THE DANDELION CONNECTION
Ellicott Square Building., 295 Main Street Room 495, Buffalo, New York 14203
(716) 847-0655 ext. 402   dandelion@nls.org   www.nls.org
Volume 7 Issue 6                                                                   November/December, 1999
Copyright 1999, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

in this issue..
Help with utility bills
Healthwatch: Children and Stress
Low cost medical care
Maggie’s corner
Y2K
Poetry

Help with Utility Bills

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I CANNOT AFFORD MY UTILITY BILLS?

    For all of your utility bills, even those with past-due amounts, you should contact the utility company to work out a budget payment plan. Most companies are willing to stretch out your payments based on your income, while keeping your service on. Also, many of the programs described in this newsletter require that you attempt to negotiate a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) with your utility before they will accept your application. A deferred payment agreement is a payment schedule that the utility company will create for you based on your income that allows you to pay off your entire bill over time, while keeping your utilities on.

    First, you should check with your local phone provider for the cheapest times to use your phone. Bell Atlantic reports that by changing the times that you make calls you could save up to 67% on your regional and long distance phone bills. Second, if you are having trouble paying your bill completely, there are several payment options you could consider.

        Life Line: Eligible clients can pay $1 a month for basic service, plus regional and long distance fees. This program is best for those people who mostly receive calls or who make only a few calls each month.

        Basic Life Line Service: Similar to Life Line, this program blocks long distance calls from your phone, while giving you basic local service at a reduced fee.

        Reduced Installation: Clients that are eligible for Life Line Services are also eligible for the Reduced Installation Program. This program provides phone activation of a new line for $10, a savings of over $30.

Who is eligible for these programs? Anyone receiving public assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, HEAP, or SSI may be eligible. Low income clients not receiving public assistance may also be eligible based on availability.

How do I apply for these programs?

Contact Bell Atlantic at 1-800-555-5000

Are there any other discounted phone services I can get?

No, there are no discounts available for call-waiting, voice mail and other special services.

Call the Erie County Water Authority at 849-8451. They will set up a payment agreement for your bill as low as $10 a month. If there has been an emergency, they may reduce your total bill for you.

If you have questions about your water bill or service, you can call the PSC Hotline at 1-800-342-3377.

In certain circumstances, DSS will assist you with your water bills through your caseworker, or through emergency assistance.

        1) HEAP: First, before you apply for any other services, apply for Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). HEAP will pay past-due utility bills up to $610, twice a year, for eligible households.

Who is eligible for HEAP?

If you have children under 6 in the household, are over 60, are disabled, or are on public assistance, you are eligible for HEAP. There are income guidelines based on the size of your family as well. For example, the limit for a family of 1 is $1006 per month. Inquire about the income limits at 858-7644.

Is there anyone not eligible for HEAP?

If you live in subsidized housing and your heat is paid for, or if you are living in a group home, or if you are living in a temporary housing hotel, then you are not eligible for HEAP.

How do I apply for HEAP?

If you are over 60, call the Department of Aging at 858-7870. If you are under 60, apply directly at the Department of Social Services in Room 209 of the Rath Building, or call 858-7644. For general information call 1-800-NIAGARA.

Can HEAP help me in any other way with my Niagara Mohawk bills?

Yes. Once you have been approved for HEAP, and have used any available funds toward your Niagara Mohawk account, request the AFFORD/ABILITY Plan. Under this plan, Niagara Mohawk will establish a realistic budget for you to pay your bills each month. For every twelve months in a row that you have made your agreed upon payment, Niagara Mohawk will forgive 50% of your arrears, up to $250.

How do I apply for Afford/Ability? Call Niagara Mohawk at 1-800-443-1837.

        2) CARE AND SHARE: Will pay up to $200 a year to Niagara Mohawk for your overdue bills.

Who is eligible for Care and Share? If you are elderly, disabled, have had a medical emergency or are ineligible for any other assistance, you could be eligible. There are no income guidelines for Care and Share.

How do you apply for Care and Share? Call the American Red Cross at 886-7500. You will have to apply in person at their offices.

        1) NEIGHBOR-4-NEIGHBOR HEAT FUND: will give eligible clients up to $300 a year to pay for heating expenses.

Who is eligible? If you are over 55, have had a medical emergency or are disabled and live within a National Fuel territory, you are eligible.

How do I apply? Applications are taken in person at Catholic Charities (525 Washington Street, 856-4494), or at the Salvation Army (960 Main Street, 882-7000).

        2) LOW INCOME RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE: LIRA will decrease your current bill by 30 to 35%, and you will be put on a budget to repay the remainder of your bill. Each month that you pay on time during your budget, your outstanding balance can be decreased by 1/12 for 12 months. You can also get credit on your bill if you use less gas than you did last year.

Who is eligible for LIRA?

You must show proof of your income, and use at minimum 1850 ccf of fuel and have a past-due balance of $300 or more.

How do I apply for LIRA? Call National Fuel at 827-6007.

If you were in the hospital 10 or more days, you are qualified for the National Fuel Customer Assistance Plan. This plan gives you 30 days from your release date to pay your bills. If you are over 62, your plan may be extended for a longer time, even if you stayed in the hospital for less than 10 days.

How do I apply? Call 827-6007.

PROJECT SHARE: will pay up to $200 a year to NYSE&G for eligible clients.

Who is eligible? If you are elderly, disabled, have had a medical emergency, or are ineligible for other assistance, then you are eligible for Project Share. There are no economic guidelines.

How do I apply? Contact the American Red Cross at 886-7500.

Both the HEAP program and the Care and Share program will pay for repairs and new equipment. HEAP may also provide temporary shelter for you and your family while your heating is being repaired. Apply for HEAP at the Department of Social Services. For more information, call 1-800-NIAGARA. Apply to CARE AND SHARE for emergency funding, by calling 886-7500.

WRAP: Yes, Niagara Mohawk sponsors a program called WRAP that will provide free or discounted wall insulation, furnaces and weatherstripping to eligible clients.

Who is eligible for WRAP?

Anyone who is eligible for HEAP is qualified.

Yes, if you are a tenant and your landlord agrees to pay half of the weatherization costs, WRAP will pay the rest.

How do I apply for WRAP? Call Niagara Mohawk at 1-800-NIAGARA.

Yes. DSS may pay up to 4 months of your past-due utility bills, unless your bill is more than 10 months old. DSS will guarantee payment for the next 6 months if you are eligible for emergency assistance from DSS.

When you are receiving public assistance, DSS will help with a shut-off. Contact your caseworker immediately if you are threatened by a shut-off.

How do I apply for emergency assistance if I am not on Public Assistance?

Apply directly on the 1^st floor at the Rath Building.

Children & Stress

Children and Stress
by: Lenora Foote Herring

        One of the greatest misconceptions parents have is that their kids do not experience stress. Parents can make their child’s stress even worse by laughing or telling their child that they cannot possibly experience stress at their age. However, statistics show that stress among America’s youth is on the rise, and parents cause more stress on their kids by not believing they are feeling that way.

        Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, is the mental health adviser to the Clinton Administration. She conducted a teen panel on the stress boys and girls experience everyday. The two groups identified the same stressors, but prioritized them differently. Boys listed school, girls, friends, and appearance as their main pressure points, while girls identified boys, appearance, friends and school as their main pressure points, in that order. Boys find it increasingly stressful to meet the requirements of their peers of having a “cool” reputation, while girls often encounter a great deal of jealousy and competition amongst their peers. Both groups found athletic coaches to apply the greatest amount of pressure to perform, without any sympathy as to the academic requirements of the kids, or the desire to spend time with their friends and participate in social activities.

        Boys and girls also identified overextending themselves as another great stressor. Peers apply pressure to teens to act a certain way, dress in style, play the most popular sports, and be popular, while parents and teachers often cause stress on teens because of the academic requirements they demand.

        Children often experience stress because of their home environments. Children look to their parents first to identify ways to cope with stress and life in general. Because of this, parents and adults should use their best communication skills when there is a dilemma they must contend with. When parents have poor coping skills, there is a great chance their child will also have poor coping skills. The following are some suggestions for parents to effectively cope with stress and not allow it to overwhelm your lives, or negatively affect your children:

• Rate your priorities and do not put too much on yourself.
• Make time for yourself and do things you like to do.
• Avoid negative talk about yourself and anyone in the household.
• Know your children’s limitations and gradually teach them to respect different environments; do not force them into situations they are unable to handle.
• Spend time alone with a significant other.
• Divide the housework.
• Know the flexibility of your job.
• Listen to your children when they express feelings of stress.
• Form a network with other parents.
• Seek counseling for the entire family if stress is effecting your household and you are unable to control it.

With many people transitioning off of welfare due to employment, they are now facing a different sets of issues to deal with. One of these issues may be suspended utility accounts. If your utilities have been on voucher while you were on public assistance, a certain amount of debt may be temporarily withheld or “suspended.” Once your case is closed, you may open your utility bill only to find that a large amount of money is now due.

My tip? Open the bills that you get each month even if you are on voucher. Contact the utility companies to see where your account stands and try to pay even a small amount towards the debt each month. This will not only decrease your balance, but will help you build a good credit history with the utility company.

Low Cost Medical Care for people who are no longer eligible for Medicaid or who are uninsured.

Jericho Road Family Practice is a medical facility that is located at 184 Barton Street in Buffalo. Dr. Glick provides low cost health care for low-income clients. If you are uninsured and need help, medical services can be provided at up to a 75% discount!! Some doctors visits are as low as $7.00 a visit.

The office is open:

Monday and Friday                          8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesdays                                        12:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday                                      8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Thursdays                                        1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information call: 881-6191

Y2K:  Things to do when preparing for an emergency

        You’ve probably heard people talking about “Y2K”, or the Millennium Bug or the Y2K Computer Glitch and wondered what it meant. “Y2K” is a short way of saying the year 2000. Why is there concern? Because computer programmers in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s used two numbers instead of four to indicate the year, (i.e. 1963 was abbreviated to “63" and 1991 to “91”) .When the year 2000 arrives, this programming shortcut might cause some computers to perform as if “00" means 1900 instead of 2000. If computers aren’t programmed to distinguish between 1900 and 2000, a disruption in services and other things we take for granted could occur when January 1, 2000 arrives. Government agencies, financial institutions, and organizations that feel the Y2K bug will affect their operations have been taking steps to make corrections. When the necessary corrections have been made and tested successfully, an agency or organization is described as “Y2K-compliant or “Y2K-ready.”

        Despite intensive efforts to make business operations Y2K ready, no one knows exactly what will happen on January 1, 2000. The best alternative in light of this uncertainty is to prepare for what might happen. Whether you believe Y2K glitches will be dramatic or nonexistent, most of these steps should be taken to prepare. In fact, many of these suggestions here are good practices for any time of year. If electricity, gas, water, or sewer services failed, how could you adapt to the loss of these services for a week or two? If your family enjoys camping, you may already have some idea of how to “survive” without all of the modern conveniences.

        Gather food items that your family likes to eat that need minimal preparation, and do not need refrigeration. Canned and dried foods are good choices. Some canned items to consider are canned fruits, vegetables, juices, milk, soup, and meat. Dried food items to consider are sugar, flour, powdered milk, spices, cereal, pasta, rice, crackers, and fruit (raisins, apricots, prunes). Other items to consider are peanut butter, jelly, vegetable oil, and hard candy. Methods of heating food include propane or kerosene stoves with fuel, outdoor charcoals or propane grills, candle warmers, and fondue pots.

        Expect to use at least one gallon of water per person per day and store at least a two week supply for each family member. Water can be stored in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers. Clean plastic soft drink containers are good choices.

        Elderly family members may need special foods, medical items or specialized products such as denture care products. Babies probably will require special foods or care needs such as disposable bottle liners, disposable diapers, toys and medication measuring spoons. Anyone with an ongoing health problem will need to have medicines on hand (at least a two week supply) such as inhalers for asthma patients, or insulin for diabetics. A First Aid Kit should always be on hand and can be purchased from your local Red Cross. The kit may include petroleum jelly, aspirin, latex gloves, antacid, syrup of ipecac, thermometer, tweezers, bandages, alcohol and peroxide.

        For communication, use radios (keep plenty of batteries), walkie-talkies and cell phones. Have a copy of medical information of each family member, such as Immunization records, any major surgeries, allergies, medications, doctors names and numbers. Keep printed copies of all bank statements, canceled checks, car payments, identification information (birth certificates, social security cards, etc.).

        Be safe, but remember to also have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!!

Always Have a Dream

Forget about the day when it’s been cloudy,
but don’t forget your hours in the sun.
Forget about the times you’ve been defeated,
but don’t forget the victories you’ve won.

Forget about mistakes that you can’t change now,
but don’t forget about the lessons that you’ve learned.
Forget about misfortunes you encounter,
but don’t forget the times your luck has turned.

Forget about the days when you’ve been lonely,
but don’t forget about the friendly smiles you have seen.
Forget about the plans that didn’t work out right,
but don’t forget to always have a dream.

Author Unknown

Free Tickets

Child and Family Services Theatre for Change is presenting the play “Tough Choices” at Buffalo State’s Rockwell Hall . This play addresses the pressures and challenges that children and teens are faced with everyday and the tough choices that they are often forced to make. The play’s content is appropriate for kids grades 5-9. Tickets are free and the performances are April 3, 4, & 5 at 10 a. m. Seats are limited - call for reservations at 878-3032.

Happy Holidays from everyone at Project Dandelion!!

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