Where is the Governor’s Office located?

The Governor’s Office is located at 203 State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. It is on the second floor of the Capitol building along with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office (240 State Capitol) and the Executive Offices of the Secretary of the State (214 State Capitol)

How do I apply for food stamps?

To apply for Food Stamps you can contact the Georgia State Information Hotline Number: 1-800-869-1150 (outside metro area), or 404-657-9358 (inside metro area). The program is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Georgia SNAP. http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/states/georgia.htm

How can I find legal assistance?

To find a Georgia attorney, you can go to the State Bar of Georgia site. http://www.gabar.org/ To get free or reduced fees legal help contact: http://www.georgiaadvocates.org/
http://www.legalaid-ga.org/GA/index.cfm Catholic Social Services (Immigration Only); 680 West Peachtree Street, NW; Atlanta, GA 30308-1984; (404) 881-6571

How do I get PeachCare?

PeachCare is free or low-cost health insurance for Georgia’s uninsured children. To be eligible for PeachCare for Kids you must meet certain income verification requirements, and your child or children must be a U.S. citizen, certain qualified legal residents, refugees, or asylees. Contact the Georgia Department of Community Health at 1-877-427-3224 or visit their site. http://www.peachcare.org/

How do I get unemployment when I am out of work?

Unemployment Insurance is intended to provide temporary, partial wage replacement to workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own. You can use your telephone and go to the the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) Interactive Voice Response System, OLIVoR, to access locations of GDOL Career Centers, establish a PIN for unemployment insurance, claim weekly unemployment benefits, inquire about weekly unemployment payments, or to get information about a job listed on Job TV. Customers in the Metro Atlanta Area can dial 404-232-4290; Outside the Metro Atlanta Area customers can dial toll-free 1-866-873-5676.

How can I get help paying my utility bills?

If you cannot pay your bills, call the utility company’s customer service department. Don’t wait until you receive a late or shut-off notice. You may be able to work out a payment plan or use their budget-billing plan. Many civic groups, charitable organizations, and churches in local communities provide payment assistance to low income customers. For more information, contact your gas, electric, or telephone service provider.

Telephone Programs
Lifeline Assistance provides up to a $13.50 credit on qualified residential customers' bills in BellSouth's service area (a federal credit of $10 and an additional credit of $3.50 from BellSouth). Customers in other telephone companies' service areas receive the $10 federal credit.

Link Up Georgia
Link-Up Georgia reduces the cost of hook-up charges for eligible customers. BellSouth waives 100% of the telephone service hook-up charge for its customers. Customers of all other local telephone companies in Georgia receive a waiver of one-half of the connection charge or $30, whichever is less. Call your local phone company to see if you qualify.

Electric and Gas Programs

Weatherization
The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (www.gefa.org) distributes funds for weatherization assistance through Community Action Agencies for the repair or renovation of homes of low-income residents to make them more energy efficient. For more information call 404.656.3826 or contact your local Community Action Agency.

Low Income Energy Assistance
Most electric and gas utility companies provide an efficient means for their customers to help needy individuals by making it possible to include charitable donations with utility bill payments. Georgia Power Company and Atlanta Gas Light Company match funding contributed by their customers.

The Heating Energy Assistance Team ("HEAT") program is administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources statewide through Community Action Agencies. For more information call 404.656.6696 or your local Community Action Agency. Project SHARE is also a statewide program and is administered by The Salvation Army. For more information call 1.800.25SHARE or your power company's customer service number.

Senior Citizen Discount
Senior citizen discount rates provide savings for those who qualify. Customers who are at least 65 years old with a total household income of not more than $14,355 annually, are eligible to receive a $14.00 discount on their Georgia Power or Savannah Electric power bill. Natural gas customers in Atlanta Gas Light Company's delivery area may receive.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)/PSC Matching Grant for Seniors

As a resident of Georgia, you may qualify for a financial assistance program designed to help you pay your energy bills. The matching grant program for senior citizens receiving LIHEAP assistance is funded by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) and is administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR). Low-income consumers who meet the following criteria are eligible to receive assistance from the federally-funded LIHEAP, while low-income seniors receiving LIHEAP funds are eligible to receive a matching grant from the PSC:
Has an annual income at or below 150% of the poverty level for Georgia, is responsible for paying the cost of his or her home's primary heating source, and is a U.S. citizen or legally admitted alien. For more information or to apply for assistance, call the numbers listed below:
Department of Human Resources Fulton County and DeKalb County (inside city of Atlanta) 800.869.1150 404.320.0166

DeKalb County (outside city of Atlanta), Gwinnett County and Rockdale County 404.929.2454

Augusta area 706.722.0493

Savannah-Chatham area 912.238.2960

Macon-Bibb County 478.738.3240

Other Financial Assistance Programs:

The United Way, 2.1.1, or 404.614.1000

The Salvation Army, 404.873.3101, or 800.257.4273 - toll free

What if I don’t have heath care coverage?

If you have lost your health coverage and you need medical care, consider speaking to your doctor or hospital about making a payment plan. County public health departments provide a wide range of medical testing and screeing for disease, free immunizations, free well-child care care and evening neighborhood clinics. The Georgia Partnership for Caring assist uninsured Georgians in obtaining access to non-emergency health care services through a network of voluntary providers. Their number is (678) 578-2920, and 1(800) 982-4723 if outside of metro Atlanta calling area.

Where do I go for Veterans benefits?

Call the Department of Veterans Services Information Office at 404-656-5933, or visit their site.

How can I get temporary financial assistance?

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), commonly known as welfare, is the monthly cash assistance program for poor families with children under age 18. To apply for TANF, contact the county Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office in the county where you live, or call 1-800-869-1150.

How do I get Medicaid?

A federally and state funded health program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Your local Department of Family and Childrens Services (DFCS) can help you to determine whether you are eligible for this program.

How can I get Medicare?

Medicare is a federally administered system of health insurance available to persons aged 65 and over. For general Medicare information, ordering Medicare booklets, and information about health plans, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for assistance. English and Spanish-speaking customer service representatives at this number can answer questions about the Original Medicare Plan and provide up-to-date information regarding the health plans available in your area.

How do I get Social Security Benefits?

Questions about social security numbers or claims information should be directed to Social Security’s Administration free service at 1-800-772-1213 or toll free TDD service at 1-800-325-0778 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. business days.