Boston Globe's Beth Healy on Fuel Assistance
Feb 20, 2013|
Boston Globe's Beth Healy on Fuel Assistance
Transcript - Not for consumer use. Robot overlords only. Will not be accurate.
-- -- -- As to how many people are on fuel assistance in Massachusetts. I don't is their percentage that I should like 10% fifteen I was shocked when -- southern number Beth Healy wrote a story in today's Boston Globe today good morning by the way -- welcome to the show morning thanks. I was shocked 50000 families in Massachusetts receiving fuel assistance. It actually in more than that it's about 200000 Amylin and 50000 of them may actually be running out just there -- to get any more money. Okay all right now how much money has the federal government doled out so far and fuel assistance. So the days. Set aside. -- Massachusetts a 132. Point seven million for this winter. And they haven't spent all of it yet but yet -- to last hole winter. And what's really happening is that folks to use oil leak and the tap out their benefits quickly. Yet we're -- and killed oil prices this winter in yeah I have oil you have oil but I thought aren't terrible and it's like you eat when -- truck pulls up. I don't like I shutter maybe it's it's it's a -- over four dollars again. Ali -- hurts that's used to deter pull way to -- cult like at a 600 dollar bills that. I run downstairs I had two tanks and I've run downstairs to see how much on that'd be again the level they come in April. And if Philadelphia and you really don't need it get paid. Yeah. Well at least it's better to have simple as you if you go in but on out the Massachusetts legislature is -- and -- ticket in some money for a for fuel assistance -- Right so one of the local. Anti poverty agencies that action. For Boston community development AB CD Barack can legislature to put up 21 million which. Apparently they also did last year not legislature. And that is to try to help out and get folks through the rest of the winter who are running through their benefits. What -- what are the limitations like how would woody woody how load as your income have to be. In order to qualify for fuel system. The first family of four. And come up to around 60000. And burn individuals it's around 30000. And there's kind of sliding scale of the benefit. That you can receive. Okay what's the Max. My eleven wonders on the. Yeah the maximum benefit is about 11100 dollars for. For folks getting oil and it's -- 600 area for. But heating electric or gas. I think I saw you guys cover story about the couple weeks ago about you know the EDT cards food stamps and there are a lot of people receiving them that. Yet he was like 50000 summit that that they couldn't find his or any any that any of those games being played with fuel assistance center where world discovered. Interestingly the latest program works is deep. They'd -- agency -- the money directly to the energy company so whether rich or oil company or whether it's one of the utilities yet. There is no ability for people to kind of hang on -- the cash to discuss straight to pay the bill. Okay what about fraudulently. Submitting information go to because I do recall I think you guys covered it last -- -- we had people that. You know we're pretty rich and they are getting fuel assistance like landlords belittled the building we're getting fuel systems. Interstate I mean the way it's supposed to work as yet someone that they here and we exploring your making -- you know 50000. -- -- win and there's been linked these forms that you have to sit down Aaron and sellout at the agency. And then once you've applied and they approved it. Then they go ahead and and pace that's more typically what happens. OK so the eating maybe there's a little less fraud going on. With the fuel assistance program as compared to food stamp program. I'm not aware of a fraud but the fuel assistance program but -- -- your point that you know right there may become Wafer that are. Unscrupulous landlords to work the system. Yeah you know you know you it's like you and -- right where we're sitting there. We we get the cold sweats when the fuel truck drives and I hate to think that people or scam in the system. In in getting it. When they don't really need not. Be at Beth thank you nice job on the story present. As Beth -- reporter over the Boston Globe. Lot of money going out in two assistants to -- it 200000. Families in Massachusetts. That are on fuel systems and -- and actually -- I mean that's that's a lot that's that's more than I thought. If there is a really good story in today's Wall Street Journal. About -- knives I've talked about this before about foreigners coming in and buying a real state in the united it's a threesome aware of it. My sister is in the real estate management business out in Phoenix Arizona now. And she says she's got more Canadian clients because they have tons of oil money now from up in Alberta scandal opportunity and in British Columbia. They're coming down to Phoenix and they're not buying a house they're Brian twenty house. Thirty house in -- forty message yeah foreign buyers are jumping on. Real estate throughout the country it's not -- -- buyers. Well -- now now what you've got -- you've got hedge funds and and private equity firms from places like Australia. Buying our rural states we're gonna talk about that Robbie Whelan. From the Wall Street Journal he's been on the show before he joins us next if there's a bullish indicator for real state this is it stay tuned Robby joins us next on the financial exchange.