Benefits · Emergency Aid
How to apply for Bay County Council on Aging LIHEAP + Weatherization Assistance Program
Bay County Council on Aging, Inc. (BCCOA) — 501(c)(3) nonprofit functioning as BOTH the AAA delivery partner AND the designated Community Action Agency for Bay County; administers LIHEAP and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) under the same nonprofit umbrella that runs Meals on Wheels and Senior Services; funded by federal HHS LIHEAP block grant and DOE WAP block grant through the Florida Department of Commerce
Who it's for
Bay County Council on Aging (BCCOA) functions as the designated Community Action Agency for Bay County — distinctively integrating LIHEAP and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) administration with the broader senior services umbrella. LIHEAP provides home energy and crisis payments to assist low-income households in meeting the cost of heating and cooling. The program runs year-round and qualified applicants can get energy bill assistance for both summer cooling and winter heating expenses. Applications must be completed online; an appointment is required to apply. WAP provides up to ~$5,000 in home weatherization measures (attic and wall insulation, weather-stripping, HVAC tune-up or replacement for severe cases) to reduce ongoing energy costs — Bay County is one of the FL counties where WAP is actively administered. The Florida LIHEAP income gate is 60 percent of State Median Income. Although BCCOA's primary mission focuses on seniors, LIHEAP and WAP are available to all income-eligible Bay County residents regardless of age — though senior-headed households receive application priority under federal LIHEAP rules. Apply by calling BCCOA at 850-769-3468 extension 120 for LIHEAP/WAP intake (separate extension from Meals on Wheels).
BCCOA administers Bay County LIHEAP on a first-come-first-served basis — funds can exhaust mid-year. LIHEAP runs year-round (electric assistance available all year) which is more generous than some peer CAA programs that limit gas assistance to a heating season. Apply early in the cooling season (typically February-March) and heating season (typically November-December) for the strongest chance of award. Florida LIHEAP uses 60% of State Median Income as the income gate (modeled $35,000 single 2026; scales up by household size). Senior-headed households receive priority under federal rules. WAP has substantially longer wait times — 6-18 months depending on funding availability. WAP is one-time-per-home: once weatherized, a home generally cannot receive WAP again for 8+ years. INTEGRATED INTAKE ADVANTAGE: because BCCOA also runs Meals on Wheels and Senior Services, an income-eligible Bay County senior calling 850-769-3468 can be referred across services in a single intake conversation — uniquely streamlined vs peer counties where AAA and CAA are separate organizations.
What you'll need
- Current electric or gas bill
- Proof of income for all household members (Social Security award letter, pension statement, pay stubs, SSI award letter)
- Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
- Photo identification for all household members age 18+
- Proof of Bay County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For deposit assistance: lease showing required deposit; for past-due assistance: shutoff notice
- For WAP: homeownership documentation OR landlord weatherization consent + utility bills for energy-use baseline
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 850-769-3468
Renewals
annual LIHEAP regular + crisis benefits per program year; WAP is one-time-per-home
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.