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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — As many Kansans are facing new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas Gas Service is encouraging customers to take advantage of the $900 million the federal government recently released to the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program."The LIEAP program application period in Kansas has been reopened," said spokesperson Dawn Tripp with KGS. "May 29 is the deadline. This is really targeting applicants who may have been denied after December 16, 2019, the first application period."Applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills and income eligibility requirements are set at 130% of the federal poverty level."We're also targeting those people who find themselves now impacted by COVID-19," Tripp said. "Maybe they've never applied for assistance before, but due to the pandemic, they are experiencing difficulty."The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates."In Kansas, approximately $9.3 million came to the state," Tripp said. "It's really about spreading the word that those funds are available."To apply, visit<a href="http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Energy/EnergyAssistance.aspx"> www.lieap.dcf.ks.gov</a>.

Kansas Gas Service encouraging LIEAP applications for those who qualify