How to Apply for LIHEAP (Low Income Heat Assistance Program)

Bills for heat and hot water can be a burden in winter.

Heating a home, especially in areas where winters are deadly cold, can cost a substantial amount of money. For many low-income homeowners or tenants, the cost of keeping warm is prohibitive. Recognizing this, the federal government has an assistance program in place known as LIHEAP, or the Low Income Heat Assistance Program. It's relatively simple to apply for the funds and could mean the difference between a cold, budget-breaking winter and a warm, comfortable one.

Things You'll Need

• Income verification

Instructions

1. Gather household income information for the past three months. This not only includes income from work, but also child support and any other type of non-taxable income as well. The appropriate state agency needs to have these documents as proof of income and you can use them to determine your eligibility.

2. Calculate your gross income -- the amount you make before taxes -- and check to see whether the sum is between 100 percent and 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Though it varies from state to state, most LIHEAP funding assists families within this income bracket. The poverty guidelines, released at the beginning of each calendar year, change annually and are posted at ASPE.HHS.gov.

3. Find the agency in your state responsible for taking and processing applications for LIHEAP funds on the LIHEAP Clearinghouse website or by calling the National Energy Assistance Referral project at [phone].

4. Apply online or contact your state agency and make an appointment to apply for funds. It may be a few weeks or even a month or two before your appointment, depending on how busy the agency is, but keep at it. Ask the person who makes the appointment what information, other than income verification, you will need to bring with you. Bringing the necessary information with you ensures that the paperwork can be processed more quickly once your application is filed.

5. Call your fuel company to confirm that it participates in LIHEAP. Some companies do not participate and, if yours does not, call around to find a company who does participate. If you are unable to locate one on your own, your state agency can provide you with a list of participants.

6. Attend your appointment and bring all the requested paperwork. Talk to the intake worker about other facets of the program. Qualified families often can also get assistance with weatherization costs and a reduction of utility costs as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient. Applications take some time to process, so you may need to wait to find out if you've received funding. Do let the intake worker know if you are dangerously low on fuel and won't be able to purchase any more. In many cases, there are emergency funds available to help in such situations.

References

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children & Families: LIHEAP BrochureLIHEAP Brochure
• ASPE.HHS.gov: 2011 Poverty Guidelines

Resources

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children & Families: State Energy Assistance Applications
• North Dakota Department of Human Services: Application for Heating Assistance
• USAC: 2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines