Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens

Eligibility Requirements

Shut-off notices and one-time payment assistance for past-due bills Fifty percent discounts on electricity and water, sewer and garbage rates Eligibility Requirements Applications Cable TV discount for seniors and adults with disablities Other utility assistance programs

Qualifying

To qualify for the Utility Discount Program, you must:

• Be income-eligible based on total income of all people living in the household (combined income from all sources including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income/SSI, Social Security Disability Income/SSDI, general assistance for the unemployable/GAU, Veterans Administration/VA benefits, Labor & Industries/L&I benefits, retirement benefits, wages, interest from savings and bonds, annuities, dividends, etc.)



• Be the homeowner or renter; if a landlord pays all utilities, qualifying low-income tenants may still be eligible for utility financial help



• Not receive a Section 8 housing voucher or live in subsidized housing operated by the Seattle Housing Authority, King County Housing Authority or Shelter+Care, where utility allowances are provided

Income Guidelines

Utility Discount Program for Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

Income limits, based on 70% of the state median income guidelines, change every January 1. Eligibility is based on total household income in the three-month period prior to application. If you have questions about these guidelines, call 206-684-0268.

Seniors (age 65 and older) are not required to provide documentation of their income at the time of application. Adults with disabilities are required to provide documentation of their disability payments, as noted below.

Utility Discount Program for Low-Income Households

Income limits, based on 200% of the federal poverty guideline, are updated each spring. Income documentation from all household members must be provided. Eligibility is based on total household income during the three-month period prior to application. If you have questions about these guidelines, call 206-684-0268.

Proof of Disability

Utility Discount Program applicants with disabilities, if under age 65, must provide a copy of at least one of the following as proof of disability:

• Verification (no more than 12 months old) of Social Security Disability Income/SSDI
• Supplemental Security Income/SSI
• General Assistance for the Unemployable (GAU)
• Veterans Administration (VA) payments
• Labor & Industries (L&I) benefits
• Letter from a physician stating that the applicant is legally blind or on life support at home

Information

For more information about the Energy and Utility Assistance Programs, call 206-684-0268 (TTY/TDD 206-233-2778), or e-mail seniors@seattle.gov.