Fuel Assistance--Nasty Surprise

[hyphenate]

Today was supposed to be the first day of the fuel assistance program. As a LIHEAP customer, I've been without oil--which means no heat OR hot water--since May. I've been trying to get hold of the office which works on the issue, to no avail. So, instead, I called the oil company which normal gives me the oil, only to find out that THERE IS NO FUEL ASSISTANCE money this year, at least not yet.

This is outrageous! What the fuck has Congress been doing, if not setting up oil deliveries for its neediest and poorest citizens? Especially right now, when there is a desperate need for heating the homes?

Goddamn it all. I don't have a lot, but thankfully, I didn't lose my power in the storm, so I've got a small personal heater I can set up in the bedroom, but this is utter madness. How many people across New England the rest of the northern part of the country have neither heat OR power? What the fuck are we supposed to do for the winter? I don't have the ability to go out and help the protesters because of my health, but I'm mad enough to consider joining those locally, if for only a little while, because this not only sucks, it's unconscionable.

[Lyric]

1. I feel your pain.

We're going through a complicated and scary situation with our natural gas bill right now. I live in terror every day, just waiting for the Dominion truck to pull up to the curb. They came to read the meter 4 days ago and I seriously almost had a heart attack.

This constant terror is just maddening. I'm about three steps from a total nervous breakdown. It's like every moment of my life has just become one great big festering ball of fear and panic and shame and pain.

:hug: :cry:

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. You're terrified? That's a good gauge that the US consumer economy is in perfect working order.

Terrified is exactly where we're all supposed to be.
Slaves to our homes, utilities and other expenses.

On the verge of nervous breakdown is precisely where the 1% would like us all to be.

[hyphenate]

11. I have gone through that to a certain extent

A few years ago, I was unable to pay my electric bill, and I lived in fear of them shutting it off. I found out the Fuel Assistance had an arrears plan, and I got back on track. I paid more than I needed to after that, so I'm ahead enough that I can skip paying a month if I have to. I'm glad I can do it, and I'm grateful that I didn't lose my power over the weekend like so many others did. My health being as it is, I would have to drag my ass to a shelter if that had happened.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Try contacting Joe Kennedy of Citizens Energy

http://www.citizensenergy.com/main/Home.html

Main Number: [phone]

I'm under the impression this is a national program, not only for Massachusetts.

[hyphenate]

3. Thanks for the number

They're still neotiating their own funds, and don't actually start until the middle of December.

I can function for a short while with my personal heater, but there are about 400,000 people without electricity here in MA. They're not going to even have the capability of using such a heater, and there are many others around New England without either, which is distressing. The elderly and small children are not accustomed to being left without essentials, and they could have even worse consequences as a result.

We know that we're the lowest priority on Congress' mind right now, but I never thought I'd have to worry about something like this before. Sad.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. You're welcome. Not to be Pollyanna, but maybe with enough calls like yours

they can re-prioritize and get the funds available ASAP as this is a valid emergency.

[hyphenate]

12. I think people are finally getting a whiff

of what's going on in this country, and they're realizing that the class struggle is upending the entire middle class. It's a wake-up call that is changing the face of politics. People are beginning to escape the illusion that we all have the potential for being part of the 1%, and returning to the reality of our own lives.

We can only hope this opens a door to a full force face-down between the classes in the country and brings down the arrogance of those who think that they're in charge of the
"slave labor" that are actually part of the middle class.

[unapatriciated]

4. the OWS are not the only ones they are trying to freeze out

[Bombero1956]

5. my daughter works for a Fuel Assistance program

she tells me that the agencies didn't get their income guidelines until yesterday at 5:30 PM and couldn't disperse funds until then. I'll see if I can find out anything more for you later.

[hyphenate]

13. Thanks

I got home too late to call the oil company again when I got home, but I'm going to call tomorrow morning to see if the situation has been resolved. It seems the local office might have gotten it worked out, but I won't know until then.

[SheilaT]

7. What you are experiencing is

what the Tea Party and the current Republican Party is all about. See, they would say it's all your own fault. You could certainly get a job that would pay enough so you could pay for fuel oil. Or, doing without will give you the incentive to get said job.

They have no compassion. They have no clue what it is like to be in your position. They apparently don't know, never have known anyone like you. So they assume everything that happens to you is your own fault.

Perhaps you could occupy the company offices?

[xchrom]

8. Recommend

[OnyxCollie]

9. "Humanitarian efforts" are only reserved for oil rich countries. nt

[Horse with no Name]

14. I know this was one of the things that Obama was willing to sacrifice

I'm sorry.:(