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LHEAP Energy Assistance Programs
The LIHEAP assistance program is a federally funded energy bill assistance program. Help is provided to both struggling and lower income households who need assistance paying for their home energy bills. The program’s purpose is to assist lower income families and households with meeting their immediate home energy needs. Funds are available to help pay for both winter heating bills, as well as summer cooling bills, so the program provides year round assistance.
The program will always give priority to those families with the highest home energy needs, which usually means lower income households with a high energy and heating bills and/or the presence of a vulnerable individual in the household, such as a disabled family member, a young child, or a frail older individual.
Some forms of energy and heating bill assistance that is provided to low income households through local state government LIHEAP programs include: emergency bill assistance if a household's home energy service is either shut off or about to be shut off, financial assistance towards a household's heating or utility bill, and a wide range of other energy-related services are available if a states choose to offer them, such as utility equipment repair and replacement, weatherization upgrades and improvements, financial budgeting counseling and more. Find a listing of programs and how to apply.
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Who can receive LHEAP assistance?
Both renters and homeowners who are responsible for paying their home energy and heating bills and have a low or fixed income are eligible for this assistance. You do not need to have an unpaid utility bill to receive energy assistance, and you can also receive this money without being on welfare.
What types of assistance are available?
The Cash Grant is available to assist with paying your heating and utility bills. Once again, you do not need to have an unpaid bill or to be in crisis situation to receive a Cash Grant.
The other type of assistance is The Crisis Grant. This is for people who have a home heating emergency. This Crisis Grant differs from the Cash grant and it may provide you with additional financial assistance and help with paying the bill to end the emergency. For example, if you are in imminent danger of having your service shut off, the crisis grants can provide you immediate relief.
Emergency situations for the crisis LHEAP grant include:
- Lack of fuel such as heating oil.
- Cooling or heating equipment that does not work, or leaking lines that must be replaced or fixed.
- Termination of utility or heating service.
- Families who are in danger of being without fuel or who may be in danger of having their utility service turned off.
- Learn more on crisis assistance.
How to apply for low income assistance programs?
There are some conditions that need to be met in order to be able to receive aid. You usually need to apply for LHEAP from a local community action agency or your state government, and the programs themselves are run at the state level. Click here to find a listing of state government programs and community action agencies. Or find how to get help from from charities.
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Help from your utility company
Your local utility company can oftentimes direct you to an agency to apply to for LIHEAP. In addition, most energy providers will also offer the low income, elderly, unemployed, working poor, and disabled with their own companywide direct financial aid. Click here for more information.
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