The pandemic’s pain goes on and on: Unemployment continues unabated. Moratoriums against utility shutoffs have expired. Schools have been forced to continue delivering education online.

It’s a dangerous combination for many households that have watched past-due utility bills mount over the past several months.

LIHEAP — the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — can help many families.

The state received an additional $15 million for the fund to help provide relief to more households, doubling the maximum benefit to $600. The Mid America Assistance Coalition is distributing LIHEAP funds to help families in Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties.

To apply for aid, go to: maacliheap.org.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be responsible for paying home cooling costs,

• Have $3,000 or less in bank accounts, retirement accounts, or investments,

• Have a household income of 135 percent or less of the federal poverty level (a monthly income of $2,400 for a family of three or $2,897 for a family of four) and,

• Be a U.S. citizen or legally admitted for permanent residence.

"More families than ever are struggling with financial hardships and may not have enough resources to pay the electric bill to cool their household and keep food on the table,” said Jennifer Tidball, Acting Director, and Department of Social Services.

To apply, families in Jackson, Clay or Platte counties can go to maacliheap.org and download the application. Or any Missouri resident can go to the Department of Social Service’s energy assistance page.

More information, including links to relief programs from Evergy and Spire is available on LINC’s utility bills assistance page.