Memphis Councilwoman Fullilove Proposes More MLGW Help

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Soon more people could qualify for assistance in paying their MLGW bills. Tuesday morning, a Memphis City Council committee voted to lower the age of qualifying customers who can apply for financial help. Some council members say it's a great gesture, but the elderly will pay the price.

You may no longer have to be at least 60 years old to take advantage of MLGW's Utility Assistance Program.

"In light of the recent deaths that we have had here and what happened over the winter months, I thought that we needed to amend the original utility assistance program," proposed Councilwoman Janis Fullilove.

So she did just that, submitting a proposal that would cut the age requirement down from 60 to 31, and raise the amount each qualified costumer could receive from $700 to $800 per year.

However, not all council members were for the changes.

"This is designed to help people who truly need it," said Kemp Conrad. "Now we have increased the limit, we decreased the age and a lot of people who need help are not going to get it now."

Councilman Conrad said with only one million dollars in the budget for the program, and the number of people who can apply increasing, the funds will quickly run out.

"This is going to reduce the number of people that get help that really need it, the elderly and disabled, to people who are just 30 years old and may be out of work," said Conrad. "In the past we have used these funds within six months, so it probably will be used within six months because we have a greater number of people who have access to it."

If you're at least 31-years old, that doesn't mean you can walk up to MLGW and collect $800. You have to prove you have been out of a job and/or sick for at least six months.

"[Kemp] seems to think it is going to kick the elderly out. No it is not. It is going to help more people than it has in the past and that is what I am trying to do," countered Fullilove.

Most MLGW costumers we talked to felt dropping the age limit is a good thing.

"Even though you may be young you may not have a job, age had nothing to do with whether you have a job or not. And us older people, we get our Social Security checks and our pension checks so therefore we may be able to make it a little better for the young ones."

"I want to say to the people who do try to abuse the privileges, please don't, because it's hot right now and any extra assistance we could have in Memphis is a good opportunity."

The program is only for citizens who live in the city of Memphis.