The City of Akron is offering a helping hand to its residents through the Akron Cares Program, a one-time initiative designed to provide utility bill relief. This program offers a one-time credit of up to $500.00 to eligible Akron residents who are currently facing difficulties with their City of Akron utility bills. It’s important to note that funding for the Akron Cares Program is limited, and assistance will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Eligible customers will see a credit applied directly to their utility account within the City’s billing system. Please be aware that recipients of the Akron Cares credit will not be eligible for further assistance from this program for a period of 365 days.
Eligibility for Akron Cares Assistance
The Akron Cares Program is specifically for City of Akron residents who are struggling to pay their utility bills and have past due balances. This emergency funding is made possible through the generosity of customer donations, city employee contributions, community partnerships, and funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.
To qualify for the Akron Cares Program, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Participation in Assistance Programs: Provide a dated letter (including name) confirming participation in one of these programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or Food Stamps/EBT) or WIC
- Ohio Medicaid
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or Percentage of Income Payment Plus (PIPP)
- Ohio Works First (OWF)
- Ohio Public Housing Benefits
- Homestead Exemption: Be a homeowner residing at the property and currently receiving the Homestead Exemption, verifiable through Summit County Property Records.
- Income Qualification: If you do not participate in the programs listed above, you can demonstrate eligibility by providing your two most recent pay stubs or SSI stubs to verify that your household income is below 300% of the federal poverty level, as outlined in the chart below:
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Yearly Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,220 | $38,640 |
| 2 | $4,355 | $52,260 |
| 3 | $5,490 | $65,880 |
| 4 | $6,625 | $79,500 |
| 5 | $7,760 | $93,120 |
| 6 | $8,895 | $106,740 |
| 7 | $10,030 | $120,360 |
| 8 | $11,165 | $133,980 |
For households larger than 8 people, add $13,620 for each additional person.
Important Update: Applications Currently Closed
Please note that at this time, the Akron Cares Program is not accepting new applications.
For any questions or further clarification, please contact Akron Public Utility Customer Service at (330) 375-2554 or simply dial 3-1-1.
