Like the cranes returning to the Platte River, each year the income level of those eligible to receive home weatherization services changes. This year, the annual income level for a single person household rose from $11,225 to $11,638. For a family of four, the annual income level changed from $23,000 to $23,563. The income levels for other household sizes is listed in the table below.
| 2004 Poverty Income Guidelines
125% of Poverty Level |
|
|---|---|
| Household
Size |
Maximum
Household Income |
| 1 | $11,638 |
| 2 | $15,613 |
| 3 | $19,588 |
| 4 | $23,563 |
| 5 | $27,538 |
| 6 | $31,513 |
| 7 | $35,488 |
| 8 | $39,463 |
| For each
additional family member |
|
| Add ... | $3,975 |
| Source: Office of Management and Budget | |
Weatherization is making homes more energy efficient. Weatherization of a home typically involves the installation of attic, wall and floor insulation and sealing holes and cracks with caulking, weather-stripping and other types of materials. In addition, all furnaces, cooking stoves and water heaters receive a safety inspection. Weatherization services do not include roof replacement, siding repairs or replacement windows.
To receive free weatherization services for your home, your income must fall below 125% of the federal poverty level, which is revised annually. Households with persons receiving either Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible to receive free weatherization services.
To find the weatherization services office nearest you, click on Weatherization Program Local Contacts. You will find an interactive map of the state and the nearest office of each weatherization service provider.
Each year, more than a thousand homes are weatherized in Nebraska. In 2003, more than 1,370 homes received free home weatherization. Typically, about a third of the homes are occupied by elderly Nebraskans.