(Host) State officials say more Vermont households than ever before will be receiving fuel assistance this year.
Richard Moffi heads the fuel assistance program for the Department of Children and Families.
He says that close to 19,000 households will have received a benefit as of this week. That’s an additional 3,000 households over last year at this time.
Moffi says the Vermont legislature has expanded the program by adjusting the income limits, so that more households are eligible for fuel assistance.
But he adds that Congressional funding has been cut, which means that, with a fixed amount of money available, benefits will be less.
(Moffi) "We can only give out the money that is allocated to us, and it’s like cutting the pie into thinner and thinner slices."
(Host) Moffi says the average household benefit this year will be $660. Last year, households received a little over $1,100.
(Moffi) "That’s sticker shock for clients who have to pay for home heat themselves."
(Host) Congress will revisit federal fuel assistance funding when it returns next week.