MILLIONS of Americans sweltering through the summer heat will be able to get up to $800 to cool down in a statewide energy program.

Ohio residents can begin applying for the assistance grant in just weeks.

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The Department of Job and Family Services and Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission have started offering help to households struggling to pay electricity bills.

Struggling households can get up to $800 extra to help with electricity bills in Ohio Credit: Getty

Acting through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program, between July 1 and September 30 eligible residents can get assistance paying electric bills, purchasing an air conditioner or fan, or repairing a central air conditioning unit, according to a community announcement.

The program is designed to lift up residents facing potential service disconnection, households that have already been shut off or those that need to establish a new service.

Eligible households qualify if they include members who are aged 60 years or older and anyone with a documented medical condition.

Conditions included in the eligibility criteria include lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Residents will also face an income threshold set at 175 per cent of the federal poverty guidelines for households with up to seven people.

Larger households with eight people or more will have the threshold capped at 60 per cent of the state median income.

The income limit for a family of four is $57,750.

People already enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus program could always be eligible for more help, including air conditioning repairs or getting a unit or a fan.

The Summer Crisis Program assisted more than 55,000 Ohio households in its previous cycle.

It distributed $12.5 million in benefits.

Residents must book in an appointment with Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission to apply.

Appointments can be made by calling 740-396-8237.

For the appointment, residents need to provide: copies of recent energy bills, a list of household members and proof of income for the previous 30 days or 12 months, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members, proof of disability if applicable and physician documentation showing a need for cooling assistance for health reasons.