While the economy may be recovering, it’s still a long way from being given a clean bill of health. If you still need to tighten your belt to save up or just pay for utilities, here are some utility bill assistance programs to help you avoid disconnection.
LIHEAP
The “granddaddy” of all energy assistance programs is LIHEAP, or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This government program is administered on the State level, and may be named differently. LIHEAP’s main goal is to help low-income earners and other qualified people with their utility bills, offering assistance in the form of subsidies, emergency payments or other forms of assistance, depending on the state.
LIHEAP is usually available to families whose income is between 110% and 150% of the national poverty limits. Depending on the state, this can also be about 60% of the average state income. Each state is allowed to have its own qualification guidelines, so it’s best to inquire about the exact details at your local government offices.
Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program
If you live in the Northwest or in Alaska, you can probably seek assistance from the Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program, which provides home heating oil at a discounted price to low-income households and the elderly. You have to apply at your area’s nearest participating help organization, with qualification subject to local guidelines. Though the application for 2010 is over, it’s a good idea to inquire for when applications for 2011 will be available.
Utility Companies
The utility company itself may have an in-house utility bill assistance program to prevent disconnection. If you do receive a notice, inquire with the company immediately so you can use their assistance options, if any.
Sign up on the box above for more information on and options for utility bill assistance and disconnection avoidance.
7 Responses
There are two ways to solve this: you should contact your local utility company to find out if they have assistance programs that can help you with paying the bills, and you should also inquire at your local government office if you qualify for the LIHEAP or weatherization programs as they are deployed in your state.
Posted on July 14th, 2010 at 10:37 am
i need help paying my electric bill i am already on a payment plan but my job has cut hours again and i can no longer pay it
Posted on July 22nd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Good morning:
My name is Mayra Angueira. I am reuqesting for help. I am a substitute teacher and in the summer I don’t work because school recess. I have been unable to find a job during the summer and my utility bill came to $360.00 and the service was interrupted.
A friend of mine told me about your program and I need to know where can I go in order to get assistance with this bill.
Thanks, Mayra Angueira
Posted on July 26th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Hello, Mayra!
One way is through applying for assistance with the local version of the LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). These are usually under the Department of Health and Human Services, so the local office is your best bet. You can also check with local government services that offer Weatherization Assistance Programs. Aside from that, you could also inquire with your utilities company if they have payment options that can accommodate your situation. You can also sign up and see if our offers can help you. Cheers!
Posted on July 27th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Hello, Nicole!
You may have to inquire and see if you qualify for cash assistance at your local government office, or if you qualify for some form of unemployment benefit. However, a more extreme solution would be to cut down drastically on your electrical usage with weatherization measures. Contact local government offices for the LIHEAP and WAP available in your area for advice and assistance.
Posted on July 28th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
how many times year will liheap help pay on energy bills,and if they helped once this year is there any way u can get emergancy assistance fof shut off notice from liheap?
Posted on August 5th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Hello, Barbara!
Unfortunately, that depends on the state LIHEAP programs themselves, if they allow that sort of arrangement. However, it’s usually a given that once their support amount for you is done for the year, you may have to find other sources for utility support.
Posted on August 13th, 2010 at 6:40 am
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