Utility Bill Emergency Assistance Program

An emergency assistance program is established to provide eligible Cooper City residents experiencing difficulty paying their personal residence utility bill with financial help. 

Residents who apply for emergency assistance with utility bills will also be provided additional resources to help.  This includes referrals to other appropriate social services agencies, or credit counseling services, even if they are not found eligible for the assistance program at this time.

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The amount allotted for the emergency assistance program is not to exceed $200 and will be applied directly to the overdue charges on the utility bill.

• This program benefits low-income residents who are having temporary financial difficulty. 
• These financial difficulties can be a result of unexpected expenses, such as illness, medical bills, or lost income.  
• The emergency assistance program helps these households avoid additional financial hardship in the form of utility shut off and reconnect fees.

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Eligibility

In order to be eligible to apply for assistance from the program, individuals must:

• Be the person responsible for the utility bill on a residence and reside at the property address
• Have overdue utility charges, and in eminent risk of service shut-off due to a temporary financial hardship
• Be a resident of Cooper City and a legal resident of the United States
• Be willing to provide details of their personal finances, their emergency situation and of efforts made to resolve the financial difficulties
• Cannot have received assistance for the Utility Bill Assistance Program within the current Fiscal Year (October 1 through September 30)

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Financial Eligibility

To be found eligible for assistance, applicants must meet one or more of the following:

• Must be qualified for and receive extra senior citizen homestead exemption as shown on TRIM or other document from Broward County Property Appraiser
• Or qualify for the USDA Food stamp program and present current Food Stamp ID card
• Or the gross household income falls below the 130% of current published Federal poverty level, as shown by copies of income tax returns and/or current pay stubs, and all other sources of combined income received by members of the household and have limited available funds in checking, savings or other liquid assets

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Application Process

Click Here to Download, Print and Mail Your Completed Application 

Return the complete application as soon as possible, with copies of the requested documentation of all income, expenses, and resources for all members of the household, as outlined in the application form. If your household has had a major change in circumstances (i.e., separation, divorce or illness), you will be asked to provide proof of your current situation.

The Emergency Assistance Committee will review the application and notify you of the decision.  The number of households assisted annually depends on the amount of eligible applications and the amount allocated to the Utility Bill Emergency Assistance Program fund.