CalFresh benefits but still struggling with $600 gas bill in Orange County - any help programs?

Yes! You should apply for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) immediately. Since you're already getting CalFresh, you'll likely qualify. They can provide one-time emergency assistance for utility bills. In Orange County, contact Community Action Partnership of OC at 714-839-6199 to apply for LIHEAP. They can provide up to $1,000 depending on your situation. Also check out the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program through SoCalGas which gives a 20% discount on future bills. Your CalFresh worker should have told you about these programs during your application or recertification.

call 211 they cn tell u all the programs in OC. Also socalgas has medical baseline if anyone in ur house has medical needs that helps too. I got calworks too and they sometims have special funds but u have to ask

I had almost the exact same situation last winter!!! $580 gas bill that came out of NOWHERE. I freaked out because I was already stretching my CalFresh benefits as it was. The Community Action Partnership program the other person mentioned saved me, but be prepared - it took about 3 weeks from application to when they actually paid my bill. DEFINITELY call SoCalGas back and tell them you've applied for LIHEAP assistance. They should give you an extension to prevent shut-off while your application is processing. They did for me! Also, make sure you bring proof of income, your CalFresh approval letter, and the actual gas bill to your LIHEAP appointment.

wait confused... how is this a calfresh question? calfresh is food benefits not utility help. wrong forum???

Try reaching out to your county CalFresh office directly about this. When I had a similar issue last year, I found it impossible to get through on the phone lines and kept getting disconnected. I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach a live person at the CalFresh office in minutes instead of hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The county worker I spoke with was able to connect me with several emergency assistance programs I didn't know about. They have special funds sometimes for crisis situations that aren't advertised. Worth a try!

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!! Why do they make it so d*mn difficult to get help??? I'm FURIOUS that your CalFresh worker never told you about LIHEAP or CARE. That is LITERALLY their job!!!! I've been fighting with Orange County for YEARS about proper notification of available programs. They approve you for one benefit then don't tell you about the others you qualify for. It's like they WANT people to suffer. Make sure to file a complaint about this once you get your gas situation handled. This is exactly why people fall through the cracks in the system!

I work for a nonprofit that assists with benefits in Orange County. In addition to LIHEAP that others mentioned, here are additional resources: 1. Salvation Army Orange County has emergency utility assistance: 714-384-0481 2. St. Vincent de Paul Society can sometimes help: 714-550-9533 3. Catholic Charities of Orange County: 714-347-9600 4. Some local churches have emergency assistance funds If you've received a shut-off notice, make sure to mention that as it prioritizes your application. For long-term help, definitely apply for the CARE program through SoCalGas to reduce future bills by 20%. The $600 bill seems unusually high. Do you have a gas heater or water heater that might be malfunctioning? Sometimes a faulty appliance can cause extremely high bills.

Almost forgot! If you have kids under 18, check with their schools too. Many Orange County school districts have emergency family resource funds through their McKinney-Vento programs, especially if you're at risk of losing utilities which could make your housing unstable. My daughter's school ended up helping with a $200 emergency utility grant last year when we were struggling.

I've been in a similar situation with high utility bills while on CalFresh. One thing that really helped me was getting a home energy audit through SoCalGas - they do them for free and can identify issues like the heater problem you mentioned. They found that my old water heater was using way more gas than it should have been. Also, if you're renting, your landlord is actually responsible for maintaining appliances in working order, so definitely push them to check that heater ASAP. A malfunctioning heater could be costing you hundreds every month. While you're waiting for LIHEAP approval, you might also try calling your local United Way chapter - they sometimes have small emergency grants that can bridge the gap. Good luck, and don't give up - there really are resources out there to help!