Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Many utility customers in the SDG&E territory are on a fixed income or simply don't earn enough to cover the monthly increases and fluctuations in their bills. If anyone is in this category, there are several agencies that can be contacted for help. Applicants must have an SDG&E gas and/or electric account in their name or must living at a residence served by SDG&E. This would be the name shown on the energy bill, social security card, proof of income, etc. If a husband and wife are living together in the same household, the bill may be in either name without affecting eligibility. The following relief funds are only applicable to current outstanding balances and cannot be applied to deposits, but can be applied to reconnection charges and other fees included in the monthly bill.
In general, the following income guidelines apply to the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), though as noted below, these guidelines may be waived given certain circumstances.
Maximum Household Income
Number in Household Total Monthly Income
1 $1,804
2 $2,359
3 $2,914
4 $3,469
5 $4,024
6 $4,579
7 $4,716
These funds are also available for residents of apartment buildings and mobile home parks, but such residents will need to know the master meter account number from the property manager. The customer must also contact their manager to ensure they receive the amount credited to the master meter account.
HEAP
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides non-emergency financial assistance one time annually only to qualifying low-income consumers. This takes 10 to 12 weeks to process and applications are made to an agency according to zip code. This program is administered either through Campesino Unidos, Inc. (CUI) or through Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee (MAAC) Program, depending on the zip code of the customer.
In general, CUI (Campesinos Unidos, Inc.) is for people who live in North County, Imperial Valley, Orange County and San Diego. The Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee (MAAC) is intended for South Bay and East County residents, including El Cajon and Santee. To sign up for HEAP at MAAC, the agency must be called usually early Monday morning. CUI has more funding and you call them anytime. Funds are limited. Certain low-income guidelines must be met and the recipient cannot have used HEAP within the last year (though this can be waived). This program assists with the current outstanding utility bill balance and in turn, the recipient must attend a class on how to conserve energy. The agencies listed below administer HEAP funds by zip code. If you want to make sure you're calling the right agency, call the Dept. of Community Services and Development at 211 (the new social service hotline for referral).
CUI ______
800-371-1380 or 3771
MAAC
619-409-8582
NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR
If you do not meet the low-income guidelines for HEAP or do not have a valid Social Security number, but have a temporary hardship such as the ones below, you're a good candidate for the Neighbor to Neighbor program. This is an SDG&E program but the best way to contact would be to dial 211 and ask for assistance and they will help direct you to either HEAP or Neighbor to Neighbor whichever is more applicable.
There are some mitigating circumstances that might make you eligible for Neighbor to Neighbor funds if you are above the HEAP income guidelines. For example, you might be facing:
Illness
--Serious illness of a life threatening nature
--Person with emphysema, arthritis or other chronic condition, where use of air conditioning is a factorTemporary Unemployment
--Verification from employer or Employment Development Department
--Disabled or over age 60
--Person with income above HEAP limits, yet very limited income and no alternative sources of fundsThese and other circumstances might qualify you for the Neighbor to Neighbor program, but not the HEAP program, so make sure you explore both.
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Horrible Service!!!!!!! RUDE Employees!! Please Fix!!
I agree, dealing w/ this company, is Impossible!!!!!!!
Mondays only to call??? Last year, bc of everyones total incompentence, I didn't recieve the assistance, I should have.
I called East County, was routed to Chula vista, talked to a supervisor, was reassured, papers sent out..
Nothing came..!!! Called again, went thru 2 agencys.. CV and East County, was on the phone, literally for hrs..
getting ZERO help...I never got any paperwork or an appt, NOTHING...
. I had to have my parents help out me out, ...if not for them.. i would have been up a creek!
(I'm disabled).
I HOPE this year, that they will be SCREENING ALL EMPLOYEES!!! INcluding Supervisors/ management!!!
The rudeness of the people who work there was astounding!!! If they didn't like what you were saying or didn't want to deal w/ you.. or know the answer.. some literally hung up on you!!!
I could NOT get any help and the supervisors were just as bad!
I would also like to know why this program is supporting immigrants who can't even speak english and don't have SS
Cards?? Who are ILLEGALS.. ILLEGALS.. what kind of message is this sending out??
It is unfair to AMERICAN CITIZENS, who speak English, Spanish, etc.. to not get help bc we are literally giving away
money to people , who have no right to be in this country..
Not sure if this is the MAAC program , but saw it was in the Neighbor to Neighbor Program..
Why do people who are mainly poor, some too disabled to take a bus, have to meet In person??
Thats also crazy!!
With the internet today, there is absolutely no reason, why one can't send in proof.. or be on a yearly list and every year, recieve something to fill out.. or just do it over the phone!!!
It'd be much easier to verify.. There NEEDS and MUST be some Changes in this PROGRAM!!!!
I really hope there are some kind, caring, intelligent , Compentent people out there, who can Make the
Changes that are so despartly needed.
I'm very very grateful, that we have this sort of program.. but It needs to WORk!!
With heat soo high , right now.. I'm praying that somehow I do get help, this year, that I wasn't able to last year.
Why are there only Hispanics?
Why are there only Hispanics working in this office? The only people that were heard or given any courtesy were Mexicans. This needs to be looked into. I will be doing some research to find out who to contact to formally file a complaint.
Now that it's been said. I agree 100%
I didn't want to mention it, but now that someone has pointed out that all of the staff is hispanic, I will agree. I noticed that when I went into the office. What gives? I hope someone reads this board and see the rash of problems that go on into that service that is suppose to help people. For once in my life, I needed assistance and didn't get it. I pay taxes and have always worked and now that I get hurt at work and need help, I get nothing but crap. The program needs to work to be effective and not just work for one class of people(illegals) or one race(hispanic). I find it a shame that people are given jobs and think that they're status in the community is automatically elevated because they are able to make decision. Then again, these are people who should not be in a decision making capacity. I know these inbreeds are reading this thread and as you can see, no one is brave enough to comment or dispute or posts. I welcome comments from these people especially that prick Alex. HEAP can go to hell as far as I concerned.
LHIEP needs to find employees with no egos
LHIEP-San Diego is a joke. For the first time since living on my own, I need assistance paying my bill. That bastard named Alex acts as though this money is coming from his pocket. My landlord doesn't give rent receipts because we pay by check so your check is your receipt. A alot of landlords do this with tenants. One person at LHIEP says a cancelled check is okay, now this bastard Alex says he needs a letter from the landlord and then sets my appointment for the next day. How am I going to get a letter that fast when the landlord lives on the other side of town? The employees at LHIEP are rude on the phone, they cut you off while your talking, not letting you finish a sentence. That's probably the best job they'll ever have so that's why they are all on an ego trip.
Can't figure it out
I have called 211. It was a non working number. How am I supposed to figure out who to call if the information that is given to me is incorrect?
No help
This service is not intended for a low-income family who is working very hard to put food on their table. I went there for assistance, first time in my life, with all my bills and everything. They did nothing for me. They wanted to know everything, properly if I had given my first born son then everything would be ok.
CUI/MAAC B.S
211 told me to call CUI. I spent 1 1/2 hours trying to get through.
When I finally did, I was given an appt for the next day, at 9am.
Put my last 10.00 in the gas tank, and was at the appt 15 minutes early.
I waiting there for 45 minutes, when I heard the clerks asking each other for my screening paperwork. They found it. Then I was called to the counter and told, "Were sorry, we do not help your zip code." I explained 211 gave me the energy assistance phone number, who sent me to CUI, CUI screened me & told me to come here, and here I was. CUI told me, tough luck and to go home and call Maac # next Monday. My SDGE gets turned off today without an arrangement from CUI or Maac.
This is crazy.
it's CRAZY!!!!!
IT's crazy, I need help with my electritcy bill, I need help right now but they said have to wait for 2 month, Forget it, oh my god My power will off in 3 days how I keep it on, I have bad back.. I cant deal with cold this winter!!!
CUI needs to either find
CUI needs to either find more employees to answer their phones...tired of this
CUI
47 minutes on the phone waiting for CUI to answer.........................and still waiting. Thank god I don't have anything else to do today. I appreciate the service but for crying-put-loud, this is insane.
CUI
Good luck, you have a better chance of winning the lottery. I hope you're not wasting your time, they only take appointments on Monday mornings. With that being a holiday, they should take calls today.
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