BELHAVEN — The Town of Belhaven discussed adjustments to its utilities billing cycle at Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting due to changes regarding the arrival dates of Social Security and disability checks.

Alderman Julian Goff said that as it stands now, utility bills are usually sent at the first of the month, and payments are not considered late until the 15^th.

Town officials have heard some residents’ concerns about the changes in receiving their monthly income, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck, Goff said. These residents have asked for the town to adjust the date when a bill is considered late.

“Some people don’t have a cushion in their money they have on hand, and they live paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “They don’t pay the bill before the last paycheck they get before the (due date).”

At Monday’s meeting, the board declined to take any action at the time but asked town manager Woody Jarvis to look into whether the billing system could be adjusted to accommodate some of those residents.

Goff said the companies sending some of his bills allow customers to choose the week of the month they want to be billed, and this could perhaps be a solution for the utility bills.

“They were going to see how they could adjust it,” he said. “It probably won’t be many, we don’t think.”

Both Mayor Adam O’Neal and Goff said they were not aware of the changes being made with regard to Social Security and disability checks until Monday night’s meeting.

But O’Neal said at the meeting he thinks the issue is important and one that must be addressed.

“We’re kind of waiting to see what happens,” Goff said. “The town manager was going to see what was involved and come back with a recommendation.”

 

For a schedule of monthly Social Security payments, visit https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/calendar.htm.