Wareham’s Council on Aging is offering fuel assistance to anyone in Wareham who qualifies, as the cold winter months approach. 

The fuel assistance program is designed to help low-income households with winter heating costs. Council on Aging Director Missy Dziczek said determining whether households qualify is based on income level. If yearly income is below $37,360 for a single person or below $48,855 for two people, a household would qualify, Dziczek said. As the number of members in a household increases, the income threshold increases.

Diana Patten, a Wareham Council on Aging outreach worker, will assist people who are applying for fuel assistance for the first time or who are applying for recertification, but assistance will be available by appointment only. People should call for an appointment +1 508-291-3100 ext. 3133. 

Patten will assist applicants between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Council on Aging office in the Multi Service center. 

Applicants should bring pay stubs for all household members who have earned income for the current 30 days and Social Security cards for each household member. People should also provide verification of any public assistance payments that are received, and verification of Social Security benefits, pensions, disability benefits and VA benefits for members of the applicant household. 

Applicants will also have to verify their heating provider with a current bill. If heat is included in an individual’s rent payment, he or she should provide a copy of the lease. Homeowners will need to provide a copy of their tax bill to prove ownership along with a copy of their current heating bill. 

Previous applicants who are re-certifying should have received the new application for recertification, which was sent in the mail in summer 2020. Completed applications — that must include the applicant’s application number on every page — should be sent with new documentation to the South Shore Community Action Council by mail at 71 Obery St. Plymouth, MA, 02360.