Operation Fuel
WHAT IS OPERATION FUEL?
Operation Fuel (https://operationfuel.org/about/how-we-help/) offers emergency energy assistance for heating expenses for households who meet program guidelines with incomes at or below 100% of the State Median Income guidelines who are in crisis. Such assistance shall be given in accordance with these guidelines but with flexibility to meet human needs. Local fuel banks assess client eligibility and make payments to vendors. Households are able to apply to the program directly online as well.
BENEFIT AMOUNT: Operation Fuel awards grants for the Winter/Spring and Summer/Fall seasons. The grants are used for heat and non-heat source expenses. Amount of assistance is based on household need grant of $500 (deliverable fuels & utilities) starting on February 17, 2023, grants have been reduced from $1,000 in 2023, due to demand. Payments are made directly to fuel or utility vendors.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Household income at or below 100% of the State Median Income
- To qualify for oil, propane, pellets, gas/electric utility or wood, applicants must provide the name and contact information of their fuel vendor to complete the application.
- Applicants are not required to seek assistance through the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) in advance of applying for Operation Fuel funding.
- To qualify for assistance for electric utility as secondary energy, applicants must have a shut-off notice or have no utility service or must need assistance with making a required payment in order to maintain a payment arrangement, or have a past due balance of 30 days or more. Households will be eligible for this program even if they received a grant for their primary heat through the CEAP program.
- To qualify for a grant for gas or electric assistance as a main or secondary heat source, applicants must have at least one of the following criteria: a shut-off notice, have no utility service, must need assistance with making a required payment in order to maintain a payment arrangement, or have a past due balance of 30 days or more. Households will be eligible for this program even if they received a grant for their primary heat through the CT Energy Assistance Program (CEAP).
- Applicant has not received an Operation Fuel energy assistance grant during the program season for which they are applying. In other words, if a client received a grant in Summer/Fall, they are still eligible. This is a change to the “once every 12 months” rule to allow one approval per season.
- Applicant has made a total of 4 payments within the 12-month period of which they are applying. Applicant must show a pattern of payments. If applicant makes all 4 payments within one month or days prior to applying, or has fewer than 4 payments, households should check the “4 payments” box anyways and put in the comments the reason that they are requesting an exception.
HOW TO OBTAIN SERVICE:
Please Note – Update – 2/17/23:
- Due to high demand, the program will suspend application intake (beginning Monday, March 6th and re-opening on Monday, April 3rd) – This will include both self-intake (portal) applications and fuel bank submissions. This will allow the program staff to get caught up with pending applications.
- Phone inquiries- beginning Monday, February 27, Operation Fuel headquarters will only be available to answer and address phone calls every Monday and Tuesday between the hours of 8am and 12noon. This will not affect the intake sites, which are the main contacts that we refer individuals to contact for assistance.
CONTRIBUTING TO OPERATION FUEL:
Operation Fuel is funded by direct private donations, state funding, and the Add-a-Dollar program through utility companies. Through the Add-a-Dollar program, utility customers can choose to add a dollar to their utility payments. Individuals can find out more about all donation options including ways to donate to Operation Fuel directly on the Operation Fuel website.
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SOURCE: Operation Fuel fact sheets; Operation Fuel website
PREPARED BY: 211/nl
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: February2023
