empower program frequently asked questions … · empower program frequently asked questions (faq)...

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EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) Q. What is emPower? A. emPower provides heat and energy assistance to qualified families throughout 61 counties (15 Upper Peninsula counties, plus 46 Lower Peninsula rural counties) in Michigan by assisting households with heat related utility bills, deliverable fuels, and energy conservation initiatives. Q. Is the emPower Program available in my county? A. To see if emPower is available in your area, please visit our Resource Search page on TrueNorth's website. Once there click on the drop down arrow in the box under “Select a County ”, and search for the particular service you may need in the box “Select a Category”. You can also search to see all services TrueNorth provides for your county. Q. How do I qualify for heat and energy assistance? A. To qualify, you must be within the 2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines: emPower can only provide financial assistance if the total gross income of everyone living in your home is at or less than the amount listed for your family size. Gross income is the total amount of income before taxes and deductions. Q. What else do I have to have in order to qualify? A. You will be able to apply for help with heat and energy payment(s) if you: 1. Have a past due notice or a shut-off notice on an energy bill. 2. Have a fuel/propane tank containing less than 25% of fuel/propane, or have a below minimum balance on a prepay account. 3. Qualify based on the above. Q. How Do I Receive and Complete an emPower Application? A. If you live in a county served and meet the program's requirements, you can get an application by visiting our Publications & Forms page on the TrueNorth website. Applications may be available at your local Department of Human Services’ offices, or other non-profit agencies.

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Page 1: EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS … · EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) Q. What is emPower? A. emPower provides heat and energy assistance to qualified

EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) Q. What is emPower? A. emPower provides heat and energy assistance to qualified families throughout 61 counties (15 Upper Peninsula

counties, plus 46 Lower Peninsula rural counties) in Michigan by assisting households with heat related utility bills, deliverable fuels, and energy conservation initiatives.

Q. Is the emPower Program available in my county?

A. To see if emPower is available in your area, please visit our Resource Search page on TrueNorth's website. Once there click on the drop down arrow in the box under “Select a County”, and search for the particular service you may need in the box “Select a Category”. You can also search to see all services TrueNorth provides for your county.

Q. How do I qualify for heat and energy assistance?

A. To qualify, you must be within the 2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines:

emPower can only provide financial assistance if the total gross income of everyone living in your home is at or less than the amount listed for your family size. Gross income is the total amount of income before taxes and deductions.

Q. What else do I have to have in order to qualify? A. You will be able to apply for help with heat and energy payment(s) if you:

1. Have a past due notice or a shut-off notice on an energy bill. 2. Have a fuel/propane tank containing less than 25% of fuel/propane, or have a below minimum balance on a

prepay account. 3. Qualify based on the above.

Q. How Do I Receive and Complete an emPower Application?

A. If you live in a county served and meet the program's requirements, you can get an application by visiting our Publications & Forms page on the TrueNorth website. Applications may be available at your local Department of Human Services’ offices, or other non-profit agencies.

Page 2: EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS … · EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) Q. What is emPower? A. emPower provides heat and energy assistance to qualified

You can print off the application by clicking on emPower Heat & Energy Assistance Application to print link. This link will open up the application so you can print it off, complete it with required documents, and mail to (TrueNorth/emPower, PO Box 149, Fremont, MI 49412), or fax it to 231-924-3667. You can also click on the online application link to fill out the application and submit online. Please note, if you choose this method for submitting your application, you will have to attach mail, fax or email ([email protected]) your required information before we will process it. If you cannot access our website, give us a call at 231-355-5890 or 1-855-300-8013 to provide us with your mailing address, or email us at [email protected], and we will mail you an application.

Q. What documents are required to apply?

A. Completed emPower application with the following:

Copy of identification (example: driver’s license, passport, school id, government issued picture id) Gross Household Income for 30 consecutive days of the last 60 days. (Example: pay stubs, print off from

employer, DHS cross match, unemployment determination, Social Security determination, bank statement showing the deposit of income for SSI, unemployment, and/or child support).

Copy of most current utility bill(s), if applicable. SER Determination Notice (If you have applied and received from DHS)

Q. How long does it take to process my application?

A. If you provide all the above information with your application, processing your application will take less time. Contacting you to ask for this information creates a delay in your ability to receive assistance. Any missing information will prevent the application from moving to processing (if you qualify).

Q. Can I apply for more than one heat and energy assist?

A. Make sure to mark all the heat and energy types you need assistance with on the application by putting a check mark next to the assistance needed. Please make sure to mark all that is needed and supply all copies of current bills showing past due or shut off (you do not need to supply bills for propane/fuel oil, wood, or wood pellets; but we do need to know your supplier, name on the account/account number, and how much fuel is remaining). We need copies of electric and natural gas bills.

Q. What do you need if I heat with fuel oil or propane?

A. Indicate on the application what percentage fuel is remaining for fuel oil or propane and provide your supplier’s name, name on the account, and account number. If you are not at 25% or under, we cannot provide assistance until you are at or below that level. If at the time of delivered you have more than 25% in your tank, you will be responsible for the bill because emPower cannot pay for that delivery.

Q. How do I know if I have 25% or less in my fuel tank?

A. Oil tank gauge: Typical tanks are 44" full

o For a 275 Capacity 27" deep tank, you would need to have 6 3/4" or less to be 25% or under. o For 220/275 Capacity 44" deep tanks, you would need to have 11" or less to be 25% or under. o For a 300 Capacity 38" deep tank, you would need to have 9 1/2" or less to be 25% or under. o For 530/560/1050 Capacity 48" deep tanks, you would need to have 12" or less to be 25% or under. o For 1000/1500 Capacity 64" deep tanks, you would need to have 16" or less to be 25% or under.

Q. What do you need if I request electric or natural gas assist(s)?

A. You must supply a copy of your most current bill, past due or shut-off notice.

Page 3: EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS … · EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) Q. What is emPower? A. emPower provides heat and energy assistance to qualified

Q. What do you need if I request wood, wood pellets, etc. assist?

A. We require how much wood, wood pellets, etc. you have left. Indicate on application. If you have a wood supplier, please let us know. If your wood supplier is not an approved vendor of TrueNorth/emPower, then we will have to get a completed W-9 from your supplier in order to be able to consider them. Otherwise, emPower will use an existing approved supplier in their current database.

Q. Does emPower pay for any other utility bills?

A. emPower assists households with heat related utility bills (electric and natural gas) and deliverable fuels (propane, fuel oil and wood/wood products).

Q. What proofs of income do you require?

A. If you get paid every week, we must receive four weeks of pay stubs dated for each week consecutively for one month in the last 60 days from the date of your application. If you get paid every other week, we must receive two pay stubs dated for each pay period for 30 days in the last 60 days.

Q. What does “in the last 60 days” mean?

A. Example today’s date is 2/14/14, so we would need 30 consecutive days of income between December 14, 2013 –February 13, 2014.

Q. What if I am self employed?

A. Make sure you indicate your gross monthly income on the first page of the application.

Q. How is income calculated?

A. We use your gross monthly income (before taxes/deductions) to calculate the total gross monthly income per household.

Q. Is there a cap on assistance?

A. If you need a second assist, please provide a written statement and send it via mail, fax or email with a copy of the bill(s).

Q. What is the telephone number for emPower?

A. 231-355-5890 or 1-855-300-8013

Q. What fax number do I send my application and required documents?

A. 231-924-3667 or 231-355-3030

Q. Where do I email my application and required documents?

A. Email address: [email protected]

Q. Where do I mail my application and required documents?

A. TrueNorth Community Services/emPower PO Box 149 Fremont, MI 49412

Page 4: EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS … · EMPOWER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) Q. What is emPower? A. emPower provides heat and energy assistance to qualified

Q. Does emPower provide any other supportive services?

A. Along with the financial assistance, emPower will also provide additional supportive services. We have expanded our heat and energy services to include energy optimization and education to help households reduce their bills, along with self-sufficiency programs.

Q. Who is TrueNorth Community Services?

A. TrueNorth Community Services is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that builds communities with many services but one mission. That mission is to guide families to independence, while building healthy communities. TrueNorth works to achieve this mission by addressing rural poverty, ensuring that youth thrives, building vibrant communities and providing innovative rural nonprofit leadership. Founded in 1972, TrueNorth continually improves a fluid and flexible array of services to ensure those served can find their own positive direction in life, their own true north. For additional information about TrueNorth, you are encouraged to visit www.truenorthservices.org.

Q. Where is TrueNorth’s office located?

A. TrueNorth Community Services 6308 S. Warner Avenue Fremont, MI 49412

Q. Are there any other energy resources?

A. The following websites are useful resources:

Alliance to Save Energy (for children and adults) www.energyhog.org

Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm www.coalitiontokeepmichiganwarm.com

Consumers Energy www.consumersenergy.com

DTE Energy www.dteenergy.com

Department of Energy www.energysavers.gov

Great Lakes Energy www.gtlakes.com

Michigan Public Service Commission www.michigan.gov/mpsc

State of Michigan www.michigan.gov/bewinterwise