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Seniors say they're cutting back on expenses, worried about heating

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By PAUL GLASSER
November 7, 2008

Senior citizens say they're concerned about the rising cost of energy and are cutting back on expenses.
"I never have enough money one month to the next," said Mattie Clay, 77.

Clay, a retired teacher, said she's worried about the cost of heating her house-trailer this winter. According to the Public Service Commission, the price of natural gas will increase about 17 percent for the heating season.

"It was not too expensive last year but this year is going to be much colder," Clay said.

Gov. Steve Beshear has announced additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides emergency funding and subsidies to qualified families.

"Being governor is like being head of a very large family," Beshear said at a press conference Thursday at the Frankfort Senior Activity Center.

"In this time of economic uncertainty, I know many of Kentucky's collective family, especially our vulnerable populations, our seniors, children, sick and poor, are feeling the weight of increasing bills and decreasing incomes."

Families that earn less than 150 percent of the poverty level are eligible for the program. The poverty line in 2008 is $10,400 for a single person and $21,200 for a family of four.

Additional funding will be available and the one-time subsidy to qualified recipients will increase from $250 to $400, Beshear said.

Clay said she isn't sure if she qualifies for assistance but knows that she'll have to cut back this winter. She volunteers as a librarian at the Senior Activity Center and her husband works at the Kentucky State University research farm.

They both drive separate cars and Clay said they will likely need to sell one.

"We have to cut back on driving," she said.

Beshear and Congressman Ben Chandler also announced that open enrollment for Medicare Part D, the prescription drug plan, will begin on Nov. 15. The program covers citizens age 65 or older or people with disabilities and end-stage renal disease.

Robert Stenvall, 90, said he enrolled for Medicare Part D two years ago and won't need to change plans. He said he takes three prescriptions, two of which cost $4 per month and one that costs $35 per month.

"It's working fine," Stenvall said.

However, he only recently moved to Kentucky from California and said he doesn't know what his energy bill will be this winter. He lives independently and said he's lucky he moved to Kentucky when he did.
"Things are much cheaper here. Electricity, food and rent are cheaper," Stenvall said. "Kentucky people are very, very friendly."

However, he left his car in California because it was too expensive. He rides the bus to the doctor's office and to the Senior Activity Senior.
"I have to be very careful with what I spend," Stenvall said. "I have to live within my budget."




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