Program helping Marion County residents with heating bills starts Jan. 1

INDIANAPOLIS – Starting Jan. 1, Marion County residents can get help paying their heating bills 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 and whose income is up to 225% of the federal poverty guideline.  

For a one-person household, that’s a gross income between about $7,400 and $8,200 over the last three months. For a family of four, that’s a gross income between about $14,300 and $16,800 for the last three months.  

The program will help households amid inflation and increased energy costs, said Lydia Watson, United Way’s safe and affordable housing director.  

United Way is encouraging people who think they may qualify to apply by contacting one of the sites listed at uwci.org/waf. The program runs through the end of May.    

Last year’s program helped over 420 families with more than $224,000.  

United Way of Central Indiana has operated the program for four decades. Since the mid-1990s, the program has helped households with about $7 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.