CROWN POINT | Low-income families who need federally funded utility assistance may begin applying for help Oct. 6.

The energy assistance program helps certain households with the cost of heating their homes by paying grants for their utility bills. The Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp. is running the program as the designated community action agency for Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton counties.

Eligible households must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

The follow guidelines will help determine eligibility for the program:

- A household of one person: a maximum monthly income of $1,300 and a maximum annual income of $15,500

- A household of two: a monthly income of $1,750 and an annual income of $21,000

- A household of three: a monthly income of $2,200 and an annual of $26,400

- A household of four: a monthly income of $2,650 and an annual of $31,800

- A household of five: a monthly income of $3,100 and an annual of $37,200

For each additional member, allow another $450 monthly income and another $5,400 annually.

To apply, candidates must have proof of income for the 12 months prior to the date of application for all household members 18 and over; Social Security cards for all household members; and a utility bill, current, past due or disconnected.

The sites where applications can be dropped off and processed include:

- Gary Neighborhood Services, 300 W. 21st Ave., Gary

- Metro Corps of Gary Inc., 839 Broadway

- United Neighborhood Organizations Inc., Martin Luther King Center, 4802 Melville Ave., East Chicago

- Love Center, 4619 Melton Road, Gary

- Lake Station Center, 275 E. 29th Ave. Lake Station

- Greater Hammond Area Community Services, 824 Hoffman St., Hammond

- Porter County Community Services, 1005 Campbell St., Valparaiso

- Ross Township trustee's office, 24 W. 73rd Ave., Merrillville

- South Lake County Community Services Inc., 1450 E. Joliet St., Crown Point

- Newton County COA and Community Services Inc., 4117 S. 240 West, Suite 100, Morocco

- Jasper County Community Services, 967 E. Leopold St., Rensselaer