The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, helps low-income families pay their heating bills. LIHEAP is a grant that offers assistance in the form of a cash grant, sent directly to the utility company, or a crisis grant for households in immediate danger of being without heat. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program opened on November 1, 2016.
How to Apply: There are three different ways you can apply for LIHEAP: online, on paper, or in person.
- You can apply for the LIHEAP benefits online by using COMPASS. COMPASS is the name of the website where you can apply for LIHEAP and many other services that can help you make ends meet.
- Download an application for LIHEAP benefits by clicking on the links below and return it to your local county assistance office:
English- Energy Assistance Spanish-Energy Assistance Application
- File an application at your local county assistance office.
Crisis Grants:
In addition to the LIHEAP cash program, households experiencing a heating crisis may be eligible for additional benefits through the LIHEAP crisis program.
The Crisis program opened on November 1, 2016.
Emergency situations include:
- Broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced
- Lack of fuel
- The main heating source or second heating source (a source that is used to operate the main heating source or used if the main heating source is not working) has been completely shut-off
- Danger of being without fuel (less than a 15 day supply) or of having utility service terminated (received a notice that service will be shut off within the next 60 days)
Assistance with home heating crisis situations will be available 24 hours a day; in most counties, you should contact your local county assistance office. However, residents of the two counties listed below are encouraged to directly contact their local agencies that operate the crisis component in their areas:
- Luzerne – Commission on Economic Opportunity of Luzerne Co., 1-800-822-0359;
- Wyoming – Commission on Economic Opportunity of Wyoming Co., (570) 836-4090.
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