LIHEAP crisis - Emergency utility bill assistance from LIHEAP in your state

LIHEAP crisis grants provide emergency utility bill help

Emergency, or crisis LIHEAP (or your state’s version of it), provides grant money to pay utility bills to keep the electricity, heat or gas on. The funds are often provided immediately, sometimes the same day or within 24 business hours. Most states offer a crisis assistance component through their Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to low-income families, seniors or disabled people.

Find where to apply for crisis LIHEAP grants in your area - state below

Free government money from LIHEAP emergency program

LIHEAP crisis grants provide emergency utility bill help.

This federal and state funded service will provide a qualified applicant with a grant for paying their past due utility bills in less time than alternative solutions - with the goal of preventing a shut off. Applications can be done online or through a state agency or community action. While the specifics of each state’s individual emergency LIHEAP program will vary slightly, in general crisis or emergency assistance works as follows.

Free government money from LIHEAP emergency program: Hardship funds from a LIHEAP crisis grant, in effect financial assistance for paying electric bills, will be made available during the winter or summer to help individuals who are out of options and who are therefore in a crisis situation.

There is immediate electric bill help for senior citizens, disabled people, and others, such as single moms with no money or the sick or chronically ill. In general, LIHEAP funds are offered ASAP to people may be about to have their electric or gas disconnected. It will also give priority to people who have run out of heating fuel during the winter, are faced with extreme summer temperatures, or have some other emergency.

Or there may be crisis funds to fix an air conditioner or to pay even for one or to pay a light bill. The goal is to help a family keep their service on while they apply for other, longer term help.

How to qualify for crisis assistance from LIHEAP (or your state’s version): In order to qualify for help from the federal government and/or state government funded LIHEAP crisis assistance program in your state , some or all of the following must typically be met.

Find how to get an application for an emergency LIHEAP grant near you below. The applicant needs to be threatened with disconnection of their utility, electric or heating service . Or they may have also received a shut-off or disconnection notice from their utility or gas provider. Or the low-income families applying for financial help from the free government crisis LIHEAP program must currently have their heating or utility service disconnected, or lack heat in their home or apartment.

In these cases, they will need help in reactivating their utility or heating service. If someone is running out of fuel during the winter, whether heating oil, kerosene, propane, firewood or other sources, than the emergency assistance program may be able to help in those situations.

Usually the individuals must have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel left. The family or individuals must have either broken, inoperable or unsafe heating equipment in their primary residence. Amount of financial help from LIHEAP crisis or emergency program: The amount of money from the LIHEAP crisis grant will vary.

This will depend on the specifics of your state governments Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Another key factor is the level of funding that may be made available at the state and federal government level. If you apply and meet the criteria, eligible households will receive free government assistance from the crisis component of LIHEAP to prevent their service from being interrupted or to restore service to the home.

In addition, other forms of Crisis Assistance provided by LIHEAP may include: Funds to pay a heating or utility bill in order to prevent disconnection of service. This is always a better option as it is pro-active. The program may provide a grant for the payment of utility or heating security deposits.

In other words, some states allow free LIHEAP crisis grant money to turn the heat or electricity back on. Replenish primary heating oil for the applicant. Purchase of portable space heater or a can to keep a senior citizen cool during the summer. Or money may pay for an air conditioner, and learn more LIHEAP air conditioning programs Provide for the repair or replacement of primary heating equipment, such as a furnace, hot water tank, or fireplace.

Or the government money will pay for the provision of supplemental heating equipment/maintenance and HVAC tune ups. If the individuals or family is facing unlivable conditions, the crisis assistance can provide for the payment for emergency shelter for the individuals.

Apply for crisis funds from Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: The program is run at the state and local government level. Your best option is to

How to qualify for crisis assistance from LIHEAP (or your state’s version)

contact the local community action agency in your area for an LIHEAP crisis grant . F ind contact information by state below

. They will be able to provide information and/or process applications to the program. Click here to find a listing of non-profits, government agencies, and community action agencies that you can apply for LIHEAP crisis assistance from as well as other

Amount of financial help from LIHEAP crisis or emergency program

emergency assistance from community action agencies

Some of the states and their main public phone numbers to apply for LIHEAP emergency funds are below. Many states also have online applications. These agencies may also have information or referrals to intake sites. However the processing of applications for emergency energy bill assistance, furnace repairs, and disconnection prevention is usually outsourced to local non-profit agencies.

Phone number for crisis LIHEAP application: Applications are accepted by each state, either online, in person, or over the phone. Find how to apply for LIHEAP emergency grant money in your state . In addition, in general, the money is issued within a few days, and sometimes it may be as short as 24 hours to people with a disconnection notice.

More information on some of the criteria is also listed on the HHS - Division of Energy Assistance sponsored online portal here https://liheapch.acf.gov/tables/crisis.htm Alabama: Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Community Services Division, 1-800-392-8098. Find other details on Alabama LIHEAP program Alaska:

Apply for crisis funds from Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance, 1-800-470-3058. This crisis program is known as LIEAP in Alaska Arizona , Department of Aging and Adult Service, 1-800-582-5706.

A major focus is on paying AC or electric bill during the summer to stop a shut off. Or find details on Arizona LIHEAP applications / Arkansas , Division of Environmental Quality -Arkansas Energy Office, LIHEAP. Residents who need details on the crisis program, for their information the public information phone number is 501-682-0977.

Continue with Arkansas LIHEAP crisis funds California , Department of Community Services and Development, 1-866-675-6623. LIHEAP crisis funds are also for people on Cal-Works or Cal-Fresh benefits, and find how to get a LIHEAP application in California Colorado , Energy Assistance Division, Colorado Department of Human Services, 1-866-432-8435.

The benefit is known as LIEAP in Colorado Connecticut , Community, Energy & Refugee Services, Department of Social Services, LIHEAP Division, 1-800-842-1132. They process emergency LIHEAP applications for electric or gas bills and offer other aid, and more on Connecticut LIHEAP Delaware , Department of Health and Social Services, Division of State Service Centers, 1-800-464-4357.

Get more details on Delaware LIEAP applications: District Of Columbia , Energy Affordability Division, District Department of the Environment, 202-673-6750. Social services in DC helps the low-income, and continue with DC LIHEAP Florida , Community Assistance Section, Office of Housing and Community Development, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, 850-717-8450.

A majof focus of the LIHEAP crisis grant money is on AC and summer electric bills, and more on emergency LIHEAP in Florida Georgia , Department of Human Services LIHEAP, Division of Family and Children Services. Emergency phone number is 1-800-869-1150. Applications to a crisis grant are done ASAP, and more on Georgia LIHEAP Hawaii , Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division, Financial Assistance Office, 1-808-586-5740 for details on year round government utility help from the Hawaii LIEAP benefit Idaho , Division of Welfare, Department of Health and Welfare, 1-800-926-2588.

Year round electric bill help is offered, with a focus on winter heating costs. Find details on Idaho Idaho LIEAP applications Illinois , Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Energy Assistance, 1-877-411-9276. Free grant money, AC units or HVAC repairs and grant money is offered in a crisis.

More on Illinois LIHEAP Indiana , Housing and Community Development Authority, 1-800-872-0371. The program is known as HEAP in Indiana Iowa

, Division of Community Action Agencies, Department of Human Rights, 515-281-3861. The statewide office processes LIHEAP applications, with an online portal too. Look more for Iowa LIHEAP crisis funds Kansas , Social & Rehabilitation Services, 1-800-432-0043. Find details on how to get LIEAP in Kansas Kentucky , Department for Community Based Services, Division of Family Support, 1-800-456-3452.

Emergency financial assistance for electric, light, and AC bills is available. More on emergency LIHEAP money in Kentucky Louisiana , Housing Co

Phone number for crisis LIHEAP application