Low-income Kansans will benefit from about $15.8 million in federal funding aimed at helping them pay winter utility bills.

Congress has appropriated $2.2 billion for the 2005 fiscal year to finance the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The funding was included in the $388 billion omnibus spending bill now awaiting President Bush’s signature.

The $2.2 billion is about $300 million more than was available in 2004, according to the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance, a coalition of advocates for the poor, allied organizations, energy industry trade associations and utilities.

“Congress did the right thing by spending more on LIHEAP because higher heating costs this winter will be a severe burden for our most vulnerable citizens: the elderly, the disabled and low-income families with small children,” said Carol Clements, chairwoman of the National Fuel Funds Network, one of the member organizations of the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance.

Mike Deines, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, said the state would see a corresponding increase in funding for its program.

Last year, about $12 million in funding went to 45,072 households in Kansas. Deines said 1,010 Douglas County households received $230,000 in assistance through the program.

This year the state will receive nearly $16 million in funding.

An estimated 30 million American households were eligible for assistance last year. But the program was able to serve only about 5 million, roughly 17 percent of the households that qualify.

Deines said people who apply for the funding must meet guidelines.

“A household of four can’t have a monthly income of more than $2,043,” he said. “They also must demonstrate that they have been working to pay their bills.”

Help with utility bills through LIHEAP won’t be available until January. Deines said Jan. 18 was when people could begin to apply for the program. They can get their name on a list to receive an application before that date, however. To do so, call (800) 432-0043 or contract the local SRS office.

6News video: State to receive about $16 million to help with heating bills (11-26-04) Utility assistance program overwhelmed (11-19-04) Weather has families, agencies scrambling (11-12-04) 6News video: Winter means higher heating bills (11-11-04) The Kansas Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)