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1.29.03 State funding for heat aid gets boost Nebraskans needing help this winter paying heating bills will be getting a little extra help from Uncle Sam. Recent cold weather and the resulting increase in fuel prices have prompted the federal government to send an additional $200 million to the states for heating assistance. In Nebraska, that means an 8 percent increase in the amount available to help people with their heating bills. In Iowa, it means about an 11 percent increase. "It was very unexpected," said Mike Kelly, program specialist for the Nebraska Health and Human Services System. This is the first time that President Bush has released money over and above the annual allotment for heat assistance. It will bring to more than $1.5 billion the amount that the federal government is spending on heat assistance this winter for low-income families. Nebraska will receive an extra $1.2 million, Kelly said. Until the extra money came along, the state had been expecting to receive the same amount as last year, $15.3 million. Iowa will be receiving about $2.7 million more than the $25.3 million it had been scheduled to receive. Gov. Johanns' office, in announcing the additional aid for Nebraska, said the money has come at an opportune time. The state recently experienced a stretch of very cold weather. Last year, Nebraska helped about 27,000 households with heat assistance, Kelly said. The average payment was $158, although some households also received $217 in crisis assistance. |
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