Low-Income Home Energy Assistance

The objective of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to make awards available to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Native American tribes and tribal organizations for the purpose of assisting eligible house

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs.

All States, the District of Columbia, federally and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments and organizations, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may receive direct awards. Only LIHEAP recipients active in FY 2024 received IIJA LIHEAP awards. They did so without the need for a separate application.

Households with incomes up to the greater of 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) or 60 percent of the estimated State Median Income (SMI) are eligible for benefits-depending on the parameters set by the Recipient State, Tribe or U.S. Territory. Recipients may establish lower income eligibility levels, but they may not set the limit below 110 percent of FPG. Training and Technical Assistance Grants/Contracts: States, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and Territories managing LIHEAP programs are the intended beneficiaries of the technical assistance services. Citizens of Compacts of Free Association (COFA) countries (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau) residing in the United States are included in the definition of qualified non-citizens and are eligible as of March 9, 2024, for LIHEAP.

Up to 10 percent of these funds may be used for planning and administration by state and territories recipients. Tribal Organizations have a different administrative earmark. Up to 15 percent may be used for low-cost residential weatherization. Beginning April 1st each year, LIHEAP recipients may request in writing a waiver from HHS for that federal fiscal year to increase the amount of funds that can be allotted by the recipient for residential weatherization up to 25 percent of the total LIHEAP award for that year. Recipients must reserve a reasonable amount of funding for crisis assistance through at least March 15th each year. Depending upon specific appropriations, HHS may allocate supplemental LIHEAP leveraging incentive funds to current recipients, based upon receipt of a Leveraging Report made available by the Department regarding the extent to which the recipients acquired nonfederal leveraged resources to provide additional benefits and services to LIHEAP-eligible households to help them meet their home heating and cooling needs. Funds are used to conduct on-site compliance reviews of LIHEAP recipients and to provide training and technical assistance.

Block Grant awards are made to recipients with complete LIHEAP Model Plans for carrying out the program within the federal fiscal year. Up to 10 percent of a federal fiscal year's award may be held available for obligation by the recipient in the subsequent federal fiscal year. For Leveraging Incentive Funds or REACH funds, obligation must occur by the end of the federal fiscal year following the year in which the funds are appropriated, without regard to the 10 percent carryover limit. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: See the following for more information: Section 2607 of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, (42 USC 8626) as amended.

All prospective LIHEAP recipients must obtain public participation through inspection and comment on their proposed LIHEAP Plans prior to submitting their Plans to ACF. Additionally, States must conduct public hearings with respect to the proposed use and distribution of funds to be provided. Tribal recipients are not required to conduct public hearings; however, meaningful public input is required.

Each State. Territory, or Tribe desiring to receive an allotment for any federal fiscal year shall submit an application (LIHEAP Model Plan) via the ACF Online Data Collection (OLDC) system no later than September 1st each year, unless otherwise directed by ACF. The prospective recipient's Model Plan must contain certification of the federal LIHEAP assurances by the chief executive officer of the State (Tribal Chief/Chairperson), or his/her designee. The Model Plan must include an explanation of how the entity sought public participation on the Model Plan and to what extent their Model Plan and policies changed as a result of the public comments received.

Criteria pertinent to LIHEAP awards are announced in Action Transmittals or Dear Colleague Letters to eligible entities regarding regular energy assistance block grants, Leveraging awards, and/or REACH awards. Criteria for selecting REACH proposals would be published in the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs).

Block Grants are made following congressional appropriation and upon receipt of a complete LIHEAP Model Plan each fiscal year by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services via the OLDC system. Leveraging Incentive Funds can be awarded based on applications submitted by recipients when sought by ACF. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. The Residential Energy Assistance Challenge (REACH) is a competitive award program within LIHEAP dependent on congressional appropriation. ACF has not awarded REACH awards in last 10 years but if awards are made available in the future, instructions and award procedure would be made available to applicants.

For Block Grants, the Department reviews plans for completeness and compliance and will act on the plans submitted as quickly as possible. Leveraging Incentive and REACH applications will be reviewed and acted upon within deadlines. The range of review time varies for training and technical assistance applications depending upon the nature and complexity of a request for proposals and as established by the Department. Separate instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released.

Annual applications are required for Block Grants. Separate annual applications are also required for Leveraging Incentive Funds and REACH funds. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. For REACH awards, non-competing continuations will be issued for training and technical assistance based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with award terms and conditions, and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government.

There is no appeal for unsuccessful applicants for training and technical assistance. For existing recipients, appeals in regard to disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A.