SOME Americans could be eligible for a one-time distribution to help with energy bills as winter approaches.
The direct payment opportunity comes as part of funding for federal utility assistance programs.
Thousands of Americans could get help paying for their energy bills this winter (stock image)[/caption]
The funds go toward heating and electric costs (stock image)[/caption]
Residents in Detroit, Michigan, experiencing financial hardship could get the money soon, per Planet Detroit.
It’s all thanks to several initiatives, including Michigan’s State Emergency Relief Program.
The program helps certain residents cover energy bill costs due to emergencies, including “energy-related utility shut-offs,” starting October 1 until the funds set aside for the program run out.
Qualifying candidates would receive $500 for heat-related expenses and $500 for electric costs, a total of $1,000.
Those who seek the benefit are urged to apply as soon as possible, according to Sugar Law Center energy justice lawyer Liz Jacob.
She emphasized that funds for the Michigan State Emergency Relief Program ran out about three months earlier than usual last year due to the volume of eligible applicants looking to get assistance.
“So many folks are struggling to afford basic necessities, utilities, and food right now, as inflation rises, and so many folks are staying in very stagnant jobs,” Jacob told Planet Detroit.
The money for this year should theoretically last until September 2025, but only time will tell.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested Detroit residents looking to apply for the $1,000 credit should do so through an online application with MI Bridges.
They will be required to create an account before filling out and submitting the application and will likely wait around ten days to hear back.
There is an option to apply in person through a local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services office.
To successfully apply, whether in-person or online, applicants will need to provide some personal information, including their Social Security number, State ID, and documents verifying income and expenses.
Those could include bank statements or proof of rent and must be less than 30 days old.
Those who get approved for the $1,000 benefit will go through another brief process.
How does Guaranteed Income work?
Guaranteed Income and Universal Basic Income programs have taken off in popularity recently.
After the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan of 2021 sent stimulus money to local governments, dozens began testing guaranteed income (GI) systems.
The specifics vary, but GI typically involves payouts to people with low incomes. Unlike traditional welfare, there are no job requirements, drug tests, or other strings attached.
Some have pushed for a Universal Basic Income (UBI), which would go to everyone regardless of how much money they make at work. Alaska has used a similar system since the 1970s.
Proponents say this alleviates poverty while incentivizing work, unlike classic welfare, which cuts benefits from people who begin earning “too much” money to qualify.
Opponents argue such a system is too expensive to function on a large scale and suggest Americans should avoid becoming reliant on government money.
With some cities heralding the success of GI programs, some Republican-led states have moved to ban them. States like Texas and Iowa, for example, have undermined major spending plans by pushing against GI.
REVIEW AND DISTRIBUTE
A specialist from the Detroit Health Department will first review candidates applications with them, and then a down-payment may be required, according to Jacob.
The down-payment goes toward a portion of the energy bill, with proof of the transaction being uploaded to the MI Bridges account.
After verification, the $1,000 is sent directly to DTE Energy and the Detroit Water and Sewage Department for the remaining outstanding amount on residents’ utility bills.
Other programs are also benefiting American families in different states this year.
Some California residents can get $725 a month in “support” through a new guaranteed income program.
Certain families in Atlanta, Georgia, could also have qualified for $1,000 monthly distributions as part of a new “music” program.
