Children ≤50%

Air Conditioning Broken 12% 14% 14%

Electric Service Shut Off 7% 11% 15%

Unable to Use AC due to Either of 2 Reasons

17% 23% 27%

Other Sacrifices

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2003 2008

Lack of Hot Water – Went Without Showers/Baths

9% 10%

Lack of Cooking Fuel – Went Without Hot Meals 5% 7%

Lack of Lights – Used Candles or Lanterns 8% 7%

Other Sacrifices

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All Children ≤50%

Lack of Hot Water –

Went Without Showers/Baths10% 17% 15%

Lack of Cooking Fuel –

Went Without Hot Meals7% 12% 11%

Lack of Lights –

Used Candles or Lanterns7% 12% 15%

Housing, Financial, and Medical Problems

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Housing Problems (Past 5 Years)

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2003 2008

Did Not Make Full Rent or Mortgage Payment 28% 28%

Evicted from Home or Apartment 4% 4%

Moved in with Friends or Family 9% 11%

Moved into Shelter or Was Homeless 4% 3%

Housing Problems (Past 5 Years)

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All Children ≤50%

Did Not Make Full Rent or Mortgage Payment

28% 44% 37%

Evicted from Home or Apartment 4% 6% 7%

Moved in with Friends or Family 11% 15% 18%

Moved into Shelter or Was Homeless 3% 5% 9%

Financial Problems (Past 5 Years)

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2008

Obtained a Payday Loan 15%

Forced into Bankruptcy 3%

Financial Problems (Past 5 Years)

44

All Children ≤50%

Obtained a Payday Loan 15% 26% 18%

Forced into Bankruptcy 3% 4% 4%

Medical and Health Problems (Past 5 Years)

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2003 2008

Went Without Food for At Least One Day 22% 32%

Went Without Medical or Dental Care 38% 42%

Did not Fill Prescription / Took Less Than Full Dose

30% 38%

Unable to Pay Energy Bill Due to Medical Expenses 20% 21%

Became Sick Because Home was Too Cold 21% 24%

Became Sick Because Home was Too Hot 7% 6%

Medical and Health Problems (Past 5 Years)

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All Children ≤50%

Went Without Food for At Least One Day 32% 36% 39%

Went Without Medical or Dental Care 42% 48% 46%

Did not Fill Prescription / Took Less Than Full Dose

38% 42% 40%

Unable to Pay Energy Bill Due to Medical Expenses

21% 28% 24%

Became Sick Because Home was Too Cold 24% 33% 39%

Became Sick Because Home was Too Hot 6% 8% 9%

LIHEAP and Other Assistance

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LIHEAP Receipt

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2003 2008

Recalled Receipt of LIHEAP 84% 86%

Received LIHEAP in Each of Past Five Years 21% 26%

Plans to Apply for LIHEAP in Coming Year 83% 88%

Payment ArrangementsWith Utility Companies

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Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement In Past Year

Was Able to Work Out Payment Arrangement

All LIHEAP RecipientsThose Who Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement

54% 84%

Fuel Fund or Social Service Assistance

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Contacted Fuel Fund or Social Services Agency

Fuel Fund or Social Services Agency Was Able to Help

Those Who Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement

Those Who Contacted Fuel Fund or Social Services Agency

50% 72%


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Applied for LIHEAP Assistance

Received Assistance From LIHEAP

Those Who Tried to Work Out Payment Arrangement

Those Who Applied for LIHEAP

67% 75%


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LIHEAP or Agency Assistance Was Sufficient to Prevent Electric or Gas Service Termination

Those Who Tried to Work Out Payment Plan

Those Who Applied for Assistance

Those Who Received Assistance from

LIHEAP or Social Services

55% 69% 87%

Importance of LIHEAP

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Would Have Faced Problems Without LIHEAP

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2003 2008

Worried About Paying Home Energy Bill 66% 77%

Kept Home at Unsafe or Unhealthy Levels 54% 63%

Had Electricity or Home Heating Fuel Shut Off 48% 59%

LIHEAP Helped Restore Heat

55

Restored Heat Due to Electric/Gas

Shut Off

Restored Heat Due to Fuel Running Out

Restored Heat Due to Broken

Equipment

51% 64% 63%

Importance of LIHEAP

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LIHEAP Is Very Important

2003 2008

All 86% 90%

Senior 83% 88%

Disabled 89% 91%

Child 86% 91%

Summary

• Update of national LIHEAP survey

• Increase in problems faced by LIHEAP recipients since 2003 survey

• Greatest difficulty reported by households with children and poverty level <=50%

• Increased importance of LIHEAP

• Increased reliance on LIHEAP

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2008 national energy assistance survey

Documents