What is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)?
As noted above, LIHEAP can provide assistance no matter how your home is heated (oil, propane, or wood, for example). To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, you must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or included in the rent. You must also have gross income below 225% of the federal poverty level (see the monthly income guidelines chart). While almost all income received by anyone in the household is counted, some is not. For example, income earned by a full-time student is not counted. Neither are payments received from other energy assistance programs, such as Lifeline. LIHEAP provides single payment grants to help with energy costs. The amount of the basic LIHEAP heating benefit varies based on income, household size, fuel type, and heating region. This year, the average heating benefit is expected to be between $400 and $500 for natural gas and electric heat customers, and approximately $1,000 for households that heat with oil, propane, and other fuels.
