Here's how eligible Portage County residents can get help paying water bills

Diane Smith, Record-Courier
·2 min read

Portage County residents may be eligible for help to pay their water bills through programs at the Community Action Council of Portage County.

The Low Income Water Assistance Program helps households that are at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines pay their water bills. The maximum annual income to qualify is $31,868 for an individual, $43,120 for a two-person household, $54,373 for a three-person household and $64,625 for a four-person household.

Portage County residents that are threatened with disconnection or have been disconnected from their utility service may be eligible for this program.

To make an appointment call 234-703-4303 or visit the CAC's appointment scheduler online.

Some same-day appointments are available Monday through Thursday mornings starting at 8 a.m. For call-in appointments, customers should call 330-297-1456, Extension 0, starting at 8 am. The call-in appointments fill up quickly and are usually full by 8:30 a.m.

Customers must make an appointment in order for their application to be processed.

All appointments and call-ins will be conducted via phone interview. Customers must be available through the phone number they provide and have the required documents available so they can answer the intake specialist's questions at the date and time of the appointment. The intake specialist will help the applicant decide what is the best method for providing the documents.

Documents most commonly needed include:

  • Most recent water bill.

  • A list of all household members, including birth dates and Social Security numbers.

  • Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members, or a year for certain income types.

  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.

  • Proof of disability, if applicable.

For more information on the program or other programs offered by Community Action Council of Portage County, visit the agency's website at www.cacportage.net, visit the office at 1036 W. Main St., Ravenna, or call 330-297-1456, and select Option 1 for heating assistance.

The appointment line is 234-703-4303 and the fax line is 330-297-1463.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County Community Action Council offers help paying water bills