Benefits · Emergency Aid
How to apply for Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) — Bradford County
Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) — federally LIHEAP-funded, state-administered, locally delivered by Suwannee River Economic Council (SREC) under contract with Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging, PSA 3) via the Bradford County Senior Center
Who it's for
The Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) is a Florida Department of Elder Affairs program funded through the federal LIHEAP block grant but administered separately from regular LIHEAP — explicitly targeted at low-income households with at least one person age 60+. In Bradford County, EHEAP is delivered by Suwannee River Economic Council (SREC), the local AAA delivery partner. EHEAP provides emergency assistance to seniors facing imminent utility shutoff, deposit requirements for service restoration, or a home cooling/heating crisis. Maximum benefits are typically $600-$1,000 per emergency, paid directly to the utility company or the AC repair vendor. EHEAP can stack with regular LIHEAP (fl.bradford.cfcaa_liheap) — a senior household may receive both. Income eligibility is set at 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. At least one household member must be 60 years old or older. Apply by calling SREC at 1-844-496-0624 — same intake as Congregate Meals at the Bradford County Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, CCE services (including Emergency Alert Response systems, Personal Care, Homemaker, Respite, and Specialized Medical Equipment), and SREC Transportation.
EHEAP is genuinely emergency-only — applicants must document an imminent shutoff, deposit-for-restoration requirement, or broken heating/cooling crisis. Routine bill assistance for seniors should go through regular LIHEAP via CFCAA (fl.bradford.cfcaa_liheap) instead. The 150% FPL income gate is meaningfully tighter than LIHEAP's 60% SMI gate. Up to 2 EHEAP benefits per program year per household. Florida DOEA caps the typical award at $600-$1,000 per emergency, paid directly to the utility or vendor. For Bradford County, SREC is the integrated intake point — same phone (1-844-496-0624) handles EHEAP + Bradford County Senior Center programs + transit.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ for at least one household member (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or Medicare card)
- Proof of household income for all members (Social Security award letter, pension statement, SSI award letter, pay stubs)
- Proof of Bradford County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- Documentation of the energy emergency: utility shutoff notice, broken-equipment work order or repair estimate, or service-restoration deposit requirement
- Current utility bill
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 1-844-496-0624
Renewals
up to 2 benefits per program year per household per the Florida DOEA rule
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.
