Guide to Filling Empty Cupboards in Your Region

Other Useful Resources

In addition to resources listed below, INFOLINE is a very useful resource and can be found at: www.healthycity.org or (800) 339-6993. United Way is another useful place to find community resources: www.unitedwayla.com.

Transportation

All Los Angeles County transit operators and all the city bus lines honor a “disabled identification card.” Call 213-680-0054 for application information and locations.

• 
  Medicare card
  
• 
  California DMV disabled or disabled veteran placard certificate with a current “valid through” date
  
• 
  Proof of receiving SSI or SSDI
  
• 
  A certification on school letterhead signed by a Special Education teacher
  
• 
  Part III of the application form, which is a one-page certification signed by a health care professional
  

For other bus passes, ask for discounts for students and seniors. If you have moved from “welfare to work,” GAIN or RITE can provide bus fare or car travel reimbursements as part of “post employment” services. The Department of Rehabilitation may also provide you with a bus pass if you qualify for their services.

Most cities in the county offer subsidized transportation for seniors age 65 or more or for people with disabilities. Call “cityride” service from any area code in Los Angeles with 808-RIDE (808-7433) for more information.

Low-income drivers in Los Angeles County who good driving records can purchase special auto insurance for $347 a year. To apply call (800) 622-0954 to find the agent nearest to you.

Utility Bills

Families and individuals who need assistance with their utility bills can access the following resources:

From February 10, 2004 through April 30, 2004, United Way will distribute one-time funds to more than 120 agencies in 12 counties in central and southern California.

The state of California offers this program to help low-income individuals with overdue gas or electric bills. HEAP also offers a rebate program. The rebate check with an annual maximum of $207 is given directly to the utility company to be credited to the customer's account. Applications for this program generally take six weeks or more to process. Priority is given to applicants with the highest utility bill and the lowest income.

Contact your utility company

This program provides utility assistance for low-income individuals. Eligible people get assistance to avoid a shut-off notice, reconnection fees, or to establish a new utility account. Contact your utility company to locate the nearest participating agency that receives this specialized funding.

DWP will also work with you in setting up a payment plan if you are experiencing difficulty paying your bill.

This program helps senior citizens 62 years or older or permanently disabled individuals who have an annual household income of less than the allowed maximum.

This discount is available to DWP customers who have an essential life-support unit in their home powered by electricity or water supplied by the Department of Water and Power. The application is subject to review by the DWP medical director prior to acceptance and is also subject to periodic review by the DWP.

If someone in the household has scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, a compromised immune system, a life-threatening illness, or requires regular use of life-support equipment you may be entitled to an additional baseline allowance.

If you are participating in CalWORKS or have applied for the program you may be able to get "immediate need" money to pay your delinquent utility bills.

The LIEE program provides no-cost weatherization services to low-income households who meet the CARE income guidelines. (Senior citizens and disabled persons qualify for these services if their incomes are at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.) Some of the services provided include attic insulation, energy efficient refrigerators, energy efficient furnaces, weather-stripping, caulking, low-flow showerheads, water heater blankets, and door and building envelope repairs that reduce air infiltration.