Help with heating bills starts Jan. 1 for Marion County residents

INDIANAPOLIS – Marion County residents can get help paying their heating bills starting Jan. 1 through the Winter Assistance Fund.  

The annual program is open to Marion County residents who earn too much to qualify for government energy assistance programs but whose income is up to 225% of the Federal Poverty Level.  

For a one-person household, that’s a gross income between about $8,060 and $8,471 over the last three months. For a family of four, that’s a gross income between about $15,499 and $17,550 for the last three months.  

United Way is encouraging people who think they may qualify to apply starting Jan. 1 by contacting one of 15 sites listed at uwci.org/waf. The program runs through the end of May, or until funds run out. 

Last year’s program helped 343 households with more than $180,000 in heating bills.  

United Way of Central Indiana has operated the program for four decades. Since the mid-1990s, the program has helped households with about $9.1 million in utility assistance.   

The fund is supported by AES, Citizens Energy Group, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and individual donors. To contribute to the fund, visit give.uwci.org/winter.