OG&E Has Programs To Help The Elderly Deal With Summer Heat

Oklahoma City elder law attorneys can help you throughout your life to build up a substantial nest egg so you will have the funds you need for a comfortable retirement. Our firm knows that struggling with money during your golden years can make for a stressful retirement, so we help you to set goals, automate investments, and use tax-advantaged accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s to make saving for retirement simpler. 

Unfortunately, there are many seniors who end up struggling financially as they get older. This could be because of inadequate savings, Social Security payments being lower than anticipated, living longer than expected, being made to retire earlier than planned, or a host of other factors.

Whatever the situation causing your money issues, as a senior, having too little cash can be a problem. Parman & Easterday will help you make sure this issue does not happen to you– and if it does and you find yourself having difficulty making ends meet, we will help you to explore benefits and programs that could help. One example: a program that News 9 reports OG&E offers to seniors who need assistance coping with the summer heat.

OG&E Programs Help Seniors Cope With Summer Heat

According to News 9, many low income people in-and-around Oklahoma City end up struggling to pay the bills for their air conditioning. This can be a major problem for seniors who have health issues that are exacerbated by heat.

For example, a 69-year-old on disability was interviewed by News 9 and indicated her window air conditioners do not work and have not worked for a long time. The disabled woman said she has a serious heart condition that necessitates she have A/C to stay cool because the condition could “become critical” in the event of overheating.

Because she requires air conditioning to stay healthy, she spent $450 she had been planning to use to pay her property taxes to buy an air conditioner her friend installed for her. Before the new A/C installation, she put her head inside of the freezer a few times daily in order to avoid overheating.

It is not just paying for the A/C unit that could be a challenge, either. Seniors also have problems paying utilities when they use their air conditioner. The public affairs director for OG&E told News 9 that the company encourages seniors and low income individuals to apply for free weatherization services the company will complete. Weatherizing a home could substantially cut costs for low-income seniors because as much as 30 percent of air conditioned and heated air is lost through leaks in older homes— which makes it much more expensive to heat and cool the homes.

Qualifying seniors could also be entitled to energy rebates. OG&E works to help keep seniors cool by donating fans. OG&E delivered 1,000 electronic fans last June to agencies that serve low income and elderly seniors within the company’s service area. Some of the fans were delivered to the Salvation Army in Central Oklahoma and others were sent to various organizations and agencies that provide services to seniors.

Getting Help from Oklahoma City Elder Law Attorneys

Parman & Easterday will help you to grow your wealth and protect your assets throughout your life so hopefully you will have enough funds as a senior to pay your utility bills and other expenses. Unfortunately, sometimes life does not work out as you had planned and as a senior you may find yourself with a funding shortfall. If you’re worried your nest egg will not last, our firm can help you explore benefits programs to help your income stretch farther and provide assistance if needed.

To find out more about how Oklahoma City elder law attorneys can help you achieve the most secure retirement possible, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call today at (405) 843-6100 or contact us online for personalized help with your retirement finances issues from a member of our legal team. Call today to learn more.