CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) today announced a supplemental propane payment to assist eligible residents with heating expenses for the 2017-18 winter season. The payments were made possible by a $250,000 donation resulting from a class action settlement in the Swiger v. AmeriGas case, which was approved by Judge Robert B. Stone of the Monongalia County Circuit Court.
The donation was facilitated by Attorneys David J. Romano of Romano Law Office, Clarksburg, West Virginia; Meghan M. Cloud of McGuireWoods, LLP,Charlottesville, Virginia; and Edgar C. Gentle, III, Court Appointed Claims Administrator, Hoover, Alabama.
“DHHR is pleased to provide special propane heating assistance to approximately 3,500 eligible families,” said DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch. “The payments resulting from this donation will help many households offset rising heating expenses this winter.”
Residents who receive propane for heating and who applied for and received a regular Low Income Energy Assistance Program payment this past winter will receive an automatic $71 payment to assist with propane heating expenses.
All payments are expected to be issued by the end of December 2017.