by Laura Sullivanlyndall

Created on: January 21, 2011   Last Updated: January 22, 2011

With today’s economy ,the housing market in a slump, the job market down and so many Americans out of work, many families are struggling just to put food. In many cases families are faced with having to choose between food and utilities. For many families facing these situations, there is a little help out there if they meet the requirements. The government has Assistance programs to help pay bills. Here is an overview of some Government Assistance Programs that help pay bills.

Electric and Heating Bills

The (LIHEAP) Low income home energy assistance program  is a federal  assistance program that helps pay electric bills based on poverty income guidelines. LIHEAP is available once every 12 months for those who qualify, but under certain situations help can be found here again in only six months. For those who don’t qualify for LIHEAP the care to share program is available to  customers of the FPL  company through the Salvation Army. Once again though they have certain requirements that need to be met.

Home Heating Oil

Citizens  Energy Oil Heat  Program is a program that the Federal Government has in partnership with Citgo to provide a one time, annual home heating oil delivery of up to 100 gallons to needy families at lower costs or absolutely free in 24 States depending on your income and needs. Help for the Oil Heat Program ca be found by calling a 1-877-563-4645 for information and an application.

Phone Bill Assistance

To insure that everyone has affordable phone service available to them the government has a couple different assistance programs for phone service. The first program is called Life Line.  Life Line give a discount on local phone services up to $15 depending on the state. Another program Link Up will help pay up to 50% of insulation costs up to $50 to have a phone installed in a persons home. When installation costs exceed what a person can afford the government program will even provide interest free loans for up to one year to a maximum of $300 for installation costs of a home phone. A third component of the phone assistance program offers free cell phones and service of up to 250 minutes a month for needy families. Two of the programs offering the free cell phones are safelink and assurance. This helps insure that people with needs for a cell phone such as not having a home phone or having an ill family member who may need a phone for medical purposes, will have a phone

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