Assistance for lowincome families and individuals to keep utility bills paid this winter

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Assistance for low-income families and
individuals to keep utility bills paid this winter

• PresenterTom MartinExecutive
  DirectorInterfaith-Good Samaritan710 East
  Garfield Street, Room 127Laramie, WY
  82070-3985Phone [phone]Fax (307)
  742 0184Email Interfaith82070_at_aol.com
• Web Site www.interfaithgoodsam.com

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How can we pay the increased utility costs this
winter?

• Build or Revise Our Budget
• Increase Budget Surplus
• Assistance Programs

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Build or Revise Our Budget

• List monthly income
• List monthly obligations
• Subtract obligations from income
• A positive number is a surplus
• A negative number is a deficit

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Build or Revise Our Budget (continued)

• If a deficit
• The fastest way to reduce a deficit is to reduce
  spending and increase income
• How much is available to pay what?
• Prioritize what must be paid versus what can wait
• Mortgage or Rent
• Electricity
• Natural Gas or Propane most furnaces must have
  electricity
• Food - food pantries and share program, soup
  kitchens and Houses of Worship in your community

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Build or Revise Our Budget (continued)

• Public Transportation Whenever we can
• Vehicle Get to work - Alternatives
  bicycle/walking
• Vehicle Fuel - public transportation when
  possible
• Vehicle Insurance - Being stopped without at
  least liability insurance will result in at least
  a 400 fine.
• Clothing - Alternative clothing banks/thrift
  stores
• Food - Limited food is available through food
  pantries, food share program, soup kitchens and
  Houses of Worship in your community

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Why We Should Increase Budget Surplus

• Many people live payday to payday
• With the projected cost of utilities, this may
  affect our ability to pay our monthly bills
  including utility bills
• Ways to increase the current budget surplus are
  to reduce spending and/or increase income.
• If a pay increase is not in the immediate future
  and we are just getting by, the increased utility
  costs this winter may cut into our current way of
  living.
• Increased utility costs will affect the cost of
  food and other commodities that require heating,
  cooling or freezing.

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Increase Budget Surplus (continued)

• In Wyoming, many businesses are seasonal. (i.e.
  construction, logging and tourism) Some slow down
  during the colder months and others pick up.
• If we work in a field that slows down or stops
  during the winter, and a significant financial
  reserve has not been built-up prior to the down
  season, a different winter job may be in order.

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Communicate with Utility

• If we see we are falling behind on our utility
  bill(s) it is important to keep the utility
  informed.
• This allows the utility to offer tips to saving
  energy and provides the opportunity to create a
  win-win situation for us and the utility.
• Having a utility disconnected during the winter
  can be life threatening.
• There is also financial assistance available to
  those in need.

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Assistance Programs (continued)

• Community Service Block Grant providers
• Community Action of Laramie County, Inc.1620
  Central Ave., Suite 300Cheyenne, Wyoming
  82001Phone [phone]FAX [phone]Email
  Paula_at_calc.net
• Albany County, WYInterfaith-Good Samaritan710
  East Garfield Street, Room 127Laramie, WY
  82070(307) 742 4240Interfaith82070_at_aol.com
• Every county in the United States is eligible to
  receive Community Service Block Grant funding
  through a block grant to each state.
• To find the agency that serves the county you
  live, contact your county United Way Agency,
  Community Action Agency or County Commissioners.

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Assistance Programs (continued)

• Deployed overseas National Guard and Reservists
  whose natural gas is shut-off while deployed
  will not be required to pay a security deposit
  to have the natural gas turned back on.
• Active duty members (lower ranking) can apply
  for all the above mentioned assistance and
  possibly help from the Air Force Assistance
  Fund. To begin this process talk with your
  First Sergeant.

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Assistance Programs (continued)

• Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern
  Colorado and Southeast Wyoming1247 Riverside
  Ave.Fort Collins, CO 80524-3258Phone (970)
  229-0695Toll Free [phone]Email
  general_at_cccsnc.org

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Budget Building - Monthly Income

• Household Budget - Monthly Income, Form 1-A
• (Courtesy of Consumer Credit Counseling (CCC))
  Date Prepared _____________
• Net Income Job 1 _____________________ OASSI
  ______________________
• Net Income Job 2 _____________________ SSDI
  ______________________
• Net Income Job 3 _____________________ SSI
  _______________________
• Savings Account Balance _______________ Stocks
  _____________________
• Checking Account Balance ______________ Bonds
  _____________________
• Low Income Housing ___________________ Pension
  ____________________
• Section 8 Housing _____________________ Disabilit
  y ___________________
• Workers Compensation ________________ Veterans
  Benefits ____________
• Received Child Support _________________ Railroad
  Pension ____________
• Food Stamps _________________________ Money
  Market Certificates _____
• Child Care Assistance __________________ IRA
  _______________________
• WIC ________________________________ Trust Fund
  _________________
• Unemployment Insurance _______________ Certificat
  e of Deposit _________
• Other Sources of Income ________________ Total
  Monthly Income ________
• Please write the amount from Total Monthly Income
  on Line A below
• Line A Total from Monthly Income, Form
  1-A _______________
• Line B Total from Monthly Obligations, Form 1-B
  _______________

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Budget Building - Monthly Obligations

• Household Budget - Monthly Obligations, Form 1-B
• (Courtesy of Consumer Credit Counseling (CCC)
  Date Prepared
  _______________
• Rent or Mortgage _______________________ Medical
  Costs/Copay _________________
• Home/Renter Insurance __________________
  Medicine Cost/Copay _________________
• Property Taxes _________________________ Dental
  Expenses _____________________
• Electric Bill __________ _________________ Tobacc
  o ____________________________
• Gas Bill _______________________________ Alcohol
  ____________________________
• Water/Sewage __________________________ Holiday
  Costs _______________________
• Vehicle 1 Payment _____________________ Birthda
  y Costs ______________________
• Vehicle 2 Payment _____________________ Other
  Family Holiday Costs ____________
• Boat/Camper ___________________________ School
  Costs ________________________
• Vehicle Insurance _______________________ School
  Supplies _____________________
• Gasoline ______________________________ Lunch
  Costs ________________________
• Vehicle Maintenance ___________________ Email
  Costs _________________________
• Food Costs ____________________________ Internet
  Provider Costs ________________
• Personal Hygiene _______________________ Property
  Taxes ______________________
• Household Cleaning _____________________ Furnitur
  e Loans ______________________
• Telephone _____________________________ Appliance
  Loans _____________________
• Cable/Satellite __________________________ Comput
  er Loans _____________________