HHS Releases $5 Billion from Low Income Energy
Assistance Program for Winter
LIHEAP funds will help low-income households meet
heating and other energy needs, critical for many seniors
Oct. 17, 2008 A federal program that has been
critical to low-income senior citizens during the severe winters that
increase their need for heating fuel, has just released $5.1 billion to
assist states, territories, tribal areas and the District of Columbia
with addressing their energy needs.
The release of these funds will help low-income
families stay warm this winter, HS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. These
funds will also help reduce the risk of health and safety problems
exacerbated by exposure to extreme temperatures.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
funding is provided to states through the Office of Community Services
in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS. The funds
will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their heating and
other energy needs.
The funds released by the Bush Administration will
help our most vulnerable citizens, including the disabled, elderly and
children, said Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community
Services at ACF.
The release of funds is under the Fiscal Year 2009
Continuing Resolution, which says $4.5 billion in block grant funds and
$590 million contingency funds must be released by Oct. 30, 2008.
Block grant funds will be allocated to states under
a formula specified in the Continuing Resolution.
Of the $590 million in contingency funds, $100
million will assist states where large numbers of eligible households
use heating oil for heat: Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The remaining $490 million will
help individuals in all 50 states.
|
FY 2009
LIHEAP Gross Allocations Table |
|
STATE, OTHER |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
Alabama |
$64,273,998 |
|
Alaska |
$30,927,787 |
|
Arizona |
$31,083,671 |
|
Arkansas |
$39,710,892 |
|
California |
$248,486,694 |
|
Colorado |
$71,351,514 |
|
Connecticut |
$125,886,559 |
|
Delaware |
$18,748,265 |
|
District of Columbia |
$16,248,702 |
|
Florida |
$101,700,657 |
|
Georgia |
$80,409,964 |
|
Hawaii |
$5,182,356 |
|
Idaho |
$30,012,161 |
|
Illinois |
$265,679,324 |
|
Indiana |
$116,486,731 |
|
Iowa |
$76,929,443 |
|
Kansas |
$49,540,779 |
|
Kentucky |
$75,055,015 |
|
Louisiana |
$61,501,777 |
|
Maine |
$79,186,986 |
|
Maryland |
$109,164,402 |
|
Massachusetts |
$213,499,771 |
|
Michigan |
$249,416,480 |
|
Minnesota |
$163,982,395 |
|
Mississippi |
$42,621,613 |
|
Missouri |
$114,902,312 |
|
Montana |
$35,202,358 |
|
Nebraska |
$44,086,275 |
|
Nevada |
$14,599,076 |
|
New
Hampshire |
$47,736,727 |
|
New
Jersey |
$185,773,240 |
|
New
Mexico |
$27,451,018 |
|
New
York |
$538,243,391 |
|
North
Carolina |
$132,528,494 |
|
North
Dakota |
$38,240,410 |
|
Ohio |
$245,750,378 |
|
Oklahoma |
$52,878,236 |
|
Oregon |
$51,460,386 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$308,394,335 |
|
Rhode
Island |
$38,653,082 |
|
South
Carolina |
$51,046,655 |
|
South
Dakota |
$31,057,911 |
|
Tennessee |
$80,511,543 |
|
Texas |
$169,195,961 |
|
Utah |
$35,754,718 |
|
Vermont |
$36,155,603 |
|
Virginia |
$127,668,416 |
|
Washington |
$84,645,245 |
|
West
Virginia |
$45,018,758 |
|
Wisconsin |
$147,607,702 |
|
Wyoming |
$14,315,406 |
|
|
|
|
Total
to States |
$5,065,965,572 |
|
Territorial Allocations |
$6,734,428 |
|
Leveraging/REACH |
$27,000,000 |
|
Training & Technical Assistance |
$300,000 |
|
|
|
|
Total
Appropriation |
$5,100,000,000 |
For a complete list of state allocations of the
funds released today, see sidebar on right.
Individuals interested in applying for energy
assistance should contact their local/state/LIHEAP agency. For more
information, go to
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap.
More information is provided below:
About the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
If You Can't Afford To Pay Your
Home Energy Bill, Your Home May Not Be Safe, And You May Be At Risk Of
Serious Illness Or Injury.
The low income home energy assistance program (liheap)
may be able to help keep you and your family safe and healthy.
Stay Healthy In Your Home
Energy assistance is important to all that receive
it, but more so if someone in your home is elderly, disabled or a young
child under 6 years old. These persons are especially at risk for life
threatening illness or death if their home is too cold in the winter or
too hot in the summer.
Be Safe In Your Home
You can face safety risks if you are unable to pay
your home energy bills. Some people resort to unsafe methods to keep
their homes warm or cool. These include the use of fireplaces, stoves,
improperly vented portable heaters, barbecue grills, or overloading
electrical circuits. These methods are not only fire hazards, but also
create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
You or someone you know may be eligible for help
with home heating and/or cooling bills.
What is LIHEAP?
LIHEAP is a Federally-funded program that helps
low-income households with their home energy bills.
LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and
cool in the summer. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of health and
safety problems (such as illness, fire, or eviction).
The federal government does not provide energy
assistance directly to the public. Instead, LIHEAP operates in the 50
States, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes or tribal organizations,
and the U.S. territories.
Who is eligible to receive LIHEAP assistance?
The LIHEAP program in your community determines if
your household's income qualifies for the program. The LIHEAP program
may also require households to meet additional eligibility criteria to
receive LIHEAP assistance.*
*NOTE: The availability of LIHEAP
assistance is not guaranteed. Often most of the Federal LIHEAP funds are
spent during the winter.
What Assistance Does LIHEAP Provide?
Your LIHEAP program may be able to offer you one or
more of the following types of assistance:
● Bill payment assistance.
● Energy crisis assistance.
● Weatherization and energy-related home
repairs.
What information do I need to apply? You may
need the following:
● Recent copies of your utility bills.
● A recent payroll stub or other proof that
shows your current gross income.
● Documentation showing income from Social
Security, Unemployment Insurance, Pension Funds, disability, etc.
● Final Utility Termination Notice (if you've
received a shut-off notice from your energy company).
● Proof of present address (e.g., rent receipt,
lease or deed, property tax bill).
● Proof of total members living in your
household (e.g., birth certificates, school records, etc.).
● Social Security cards (or numbers) for all
persons living in your household.
● Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent
residence.
For More Information about LIHEAP and Where to
Apply
You can call the National Energy Assistance
Referral (NEAR) project. NEAR is a free service providing information on
where your can apply for LIHEAP. You can speak to someone at NEAR Monday
through Friday, from 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. (Mountain Time).
You can:
● Call the toll-free phone number at:
1-866-674-6327,
● send an e-mail to:
energyassistance@ncat.org or
● you can contact your
State's LIHEAP office
By U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services,
Division of Energy Assistance
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