By Jordan Watts
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), also known as the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), is a federally funded program that provides Americans with financial support to pay energy bills. The program was introduced in 1981 to help mitigate health and safety concerns during periods of extreme temperatures. Recipients of HEAP benefits receive a one-time direct payment to their electricity company or utility provider, alleviating the pressure from energy bills on your budget.
HEAP also provides additional benefits, including emergency support, heating equipment repair or replacement, equipment cleaning and tuning, and cooling assistance. Each of these benefits is designed to help not only reduce the financial burden of utility bills on households and embrace initiatives to help lower your electricity consumption over time and improve energy efficiency.
Eligibility for the Home Energy Assistance Program is based primarily on your household income and size. While eligibility requirements vary by state and other received benefits. Your household is likely to qualify for HEAP benefits if:
You can determine if your household qualifies for benefits by filling out this form.
Beyond the regular benefits, the Home Energy Assistance Program also provides energy assistance throughout the year through its additional benefits. Each benefit is designed to improve energy efficiency and prevent unsafe situations for low-income households.
If you are eligible, the Emergency HEAP Benefit can help you heat your home if you are in a heat-related emergency during the winter. This includes situations where your electricity or natural gas heat is shut-off, or scheduled to be shut off during extreme weather. If your home depends on other sources of heat, such as a fireplace, you may qualify for emergency benefits if you’re running low on fuel. In these cases, HEAP may provide your household with wood or propane to keep your furnace running.
The Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit helps eligible homeowners repair or replace their furnace, boiler, or other direct heating equipment. You can only qualify for this benefit once every ten years. HERR benefit amounts are based on the actual cost to repair or replace the main heating source in your home. Typically they allocate up to $4,000 for repairs and $8,000 for a heating system replacement.
Reducing energy waste is key to saving money on utility bills, especially for those who depend on low-income home energy assistance. To address this, HEAP offers cleaning and tuning assistance to improve energy efficiency by keeping primary heating equipment in good condition. Other uses of this benefit include chimney cleaning, minor energy-related repairs, installing carbon monoxide detectors, and programmable thermostats. Benefit amounts for cleaning and tuning are based on the actual cost of providing the services.
If your household doesn’t have a working air conditioner or the air conditioner you have is five years old or older, you may qualify for the Cooling Assistance HEAP benefit. This benefit allows for the purchase and installation of an air conditioning unit or fan to help your home stay cool during extreme heat, especially during the summer. Households will only qualify for this benefit once every five years and one air conditioner or fan is allowed per household.
To apply for home energy assistance, you can contact your local community action agency or visit your local HEAP website. You can also apply by phone or in-person. Regular HEAP benefits open for application on an annual basis, so be sure to check that the program year is open. To qualify for benefits you’ll need to provide documentation including proof of income, household size, and historical energy bills.
If you’re looking for other ways to supplement the cost of energy for your household, consider looking into the following programs:
Low-income households can improve their home’s energy efficiency with financial support from the Weatherization Assistance Program. WAP studies your entire home and provides solutions to lower your energy costs, reduce energy waste, and improve your home health and safety.
You can improve the comfort, health, and safety of your home with appliance upgrades and electricity-related home repairs, thanks to the Energy Savings Assistance program. ESA provides little to no-cost weatherization services and energy-efficient upgrades to water heaters, furnaces, lighting, and refrigerators.
Find more information for financial assistance with utility bills in Texas here.
Reducing your energy bill can tremendously reduce financial stress on your monthly income. By taking steps to increase your energy efficiency, as well as shopping for the cheapest plans in deregulated energy markets, you can save as much as 20% each month.
To start, consider the following practical steps:
If you’re struggling to keep up with utility bills, the Home Energy Assistance Program is a vital resource. Not only is the program designed to provide you with the support you need to keep your home healthy and safe, it also can help you greatly improve energy efficiency. However, it’s also important to stay informed and reach out to multiple resources.
Make sure to take advantage of EnergyBot’s free, comprehensive tools to ensure that you’re not paying more than necessary for the energy in a deregulated market. You can get started today here.
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