Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
1. What is LIHEAP?
LIHEAP is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills. LIHEAP can help you stay
cool in the summer and warm in the winter. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of health and safety problems (such as illness, fire or eviction) The Federal government does not provide energy assistance directly to the public. Instead, LIHEAP operates in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes or tribal organizations and the U.S. territories.
2. Who is eligible to receive LIHEAP assistance?
The LIHEAP program in your community determines if your household income qualifies for the program. You must fall into one of these categories:
- ELDERLY - Must be at least sixty (60) years old.
- DISABLED - Must be receiving disability benefits from either Social Security or employer/insurance disability benefits.
- HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE (5) - Must provide birth certificates for children five (5) years old or younger.
The LIHEAP program may also require households to meet additional eligibility criteria to receive LIHEAP assistance.* *NOTE:
The availability of LIHEAP assistance is not guaranteed.
3. What assistance does LIHEAP provide?
Your LIHEAP program may be able to offer you one or more of the following types of assistance:
- Home Energy Assistance - an annual credit based on your income and household size.
- Crisis Energy Assistance - provides assistance for deposits and/or final notice.
If you can't afford to pay your home energy bill, your home may not be safe, and you may be at risk of serious illness or injury.
4. What information do I need?
- Recent copies of your utility bills
- Verification of your income for the past 12 months
- Documentation showing income from Social Security, Unemployment Insurance Pension Funds, Disability, Wages, etc.
- Birth certificates for all children 5 years old and under (if applicable)
- Social Security Numbers for all household members
- Photo Identification for all adult household members
- If disabled, verification of disability (Social Security Disability statement, or employer disability benefits statement)
- LIHEAP Assistance Application (Required)
- Self Declaration of Income Form (Required)
For more information, please read our LIHEAP Letter
5.Where can I apply?
To apply for energy assistance you can bring the required documents and forms to our office or mail in copies of the required documents and forms to our office.
6. Where can I find more information on LIHEAP?
You can call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) Project. NEAR is a free service providing information on where you can apply for LIHEAP. You can speak to someone at NEAR Monday
through Friday from 7 A.M. - 7 P.M. the toll free number is 866-674-6327.
Stay healthy in your home. Energy Assistance is important to all that receive it; but more so if someone in your home is elderly, disabled or a young child 5 years old and under. These persons are especially at risk for life threatening illness or death
if their home is too hot in summer or too cold in winter.
Stay safe in your home. You can face safety risks if you are unable to pay your home energy bills. Some people resort to unsafe methods to keep their homes cool or warm. These include the use of fire-places, stoves, improperly vented portable heaters,
or overloading electrical circuits. These methods are not only fire hazards, but also create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Please call for an application or assistance.