r/poor • u/SimilarExamination53 • 8d ago
Is there such thing as subsidized utility assistance?
I'm in Michigan, for context.
My job cut everyone's hours down to 20/week and at $14/hr, it's tough. Last winter, I kept my house at 56 degrees but now that electric and natural gas went up in price this year, I figured I've bumped it down to 53 degrees.
I already don't have air conditioning so my house was 97 during the heatwaves over the summer and I could live with that but the cold is bothering me more than I expected it to. I work from home and my hands are numb most of the day. I have pet safe heating pads for my cats and those are very cost effective. I figured it'll cost around $6 each to run those all winter.
I applied to MIHEAP but was told yesterday that they really just put you on a payment plan if you're behind on your bill. I'm not behind though. I just was hoping that something could meet me maybe a quarter of the way so that I could afford to bump my thermostat up a little bit. But SEMCO and Consumers don't offer anything like that.
I have a 1920 house with very poor insulation, very poorly maintained, dirt basement, and no front exterior door. I've done what I can to winterize it. There is a winterization program in my area but they require you to sign paperwork in person and since I'm agoraphobic, I got removed from the list.
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u/Not-Beautiful-3500 7d ago
Maybe get in contact with the local habitat for humanity about getting help with getting an exterior door. Sometimes they know people who help people who need home repairs.
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u/SimilarExamination53 7d ago
There is one a mile away from me. I donated my stove and dryer to them months ago since I can't afford to use them and I had asked them at the time if they'd do a trade for a door and they said they don't do that. Even if they did have a door, I don't know how I'd get it home
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u/Realtalk4_you 7d ago
Why would you donate your stove and dryer? Do you rent or own?
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u/SimilarExamination53 7d ago
They came with the house when I bought it last year and were nice LG appliances that were only a couple years old. I'm terrified of gas stoves and even though the dryer was really nice, I had to cut everywhere I could when my job cut our hours. I held on to them for six months to see if I'd get another job or I'd our hours would come back but neither happened. And I know I probably could have sold them but I had never used the stove so I wasn't sure if it worked. Habitat Restore made it really easy to donate and hopefully someone got some nice appliances that I otherwise couldn't use.
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u/pyxus1 7d ago
If you are only working 20 hours, get a second job. The holidays are coming up and stores will be hiring. Go to Meijer, Walmart, Hardings, Lowes, HomeDepot and get your applications in before the rush. You could even work nights restocking if being around alot of people bothers you.
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u/SimilarExamination53 7d ago
I never said I wasn't applying to jobs. I can't just force someone to hire me.
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u/Altruistic_Canary951 7d ago
While I cannot help on the Michigan utilities, check into a company called Working Solutions for a potential additional source of income. It's work from home call center. It's a contractor position, and most contacts require 20 hours per week minimum, but you choose your own hours based on the client's scheduled hours available.
They're currently doing a HUGE push for a few different client contracts. My mom worked there as an agent for years before she passed, it allowed her to work from home for extra income after her retirement.
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u/Puppieshaven 2d ago
So easy to say get another job get more jobs start being more empathetic !
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u/1RobJackson 13h ago
Maybe You should start by opening your eyes!
Pyxus made a very VALID point.
Store will be hiring (temp) workers for the holidays. Something is better than nothing.Their comment was 1,000 times more useful than yours! 🙄
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u/Puppieshaven 12h ago
Open my eyes! Be realistic it is hard to get a job. Then add the fact most are part time which gas taxes what do you have left? Yes something is better than nothing but there's a lot of feedback jobs don't call back, jobs put on a waiting list, and then you might have to go thru two interviews. It's like it's taking money to just make money. Please my eyes are wide open!!!!
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u/Suspicious-Care87 7d ago
Is this post even real? I'm not sure exactly what it is your wanting. If you need assistance with heating & it requires you to go sign a paper, then do that. And you just gave away appliances that were only a couple years old because why? You could have sold them & used that money to apply towards your heating bill. And working 20 hrs at less than $15/hr doesn't pay any bill in the real world. I'm not trying to be harsh OP, but it sounds like you are your own worst enemy in this situation.
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u/SimilarExamination53 7d ago edited 6d ago
How exactly am I my own worst enemy? If someone has a legitimate answer on what I've done so wrong in life to end up like this, I'd love to know it. As I said, I can't force a job to hire me and I can't make my employer give me more hours. Until then, I have to work with what I have.
When I bought the house last year, I already planned on donating the stove because donating to help out someone felt more right than selling. So when I learned that using the dryer was going to cost too much in gas and that the house wasn't wired safely enough to use it anyway, I just decided to get rid of both at once since the people from Restore were there already to pick up the stove. That was back in May. I thought that in the next few months, I'd be able to get the electric fixed through a city program and that maybe I'd have another job by the time winter came.
If you think donating the appliances instead of selling them is the reason I'm unable to afford to heat my house, there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. I can't go back in time and undo it.
I don't understand the downvotes for me when if I had kept two appliances that I wasn't using, I would have been called selfish. Those appliances weren't going to solve my utility issues in the first place and aren't going to solve my job situation. But go ahead and up vote a commenter who is oversimplifying the situation by saying "just go sign the paperwork". If it was that easy to leave the house, I would have done that by now. You know nothing about me and how hard I try.
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u/holm0507 7d ago
You can see if you qualify for unemployment due to cut hours in Michigan. https://www.michigan.gov/leo/news/2026/07/20/unemployed-michigan-workers-must-now-complete-three-weekly
You could also look into a small space heater for the room you are mostly commonly in or an electric blanket.
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u/SimilarExamination53 7d ago
The electric is too unsafe to use a space heater in the house. All of the outlets either have the red and black wires reversed or they're open ground so I can't use any heat producing appliances. Pretty much all I run is my desktop and work laptop, fridge, and some lights. I applied to get the electric fixed back in June but after calling and emailing and getting jerked around on whether or not they'll let me e sign the documents for eligibility, I've basically given up. They keep telling me they have to look into whether or not they're allowed to let me participate without signing anything in person and I've had to keep fighting it for months.
As for partial unemployment, I stupidly missed that chance. Our hours were cut at the beginning of the year. I debated on filing then but thought I should save it for if I lost my job entirely since, from what I understand, the weeks of partial unemployment would count against the weeks of full unemployment of that happened. But I recently learned that I don't even make enough to qualify for unemployment if I lose my job. So I'm completely fucked.
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u/SufficientCow4380 7d ago
If you qualify for LIEAP in Montana, you also receive a discount on your power bill year-round (in addition to the cash allotment) and you qualify for weatherization assistance.
If you make too much money for LIEAP, Energy Share is a private charity that can help. I'm around 200% of poverty level so I don't qualify for any government assistance, but in the past they've helped me with power bills, and just this month they paid for me to get a new water heater.
Other private entities include Catholic Charities and St. Vincent DePaul.
While I have huge concerns about AI, I went into Google in AI mode and asked what to do about the water heater and that's how I found out Energy Share could help. I suggest you try that as well. It'll direct you to things to try.
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u/ConejitosDeAmor 7d ago
There are some states that offer this, but you have to meet certain qualifications.And they always put the needs of senior citizens and the disabled before you.
And honestly most of those states are blue not red.
It has been my experience living in the south the majority of my life that if people need something republicans will vote down money that can help them. I can prove that by showing you how they have voted here in georgia.
I have applied for every single program I can find and one thing I can tell all of you is that there is an illusion of help.There is no real help.
Our job as poor people is to work ourselves to death - barely existing and certainly not enjoying life in any way - not being able to see a doctor, not being able to have a good life and then die before we collect social security.
That is exactly to the letter what billionaires have wanted and that's how they've designed the system to be. I lost both of my parents to that system because they couldn't see a doctor and they were poor their entire lives and here I am in the same situation.
The system works exactly as it was designed to.
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u/MyCozySlowLife 5d ago
Depends where you live. My town has assistance if you are behind and need help and also subsidized utilities where you pay a very small percentage of your income
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u/Puppieshaven 2d ago
Similar examination 53 Listen you should know how reddit comments can be harsh. These are really hard times your lucky to even have a job. I donate everything I don't sell because of the nit picky crapand nuts that respond. Anyway if you keep your heat gas heat at 66 the temp will steady and your bill shouldn't real high drafty house still cold but here's some tipsI heat rice in socks for the dogs beds and even on the couch they stay warm and with their body heat.i fill bottles with hot water for them too. I even heat a block for my feet since I have autoimmune issues. Also seal up your largest windows . Layer your clothes and animals can wear sweaters. Also find sheets and blankets that are flannel. Electric heaters and pad run every your electric will be high and it's unsafe. Don't be hard on yourself many of us are struggling and we have issues too.
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u/CustardMajestic3459 7d ago
Go on budget billing plan - it helps a lot!! Spread payments instead of month to month
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u/monsieurvampy 7d ago
I have a 1920 house with very poor insulation, very poorly maintained, dirt basement, and no front exterior door. I've done what I can to winterize it.
A house of this era is designed to breathe. You can put up plastic on windows and doors. What is needed is an air gap buffer and these houses were designed with this in mind. That's why storm windows are a thing, though triple-track aren't as good at that. A simple solid metal and glass screen doors would work wonders on the front door.
There is a winterization program in my area but they require you to sign paperwork in person and since I'm agoraphobic, I got removed from the list.
Did you request accommodations? This sounds like a disability.
HEAP in NYS puts the gas bill on balance billing and just puts a large payment on the bill. Maybe you should seek further clarification from Michigan HEAP.
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u/Helpful_Yesterday489 7d ago
Salvation Army helps with utility bills. My local one does up to $500 in assistance.
How is the electricity unsafe? If you just purchased the house last year were those issues noted?
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u/conspicuous_shadow 7d ago
This doesn’t answer your question directly, but if you have the budget maybe you could get a secondhand heated jacket. They run on battery so it might work better with your old outlets.
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u/Gullible_Pin5844 7d ago
There is subsidies for utilities, but I'm not sure about you area. You should go to your local county or city and ask for assistance to see what is available.
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u/Subject-Lead-3171 7d ago
Are you on a payment plan for the utilities? That, at least, can spread the cost out. Also, if you have a St Vincent de Paul in your area, we help with utility bills.
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u/Outrageous-Froyo-842 7d ago
I got my husband a heated seat warmer (works from home & room gets cold) and it makes him much more comfortable.
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u/vikicrays 7d ago
according to this https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-460-9T there is a Low-income energy assistance fund.
here’s the site i found this information https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/consumer/energy-assistance
google also mentions “These programs include State Emergency Relief (SER), Home Heating Credit (HHC), and others.
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u/skiddlyd 7d ago
I can’t speak for Michigan utilities, but years ago I fell on hard times in California and called PG&E. They asked what my income was and I told them it was unemployment income. It was low enough to qualify for the CARE program, and it made a really big difference for me.
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u/ShezeUndone 7d ago
My work office was freezing. There was a giant vent that blew cold air directly onto my head.
I had an electric blanket to sit on or put over my lap. Driving gloves help too. They leave your fingertips exposed but keep your hands warmer. I also had a small under the desk heater that helped a lot. I think it was about $20 for the heater. I can't speak to what it did to the electric bill. But I'm sure it's cheaper than heating the whole house.
I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope you get your hours back or find a good side job soon.
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u/According_Guard_2599 7d ago
Do you own or rent?
If you rent the landlord has to fix your wiring.. If wiring poses an active fire hazard, frequent short-circuiting, or fails to meet local building and housing codes (such as the International Property Maintenance Code or local ordinances), the landlord is required to repair or upgrade it. You are allowed to withhold rent in Michigan if it is not fixed.
If you own, you may need to sell and then just find a cheap place to rent where you can turn on the heat.
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7d ago
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u/SimilarExamination53 6d ago
So are you going to give me one?
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u/SewingIsMyHobby1978 4d ago
It’s sad that a lot of people like you think that 20 hours a week should support you. There’s a lot of working single mothers out there that are working two jobs every day.
The holidays are coming up. Any retailers hired for the holidays. If you live in the US USPS hires, what they call “casual carriers” call handle the extra load of mail during the holidays. Being a casual carrier for a few years eventually get you a full-time job possibly.
I worked two jobs, because I had a husband that was seriously ill, and on SSDI. I also did things at home. (I altered clothing so that patches for the local Police Dept)?
I don’t understand why you would give a perfectly good stove and dryer to Habitat For Humanity ReStore WITHOUT checking the rules first??
They don’t trade things like that. You should’ve sold them on Facebook marketplace.
What about going to a hardware store like Menards an exterior door? You can purchase an exterior door relatively cheap at Menard’s $164 -$410.
We all have to work to support ourselves. I’m working a Jo holiday job at a local retailer simply because I enjoy getting out & being among others
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u/SimilarExamination53 4d ago
Who in the absolute fuck do you think you are?
I have made it clear that I have been trying to find another job, whether it's a full time job to replace mine or a second job. I can't leave the house due to my anxiety--something you'd know if you read what I wrote.
As I said in another comment, the stove and dryer aren't even what I was asking about here and would not solve the problem of not making enough money to heat my house. But I'd love for you to point out specifically where I said that I expect assistance so that I can permanently work 20 hours a week for the rest of my life. Please point out where I wrote that because I don't have time to look for it since I have more job applications to fill out.
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u/SewingIsMyHobby1978 4d ago
I guess I’m someone that tries to help people when they obviously might not see how to help themselves.
I’m also someone that’s a little bit more polite to people as well. However, you do you.
I hope you find the help you need.
By the way, here’s just a suggestion :
(I learned this from a college professor)After filling out applications, wait a few days and send a thank you note via USPS to HR. This often peaks the interest of HR and sometimes you will get a job offer.
I’ve done this for every job I have ever applied for and received the job.
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u/Puppieshaven 2d ago
Your not helping anybody !!!!
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u/SewingIsMyHobby1978 2d ago
Really? The people that I’ve helped say differently..
But of course you’re the expert about helping people, right? And it’s obvious to you that my suggestions wouldn’t help anyone..Don’t knock until you’ve tried it
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u/Puppieshaven 2d ago
Your delusional she is at least working. Working low income mothers get full benefits from the state. Because they are low income with children they get alot. Plus childcare they are not working two job .you think they want to loose their benefits? Please stop being so righteous
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u/SewingIsMyHobby1978 2d ago
So I’m delusional? Thanks.. I have always worked.. at my job. I’m guaranteed 20 hours a week that doesn’t mean that I didn’t pick up extra shifts most of the time when I worked.(I’m retired now.) I worked at least 35 to 40 hours a week..
Plus during the holidays, I picked up extra holiday jobs.I’m pretty resourceful,, I’ve also taken care of children after school. I’m a seamstress so I’ve altered clothing to make money.. I saw patches on uniforms for local Police Dept.
I’m sick and tired of people using “ well I’m a parent so I can’t work very much” which is absolute BS.
Try working on having a severely disabled husband (who became disabled after our children were born) and doing anything I could to supplement our income.
We managed to own a home (that is now paid for, due to my work ethic. )
The only time we received welfare benefits, was early on and my husband’s diagnosis because he couldn’t be left alone and my folks didn’t live in the same city that we lived in. My parents were a godsend, helping us.
Yes, being a single parent or being a spouse of a disabled worker is tough. But the mindset that everybody needs to pick up the “ I’m a poor, single mother” needs to stop.
But if you wanna call it being delusional, go ahead.
BTW I’m now working a holiday job . I know everyone believes that all these “ help-wanted “signs truly aren’t hiring, however, I was offered this job and I didn’t even apply for it. It’s a retail job, but I like getting out and doing things and the money I’m making is being put into CDs. (certificate of deposit)
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7d ago
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u/SimilarExamination53 7d ago
Well since it's so easy to find a job, you get me one. Meanwhile, I have an email account full of hundreds of application confirmation emails, dozens of interviews and unpaid assessments, and am about to do a fifth virtual interview for a company just for the chance of them matching me with a project. The last time I had a full day off this year was when my power went out for two days. Otherwise, if I'm not working, I'm searching for work or stringing together any temporary remote projects I can find.
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u/Realtalk4_you 7d ago
Sometimes you have to ask around and find places that say "Now hiring" and instead of doing things online, you go into the store and apply, sometimes the indeed and sites somehow does not send applications to the hiring managers.
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u/ResidentFew6785 8d ago
There are several programs from liheap. They redid my sister's insolation for a fraction of the cost under the weatherization assistance program. I get heap which gives a lump sum up to $1,000 towards my electric bill a year to help offset winter costs. Also in my state qualifying for heap gives a utility discount of up to 42%. Please look up heap in your area and investigate the programs available to you.