The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the United States federally funded program that aims to assist households with low-income paying for their home energy needs. The program was established in 1981 and is a part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It gives participants a cash grant to pay off their home heating or cooling bills.
An Overview of the Program
LIHEAP provides one-time financial assistance to qualifying low-income households who require support in paying their home energy bills. The federal government does not provide the fund directly to the participants. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides the federal fund to each of the fifty states, U.S. territories, and tribal governments. It is up to the state and other government entities to administer the program and distribute funds among participants accordingly.
State legislatures often provide additional grants each year to supplement federal LIHEAP funds adhering to the goals and policies of LIHEAP. Usually, the program is run on a first-come, first-served basis in most states. So, you got to make haste if you want to enjoy the benefits. Most agencies that assist the program close their doors as soon as the funding is over.
Besides providing the heating and cooling energy costs and bill payment assistance, the program offers energy crisis assistance, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs. Many participants get weatherization support in which LIHEAP agencies send contractors to residences of the participants to make material changes to help retain heat or install more fuel-efficient furnaces. Many state LIHEAP agencies make it mandatory to accept the service of weatherization if the LIHEAP assistance is approved.
What are the Benefits of LIHEAP
The grants given to the participants for paying for their home energy needs range between $500 to $1,500. The final amount will depend on the applicant’s income, family members, and fuel type. The following benefits are commonly enjoyed by the participants: It provides one-time financial assistance to help with an eligible household’s utility bill; There are certain crisis situations as defined by the State where you can qualify for additional benefits; You will receive education on basic energy efficiency practices and instruction on the proper use and maintenance of the newly installed weatherization measures at your residence; and through LIHEAP Weatherization eligible low-income households will get free energy efficiency upgrades to lower their monthly utility bills while also improving the health and safety of the household’s occupants
Households experiencing an emergency situation may qualify for additional benefits through the LIHEAP crisis program. The situations which can be termed emergencies include: heating equipment that has failed or leaking lines that must be repaired or replaced; fuel scarcity; the primary heating source or secondary heating source has been completely turned off; the risk of running out of fuel (less than a 15 day supply); or the risk of losing utility service (you’ve received notice that service will be terminated within the next 60 days).
Who is Eligible to Apply
The target population of LIHEAP generally includes households with low incomes, and/or have members who are elderly, disabled, and/or a young child. Eligibility for the program is based on household size and the gross annual income of every household member. For instance, a household of 4 members cannot have an income of more than $41,625 annually. You can go to benefits.gov and select LIHEAP. You will get a list of the income criteria for every household on the website. A person who participates or has family members who participate in certain other benefit programs, such as SNAP, SSI, and TANF, may be automatically eligible.
How to Apply for LIHEAP
To find out if you are eligible to apply for LIHEAP benefits, you can check the State or Tribal LIHEAP office. If you are eligible, you can apply online or offline for LIHEAP benefits. Every state has its own rule when it comes to applying for LIHEAP. Some require you to come to the LIHEAP office and apply in person for the first time. Households need to apply each year. After a year, the application will be sent to your household.
For online application, you will need to visit the official website of your State Health and Human Services. Similarly, for offline, you need to download the application from the website and carry it with you to the office. The application form requires quite a lot of information including your main heating source, the fuel dealer you want to enjoy benefits from, income details, and personal information, among other information. After your application is reviewed, you will receive a notice informing your eligibility and the amount of assistance that you will receive.
How to Contact
For any assistance in applying for LIHEAP benefits, you may call 1-866-674-6327 or write to [email protected]. The program is administered from the federally owned building at Mary E. Switzer Building, 5th Floor, 330 C Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20201. The official phone number listed is 202-401-9351. You can visit the website for contact details of staff according to the region.
