MUSCATINE, Iowa– Community Action of Eastern Iowa received special permission to qualify households for energy assistance payments using their layoff or employment termination notice. Between now and May 31, you may qualify, even if your income proved too high to qualify before getting laid off or terminated.
If you recently experienced a lay-off or termination from employment or had your hours reduced, you have a strong chance of qualifying for this benefit. If eligible, CAEI will send a payment to your utility company for you. Average beneficiaries get about $400. Your actual benefit will depend on a variety of factors, including household size and type of heat.
Please note the following important information:
- If you already received energy assistance this past winter (since Oct. 1, 2019), you cannot receive it again.
- If you applied for energy assistance this past winter (since Oct. 1, 2019), and came in over income or did not complete the application, please apply again.
- You will need social security cards for everyone in your home, proof of income (CAEI still has to collect it even if they do not use it for eligibility), your layoff or termination notice, and your power bill. CAEI will help you figure out how to submit all of this when they call you.
- Only households living in Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott counties in Iowa may qualify.
- You can read more about the documentation you will need on CAEI’s website.
Please fill out CAEI’s online form to get started. After you complete the form, you will receive a call at a time convenient for you to complete your application over the phone.
