LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program for African Americans

Energy bills are something that millions of people around the country need help paying. They continue to roll in each month and if you don’t pay them you may have your utilities shut off. It can be difficult to go without things like electricity and heat, making it crucial that the utility bills get paid. Those who struggle financially should turn to energy assistance programs, including LIHEAP.

Energy assistance programs help African Americans and others who may need help paying their utility bills. With the rising costs of utilities and most other things in recent years, it has led to many people struggling to pay their bills. Being able to get help with paying the monthly bills is crucial so that people can avoid a disruption in their services.

One of the most popular energy assistance programs is known as LIHEAP. The more you know about the program the more it will make sense to apply for help through the program.

LIHEAP Explained

The program is known as LIHEAP, but stands for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It is a program that is funded by the federal government and is available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Anyone who has a low income can apply for help with  paying their energy bills through this program. If you can show you have a low income there is a good chance you will get the help you need in paying for utilities.

The program will provide assistance with paying for your utility bill, including heating bill. If you meet the qualifications and are approved for the assistance they will send it directly to your energy provider and your account will be credited. They do not send you the funds to pay your bill. They will pay your energy bill directly to the provider on your behalf.

Qualifications for LIHEAP

In order to get help paying your energy bills through LIHEAP, you have to first meet the qualifications and be approved for the program. No matter what state you live in, the qualifications are going to be similar, because it’s a federally funded program that is equally open to everyone around the country.

Here are some of the qualifications necessary to be approved for LIHEAP:

• Have a low income. The amount that they require varies by state, because people make different average incomes in each state. Check with your state’s LIHEAP requirements to see if you meet the income qualifications. If you have a low income you should not have any issues in getting approved for help with your energy bill payment assistance through this program.
• Be a legal citizen. The program is typically open to legal citizens and those who are legal non-citizens. This does not mean there is no energy assistance for those who are not in the country legally, but you may need to inquire about programs for refugees or immigrants, if that is what you are in need of.
• Be responsible for the bill. The person who is applying for the LIHEAP program has to be the one that is responsible for paying the energy bill. In other words, you can’t have one person apply for the program and yet the bill they want paid is in someone else’s name. Both will have to be the same. The person applying for the assistance has to be the same person who is on the bill that needs to be paid.

Other Things to Know About LIHEAP

There is no limit on how long you can get help through LIHEAP, as long as you continue to meet the qualifications to be approved. Each time you apply and are approved, they will pay one of your energy bills. You will need to keep applying for the program as you need the help. Usually you can apply up to three times per year.

It is important to note that LIHEAP is a block grant program. What this means is that the federal government gives a lump sum of money, called a block grant, to each state periodically that is used to pay for people’s energy bills. Once that sum of money has been depleted, the program doesn’t have any  more money to pay people’s bills, until they get their next payment from the federal government.

Keeping this in mind, it’s a good idea to apply early and as soon as you know you need help paying the energy bill. Otherwise, the funds may already be depleted and then you will have to wait until they receive more from the federal government. You will not apply for the program every month, but do try to keep up with a schedule of three times per year, if you know that you need the assistance more than once.

They do offer emergency energy assistance for those who are being threatened with a shut off notice or need immediate help. Contact them to inquire about getting immediate assistance.

How to Apply for LIHEAP and Additional Information

LIHEAP is handled by offices in every state. You will apply with the office that is in your state or geographic area. You may be given the opportunity to apply if you are going to a local social services office or if you are contacting other government offices for various forms of assistance. To get more information about the program and apply, click here.

While the program is known for providing energy assistance, there is additional help you can get through it. LIHEAP will also provide free weatherization services, which will help reduce your monthly energy bills. This is due to them providing free services that will make your home more energy efficient. When the home becomes more energy efficient, it will help you use less energy each month, and there will be a reduction in your bills each month. They can also help with energy related repairs. With this, they can help pay for repairs or replacements to your heating unit.

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