WIC

Women, Infant, Child (WIC) is another federal government funded program for lower income Women, Infants, and Children. The Florida WIC program provides the following resources at no cost to qualified individuals and families. Access healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and counseling, as well as referrals for health care and medical services from the Department of Children and Families.

Florida KidCare can offer free or low cost public health insurance coverage for children from birth through age 18, even if the parent is employed. There are four main components of the program as indicated below.Medikids covers children age 1 through 4.Healthy Kids if for children who are aged 5 through 18.Another wide ranging public resource is Children’s Medical Services, which is for Florida children birth through 18 who have special health care needs.Medicaid is also offered. This is for children birth through 18. A child who has other health or dental insurance may still qualify for Medicaid.

Florida utility bill and cooling bill assistance programs

Florida utility bill and cooling bill assistance programs.

Low income customers in Florida may be able to receive financial assistance from local electric, gas, and utility companies. In addition, many charities and non-profits also may be able to help.

Below you will find information on how to get help for paying electric, cooling, and utility bills in Florida. The major utility companies in Florida administer the assistance programs, and often times work with local charity organizations and non-profits who administer the funds. Also, learn how to conserve energy from weatherization and other methods, and learn where to apply to for help.

City of Lake Worth Utilities - Donations from customers and local businesses are used to assist needy families with paying their utility and cooling bills from a program known as Share to Care. This assistance fund is administered by the local Salvation Army branch in your county. 561-582-6686

City of Leesburg- An assistance program known as Citizens Utility Relief Effort (C.U.R.E.) provides utility bill help to customers who are unable to pay their monthly bill. At most $100 per year in financial aid is provided. The assistance fund may be turned to by customers in the event they experience an unexpected illness or injury or a loss of employment. Call 352-787-1156 to learn more or apply for help.

City of Tallahassee Utilities - One-time cash grants and financial assistance payments are provided for eligible customers from a program known as Project Share. Call 850-222-2043 or 850-891-4968.

Clay County Utility offers help to the disabled and seniors from plans such as Golden Opportunities. Another option is Lend a Hand, which is available for low income customers facing a crisis. Those Florida households that qualify may be provided a grant for their electric bills. Learn more.

Clay Electric Cooperative - Runs a program known as Project Share. Your local Salvation Army branch handles the distribution of the funds from the program and determines eligibility. You will need to call the Salvation Army in your town or county to apply.

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative - Operation Roundup is a resource that provides funds and cash grants that will be given to local families or individuals. Call 1-800-858-8845.

 

Florida Power & Light Company - The Care to Share Program will offer up to $500 once per year in energy, utility and cooling bill assistance to families and customers who are in an emergency or crisis situation and if the customer is unable to pay their monthly electric bill. Call your local Salvation Army branch.

FPL also offers several other financial assistance and grant programs. Some are funded by the government, and others provide direct cash assistance to customers. Read more Florida Power and Light low income programs.

Fort Pierce Authority - Project Care is a program that assists utility customers who are in need of emergency utility bill assistance. Contributions to this program are made by local businesses, individuals, religious and civic organizations. Dial 1-800-330-8870

FPU, or Florida Public Utilities - Most of the financial assistance they offer is in the form of, and referrals to, local non-profits such as the Salvation Army. Programs are offered for both natural gas and electric customers. The company does offer some of their own resources though, such as payment plans and budget billing options. Continue with financial support from Florida Public Utilities.

Gainesville Regional Utilities - Funds may be available to pay for emergency energy-related costs from the Project Share assistance program. The money can pay for expenses including gas, cooling, electric or oil bills. Grants can even cover the repair of vital cooling as well as heating equipment. Preference for the cash grants is given to applicants who are 60 years of age and older or who are disabled, handicapped or who are low income or not economically self-sufficient. Call 352-376-1743 for aid.

Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Individuals, local business, and customer donations fund a program known as Operation Roundup. The program is run by the Glades Electric Charitable Trust, Inc., which provides grants and funds for families, individuals, and even local non-profit or charitable organizations. Funds may be used for more than just paying utility bills, and can cover such expenses as food, rent, shelter, clothing, and health care and medical needs. 800-226-4024.

Gulf Power - Provides crisis and emergency assistance to those who need help with paying energy bills from a program known as Project Share. In addition, emergency assistance can pay for the repairs to air-conditioning as well as heating equipment, and other energy-related needs. The assistance program will help the disabled, the elderly, the sick and others who are experiencing financial hardship or short term emergency. Contact a local Salvation Army branch in your town for assistance.More details.

JEA - Emergency and crisis energy bill related assistance for disabled, elderly, and low-income citizens is offered by the Neighbor To Neighbor program. Call 1-800-683-5542

JEA provides several other financial assistance programs to low income customers. They can offer help with both electric and water bills. A focus is also on assisting senior citizens in the region. Some of the resources offered range from federal government assistance from LIHEAP to payment plans. More onutility bill assistance from JEA.

 

If your utility company is not listed here, find additional ways how to get help with electric bills.

Kissimmee Utility Authority - Receive assistance from the Good Neighbor Energy Fund. Cash grants may be offered to help customers in emergency situations. 877-KUA-7700

Lakeland Electric - The Project Care utility bill assistance program provides electric bill assistance to customers and seniors who are 60 and older and/or disabled.

Low income government assistance - Resources can help pay your monthly utility and cooling bills, or provide financial assistance in an emergency. The federal government low income energy bill assistance program, weatherization, and EHEAP (for seniors) are the primary government resources. Click here.

Ocala Electric Utility - This energy and cooling bill assistance program, which is known as Neighbors Who Care Program, was created to help pay utility bills for those customers who are unable to maintain utility service due to financial hardships or a short term emergency. All funds are administered locally by a charity or community action agency. 1-800-893-4760

Orlando Utilities Commission - Funds are collected by OUC and turned over to the Community Services Network (CSN), which then runs the grant program. The money from the local, non-profit community assistance agency pays money to qualified clients. Maximum household benefit of $300 for a one-year period is offered from the Project Care program. Dial 407-849-2356

Peoples Gas - This is Florida’s leading natural gas company. Their service territory covers every major city in the state. Every year thousands of low income customers receive financial assistance, payment plans, and energy conservation from the company.More.

Progress Energy - Low to moderate-income families and individuals that are facing unexpected energy costs or bills can receive help through the Energy Neighbor Fund. All monies are distributed through local social charities as well as service agencies to pay for electricity, gas, cooling, oil or wood expenses and bills. Call 1-800-700-8744

Progress Energy also provides Florida customers other options, such as medical hardships and disconnection moratoriums. Read about additionalassistance programs from Progress Energy.

 

Sumter Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Runs the SECO Angel Fund. Both utility company and customer donations are administered by local agencies, charities, energy and emergency assistance and other community projects. Contact a local agency or Salvation Army for an application. 352-793-3801

Tampa Electric - An assistance program known as SHARE helps elderly customers who are low-income and/or medically disabled pay their energy-related bills. Call 813-226-0055 to learn more or apply. Orclick here for more details.

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative - Member donations as part of Operation Roundup provide financial assistance and cash grants to members of the community who have suffered a catastrophic event. Contact a WREC office to get help.

Child care assistance in Florida

Child care assistance in Florida.

Low income families in Florida can receive help for paying child care costs from the School Readiness Program. The state can provide grants and various forms of financial assistance so that parents can pay for early education expenses. The program offers qualified, lower income families financial assistance through a wide variety of resources. Some of the services in Florida include extended-day or year end care. Another option is for school age students. The overall goal is to help parents in becoming financially self-sufficient and to also help the child get access to the education that they need.

This program will assist parents and provide them with the ability to become financially self – sufficient by either gaining a new skill or starting a new job. It will keep parents participating in educational or training activities, or it may allow them to remain in the workforce. It also provides parents information about family well being and child development. Florida will in effect help working families afford quality early learning services.

Another objective is to allow young children to be successful in school in the future. Many studies show that by attending day or child care, that the experience will better prepare young children and infants to start kindergarten ready to learn or grow. However it is always important to remember that parents are their child's first teacher and people should not rely on a school or teacher.

A number of conditions need to be met by applicants, including income limits. School readiness funds in Florida are intended to help low income and working poor families with children who at risk of future school failure. Many of the families that enroll are recipients of temporary cash assistance who meet federal government work requirements. Others who tend to benefit are parents who are verified homeless, teenage parents, and victims of domestic violence. Migrant families and farm workers may also benefit from the program as well as working poor families of children with special healthcare needs and disabilities.

Parents who enroll for the School Readiness Program need to also be either participating in an educational activity or employed. For example, you can be attending trade school or college at least 20 hours per week and still qualify for assistance with child care. Families who do enroll may need to pay a co payment based on family size and their total income, so minimal fees may be required to be paid by enrollees.

 

Benefits of the School Readiness program

It will take into account the child's level of emotional, physical, social, and intellectual development. Working with the parent, the state will, by paying for their child care, prepare children to become ready for school. Parents will also benefit as they will gain additional information on development and other areas of interest.

The school will provide a developmental screening for children. If needed, the program will also offer referrals to specific health and educational specialists across Florida. These different government and non-profit services work in cooperation with other programs for young children such as Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, Head Start, and also the Early Head Start program. You will also get help with choosing a high quality, affordable child care provider that operates in your town or county.

The School Readiness program offers young children from disadvantaged families with access to quality early learning experiences. This will help prepare them for later school success. It will help ensure that every student, no matter their race or background, will receive world class early education and access to affordable and quality child care. The state will also work to ensure that all participating providers offer services that either meet or ideally exceed the requirements of the law. Children may be able to gain one or more of the following.

Character development programs, including literacy development. This is possible through individual education plans. Infants and young children will be able to enroll into early learning activities and instruction.

 

The Florida School Readiness program is open to eligible children that apply through the proper channels and who meet qualifications. Depending on your income, families may be assigned a co-pay amount that will be based on the state's sliding fee scale. Since funding and resources are limited, priority is given to children who have been determined to be at risk of abuse, those with parents that are economically disadvantaged, or children with a disability or special needs.

To learn more about the School Readiness program or other financial assistance, please call your county’s Early Learning Coalition. Or another option is to dial 1-866-357-3239 in order to get additional information or referrals.

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