Energy bills, phone and internet, and housing

Energy bills

• LIHEAP helps pay heating and cooling bills and some repairs. Each state runs it, often through local community action agencies. Call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327 or visit the LIHEAP page to find your office. Many states put households with a person with a disability near the front of the line.
• Weatherization makes a home cheaper to heat and cool, for free. How to apply.
• Your utility may offer discount rates and payment plans. Ask.

If someone depends on medical equipment

1. Ask your power company to put you on its medical or life-support list. Most need a form signed by a doctor.
2. In many states, a medical certificate can delay a shutoff for unpaid bills. Ask how long it lasts and how to renew it.
3. Make a backup plan for outages: batteries, a list of numbers, and where you can go.

Phone and internet: Lifeline

Lifeline takes up to $9.25 a month off one phone or internet plan (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands).

• You qualify if you get SNAP, Medicaid, SSIWhat does SSI mean??, Federal Public Housing Assistance or a Veterans Pension, or if your income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• SSDIWhat does SSDI mean?? alone does not qualify you. Check the income rule instead.
• One Lifeline benefit per household.
• Apply at lifelinesupport.org or through a phone company that offers Lifeline.

Deaf, hard of hearing, blind or DeafBlind? Your state may give free phones and devices. See iCanConnect and your state's telecommunications equipment program.

Housing

• Rental help: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) and public housing come through your local public housing agency. Lists can be long, so apply early. Some vouchers are set aside for people with disabilities.
• Free housing counseling: a HUD-approved counselor at 1-800-569-4287.
• Your rights: landlords must make reasonable changes for a disability, like allowing an assistance animal. Housing rights.
• Living on your own: IDD Atlas: independent living.