POMEROY — Meigs and Gallia County residents can look forward to less restrictive eligibility guidelines used for determining qualification to participate in Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

The new guidelines, announced Friday by the Ohio Department of Development, are geared to help heat more homes this winter by making more residents eligible for HEAP assistance. The HEAP program for residents of Meigs and Gallia County is administered through the Gallia-Meigs Community Action office in Cheshire.

According to Lisa Patt-McDaniel, director of the Ohio Department of Development, residents with an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines now qualify. This is an increase from the previous level of 175 percent.

“This important change aligns with the Governor’s Anti-Poverty Task Force recommendation to raise income guidelines for programs that assist Ohio’s unemployed and underemployed population,” she said. “By increasing the income levels we will be able to assist more eligible households through HEAP benefits.”

The state is expecting to receive approximately $220 million in Home Energy Assistance Program funds for the upcoming program year to assist eligible low-income Ohioans meet the cost of home energy bills, Patt-McDaniel noted.

She explained that the program, administered by the Department’s Office of Community Services, pays a one-time payment for the current winter heating season noting that households with elderly or disabled members may qualify for a larger amount of assistance.

HEAP, which is administered by Community Action agencies, provides assistance once per heating season to eligible households that are disconnected, threatened with disconnection, or have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel.

To be eligible for home energy assistance, the total household income of an applicant must be at or below 200 percent of the 2009 federal poverty guidelines. They are for the size of household and the total household income as follows: 1 up to $21,660; 2 up to $29,140-; 3 up to $36,620; 4 up to $44,100; 5 up to $51,580; 6 up to $59,060; 7 up to $66,540; 8 up to $74,020. For households with more than eight member, add $7,480 per member to the yearly income.

Applications for the 2009 — 2010 Home Energy Assistance Program are now being accepted. Qualified Ohioans can seek assistance at any of Ohio’s 53 local service providers. which for Meigs and Gallia residents is the Community Action Agency in Cheshire.

For more information about HEAP or to apply for assistance, call the Community Action Agency office in Cheshire, the toll free HEAP hotline at 1-800-282-0880, Monday through Friday, or visit the energyhelp.ohio.gov.