FERRIDAY, La. – Starting Thursday, those 60 years old and older, disabled people and people with children five years old or younger in Concordia Parish can apply for funds to help with utility bills.

The LaSalle Community Action Agency has received $42,287 from the federal government to help Concordians pay high utility costs, said agency Director Dorothy Oliver.

Applications for those funds will be taken from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Community Development Center. The center is located on E.E. Wallace Boulevard in Ferriday next to the parish unemployment office.

Those who meet criteria to be served under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program &uot;will be served on a first come, first served basis, which is how we have to do it according to law,&uot; Oliver said.

To be eligible, the total income for all persons in a household cannot exceed 150 percent of the poverty level, or at least one person in the household must be receiving federal assistance.

Income limits for the program range from $1,044 a month for a one-person household to $3,581 for an eight-person household.

Applicants should bring proof of income and/or receipt of AFDC, food stamps, Social Security, Veterans Affairs survivor pensions, retirement benefits, pensions and annuities. They must also bring printouts of the last 12 months of their light and gas bills.

This is not the first time Concordia Parish has received federal energy funds.

Last August, the agency also received $28,000 to help needy and elderly residents buy fans and air conditioners and pay electric bills that had risen due to high temperatures.