$1,000 financial aid in California to pay for energy services: Who qualifies and how to apply
Some California residents may be eligible for a $1,000 credit to pay for energy services. Find out if you qualify for the aid and how to apply for it.
California is the second most expensive state to live in in the United States, second only to Hawaii. According to a study by online bill payment provider DOXO, the average monthly bill expense for a household in the Golden State is $2,838. Due to this large amount, the state has various aid programs and credits to provide economic assistance to low-income residents.
The Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help or REACH offers credits of up to $1,000 for people who have debts on their gas bills and/or electricity. This program is possible thanks to financing from the Pacific Gas and Electricity Company (PG&E).
READ ALSO: Can you get tax credit if you don’t have a Social Security number?
Who is eligible for $1,000 in aid in California to pay for energy services?
To be eligible for the REACH credit of up to $1,000, you must meet various requirements, such as having an overdue balance of no more than $2,000 in a residential account with a utility company, and receiving a notice of the service being cut off. The resident must also not have received financial assistance from REACH in the last 12 months.
Because the program is intended for low-income people, applicants’ income must fall within a certain threshold. Here are the amounts according to the number of members that make up the families:
- 1 or 2 members: Income less than $39,440 per year
- 3 members: Income less than $49,720 per year
- 4 members: Income less than $60,000 per year
*Income minimum increases $10,280 for each additional member
READ ALSO: How much taxes do I have to pay the IRS?
How to apply for $1,000 aid in California?
Anyone who is interested in receiving REACH financial assistance can submit their application in two ways: Online, through the official website of the program, or in person, at the nearest PG&E agency. You can get more details about the REACH Utility Assistance Program from this website.