We’re not going to sit and wring our hands, agonizing about winter. Seniors and caregivers, families and individuals, most of us have the same thing on our mind: What will winter bring?

None of us can predict this, but we can gather all the information possible and at least find out what, if anything is available for help.

Federal fuel assistance, known as the Low Income Heating Assistance Program or LIHEAP, is administered locally through People’s Regional Opportunity Program. Here is the information about fuel assistance, posted on PROP’s Web site:

In July and August PROP will be serving only those households with someone at risk of hypothermia; that is, someone over 60 years old or under 24 months of age. Applications are now being taken.

If you applied last year and received a benefit, you do not need to make an appointment this year. You will be mailed an application and set of instructions on how to fill out the application, to return for processing. This is a new process PROP is trying out this year.

If you applied last year and were denied, or wish to apply for the first time, please call 553-5800 and follow the phone prompts to get an appointment. Be patient, please.

No funds will be issued from Maine State Housing before October or November even though applications are being taken now.

Income guidelines are based on the following:

One in the household, $15,000

Two in the household, $21,400

Three in the household, $26,400

Four in the household, $31,800

Five in the household, $37,200

If you earn slightly above the guideline, PROP encourages you to apply, as there are some deductions that may make you eligible.

For more information, call PROP at 553-5800.

The federal government provides some help to low-income families struggling to stay warm during the winter through the LIHEAP, but this assistance reaches only 16 percent of eligible families. And many other working poor families who do not qualify for federal assistance programs still need help from time to time.

If, because of income, you do not qualify for LIHEAP, you may want to check Citizens Energy Fuel Assistance Program. Last year, applications were not taken until Dec. 1, but so far we have heard little about the rules for 2008. Call (877) 563-4645 to find out more information or visit www.CitizensEnergy.org.

Either way, you will need some basic household information: the number people live in the household, the gross annual income, whether anyone over 65, under 18, and under 5 lives there; and whether anyone in the household received federal fuel assistance from LIHEAP. Also have the name and phone number of your fuel company.

Citizen’s Energy has yet to provide information on its Web site for this coming heating season for 2008-09, but we will update you just as soon as information comes our way.

Last year, I applied online on Dec. 3, as I recall, and within three weeks received a voucher and letter in the mail, good for 100 gallons of oil from my regular oil company.