In addition, Alabama Power offers the Rate Rider SSI
(Supplemental Security Income) Rate Rider is the
discount of the basic customer charge of $8.91, which
is available to those persons drawing SSI. You may be
entitled to both discounts if you meet the qualifications
for the 2.2% Electric Exemption program (shown above)
and are also receiving SSI. Apply at your local Alabama
Power Company office. Please note, the social security
number and name on your application should be exactly
as shown on your SSI records.
Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP is a federally funded program to help eligible lowincome
homeowners and renters meet their home heating
and/or cooling needs. There is a sign-up for heating costs
in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. Depending
on availability of funds, energy assistance may be available
at other times of the year.
Applicants must be the head of the household or their
spouse. Applicants 60 and older or disabled can authorize
in writing an individual to apply for him/her. Applicants
must provide proof of gross income for everyone in the
household for the month prior to sign-up, social security
numbers for all members of the household, and a copy of
the latest utility bill showing the account number.
If applicants do not have income for the previous month,
they must provide written verification from a reliable
source. It is important to have all required documents on
the sign-up date.
Monthly income limits change annually with the Federal
Poverty Guidelines. Each applicant must live in the
county where the application is completed.
If you are a resident of Barbour, Coffee, Geneva, Henry or
Houston counties contact your local Southeast Alabama
Community Action Partnership office. If you are a
resident of Covington or Dale counties contact your local
OCAP office. The phone numbers for these agencies can
be found on pages 39-40.
28 Senior Resource Directory 2020-2021
Project SHARE
Project SHARE provides emergency assistance to our
elderly and disabled neighbors who need help with their
energy bills. Project SHARE is funded by electric utility
customers who donate through their monthly bills.
Project SHARE is neighbors helping neighbors.
SHARE will pay an energy bill (electric, gas, propane,
butane or wood) once per heating season. In the cooling
season, SHARE will help people with medical emergencies
if funds are available.
To receive Project SHARE assistance you must be the
head of the household, age 62 or older or 100 percent
disabled, and under a certain income level.
To apply for assistance, contact the Project SHARE Main
Office at 205-439-7800.
To donate to Project SHARE, you may pledge to
contribute any amount and it will automatically be added
to your utility bill each month.
Free Garbage Pick-up
In 1989, Alabama adopted legislation requiring each
county or municipality to promote and provide for
mandatory solid waste collection. In part, the law was
established to curtail the illegal dumping and burning of
household garbage. Included in the law were provisions
to help fixed income households cope with the cost of
this service. Included are “households whose sole source
of income is Social Security or SSI benefits.”
To see if your county or municipality provides an exemption
from the payment of fees required under this article, contact
your local waste management agency; an environmentalist
can provide information about how, where and when to
apply.
Telephone Assistance
Lifeline
Lifeline provides a discount on monthly telephone service
(landline or wireless) for eligible subscribers. This discount
is currently set at $9.25 per month. Federal rules prohibit
eligible low-income subscribers from receiving more than
one Lifeline service per household. That is, eligible lowincome
subscribers may receive a Lifeline discount on