Stark County Community Action Agency (HEAP) Home Energy Assistance Program

Regular HEAP
The Regular HEAP Program provides a one-time HEAP benefit to income eligible households and is applied as a direct credit to your main source of heat or fuel vendor. The amount of your benefit will vary and is dependent upon federal funding levels, how many people live with you, total household income, and the primary fuel you use to heat your home. HEAP benefits do not cover monthly utility bills unless you have a zero balance on your utility account.

Households residing in federally-subsidized housing where the heat is included in the rent are not eligible for the regular component of the HEAP program.

Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP+)
The PIPP Plus Program is a long-term solution to maintaining home energy services. The program helps income eligible households maintain their gas and electric services by paying their utility company a percentage of their household income.

Eligible households pay six (6) percent of their monthly income or $10 a month (whichever is greater) to their electric and gas utilities. Customers residing in all electric homes pay ten percent (10%) or $10 (whichever is greater).

PIPP+ payment amounts remain the same year-round and households who make their payments on-time and in-full each month will have 1/24th of their monthly arrearages and rest of that month's bills forgiven.

To be eligible for PIPP Plus, customers must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and they are required to re-verify household income annually or as income changes throughout the year.

Winter Crisis Program
The Winter Crisis Program runs from November 1st through March 31st annually. Eligible households in emergency situations may qualify to receive (once
per heating season) up to $175 in payment assistance to help maintain, restore, transfer or initiate their gas or electric utility services.

In addition, those with 25% or less supply of bulk fuel (wood, coal, propane, fuel oil) may also qualify to receive up to $900 in assistance. The program also helps to pay for heating system repairs in limited situations and can assist with fuel tank placement and fuel tank testing.

Summer Crisis Program
In Stark County, we experience the hottest months of the year during July and August and the heat really affects senior citizens and those with serious medical conditions. Our Summer Crisis Program provides electric-only utility assistance to households with an elderly member (60 yrs. or older) and to households who provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a member’s health. The program duration is typically from July 1 through August 31 however the start date and benefit are determined annually by the Ohio Development Services Agency and are published in June.

Appointment Scheduling
Appointments can be scheduled by calling our toll-free automated appointment line at (330).617-1055 or you can schedule online at https://app.capappointments.com/

Due to COVID-19:

There will be a limited number of face-to-face appointments available as most appointments will be conducted as phone interviews.

For all of our programs, after successfully scheduling an appointment, we strongly encourage households to pick up, complete and return a “Packet” at/to the SCCAA HEAP Webster Square drop-box location only (1370 Market Avenue North) prior to actual appointment. These packets contain all documentation (including signature pages) required for approval and will help expedite application completion during the phone interview.

We will not conduct outreach appointments at our Alliance or Massillon sites.

Walk-In Policy
We recognize that some households have emergency situations that warrant being seen immediately. Households with emergency situations should utilize our Walk-In Policy

Households must call our toll-free SCCAA HEAP Walk-In hotline at (330).617-1054 on Thursdays or Fridays of each week between 7:00am and 11:00am in order to receive
a Walk-In time slot for the day. Walk-ins will only be seen at the SCCAA HEAP Satellite Office located at 3220 Cleveland Avenue N.W., Canton, Ohio.

On Thursdays of each week, the first twenty (25) households to get through to the Walk- In hotline will be given a time slot to be seen between 10:15am and 3:45pm on the same day.

On Fridays of each week, the first twenty (25) households to get through to the Walk-In hotline will be given a time slot to be seen between 10:15am and 3:45pm on the same day.

SCCAA HEAP PROGRAM FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES

Percentage Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP+) Enrollment/Reverification,
Winter, Summer Crisis and HEAP Assistance is based on 175%

Effective Immediately

The State of Ohio requires all household members to have Proof of Citizenship in order to receive HEAP assistance.

Acceptable Proof includes:

• Birth Certificate/Birth Records
• Social Security Card
• Baptismal Records (Only when place and date of birth is shown)
• Indian Census Record
• Military Service Record- DD-214
• U.S. Passport
• Verified Citizenship for OWF Program (Cash assistance/Medicaid)
• Voter Registration Cards - Address to register to vote for Stark County:

Stark County Board of Elections
3525 Regent Ave NE
Canton, Ohio 44705
8:30am-4:30pm (M-F)
(330) 451-8683

Proof of Legal Resident/Qualified Alien

• Naturalization Papers/Certificate of Citizenship
• INS ID Card
• Alien Registration Cards/Re-Entry Permits
• INS Form I-551
• INS Form I-94
• Permanent VISA
• INS Form G-641
• Documentation that alien is classified pursuant to sections: 101 (a) (2), 203 (a), 204 (a) (1) (a). 207, 208, 212(d) (5), 241 (b) (3), 243(h), or 244 (a)(3), or the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Court Order stating that deportation has been withheld pursuant to Section 241 (b) (3) Or 243 (h) or of the immigration and Nationality Act
• INS Form I-688

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For more information, contact the HEAP Office, located at 1370 Market Avenue North, Canton OH 44714, or call 330-454-1850 to see if you qualify.

Webster Square Office Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am to 5:30pm
Satellite Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm

PRIVACY ACT NOTICE DISCLOSURE
The disclosure of social security numbers is mandatory to receive HEAP benefits. AUTHORITY: 45 CFR 96.84 (c); 42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(i) USE: The state will use social security numbers in the administration of the HEAP program to verify information supplied on the application, to prevent, detect, and correct fraud, waste, and abuse, and for the purpose of responding to requests for information from agency programs funded by block grants to states for temporary assistance for needy families or agencies requesting information for child support or to establish paternity. The applicant may be held civilly or criminally liable under federal or state law for knowingly making false or fraudulent statements.