Mammoth AwardsHere’s a quick background on the program and how to apply for its money-saving benefits.
As you try to hold on to every dollar you have, you’ll have to get picky about how you spend your money. Unfortunately, there are some places where you can’t be picky, such as housing, food, and utilities.
All are necessities that cannot be avoided, but when it comes to utilities like electricity, the good news is that some help may be on the way.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, has been around for decades. The government instituted it to help low-income households pay for heating and cooling costs. It’s essential to keep this in mind, as qualifying for LIHEAP does not mean that your entire electricity bill will be taken care of.
Still, such assistance could make a significant difference in your monthly budget, especially in months where temperatures are particularly hot and cold. During these times, when your AC or furnace always runs, those energy bills can skyrocket. With LIHEAP paying for a portion of those bills, you can keep more money in your pocket.
While LIHEAP’s bill-paying assistance aspect is nice, its “weatherization” features may be even better, as they could cut your future heating and cooling costs via improvements to your home. If your local LIHEAP office offers weatherization, you could make your home more energy-efficient via added insulation, proper sealing, or repairs to an inefficient AC or furnace.
Now that you know how LIHEAP can help, let’s look at what you can do to receive these benefits.
How to Get Energy Bill Assistance Through LIHEAP
Follow these steps to apply for LIHEAP:
1. Do a quick prescreen of yourself.
LIHEAP benefits are awarded according to need. Each local office has its own requirements, but here is what you can expect to qualify for the program:
Income – You may need to make less than 150% of the poverty level to qualify. There may be a state-specific requirement, as well.
Government assistance – Simply receiving benefits from other government programs could lead to automatic eligibility with LIHEAP.
Regarding government assistance, receiving benefits from any of the following could make you eligible for LIHEAP:
- Veteran’s benefits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Also, if you reside in public/subsidized housing and are a renter, you could qualify for the program’s energy bill assistance.
Use this prescreen to get an idea of whether or not you’d be a candidate for the program. Don’t let it disqualify you, though, as the next step should be taken regardless.
2. Get in touch with your local office.
Your nearest LIHEAP office will guide you through the application process. You can locate yours by clicking here.
If money is tight and you need help with paying your bills now, don’t delay in taking this step. LIHEAP funds are not infinite, so the quicker you get approved, the more likely you are to receive them.
