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Division of Housing and Community Development

Division Home (FloridaCommunityDevelopment.org)

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

How to Apply For Help

To get an application and to find out how and where to apply for help, visit the following web page:

Look for the county in which you live - the agency's name and telephone number will be located below the name of the county. Call that agency and they will help you with the application process.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Navigation

You may be able to find answers to your questions faster by reviewing these most frequently asked questions before contacting us directly. If you still have questions, you can contact us through the link in question 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I apply for assistance? How do I get an application to apply for assistance? Eligibility is determined by the local agency providing Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) services in the county in which you live. You must contact them to find out if money is available, how to apply, and how to get an application. There is no web-based LIHEAP application available at this time. You must contact the agency for an application.
  2. How do I contact the local agency providing LIHEAP services in my county?
    1. Go to the Local Providers By County web page
    2. Look for the county in which you live. The LIHEAP agency name and telephone number are listed under the name of the county
    3. Call the agency
  3. Do I qualify? You may qualify for help if your total household income does not exceed the federal household income limits or if you are currently receiving the following assistance:
    • Supplemental Security Income
    • Food Stamps
    • Applied for and are currently eligible for Community Services Block Grant or Weatherization Assistance Program funds
  4. Does LIHEAP pay my bill each month? No. In Florida, LIHEAP assistance is not a monthly benefit. Depending on the funds available in your local area, you may receive assistance up to three times per year. If the demand for assistance is high and funds are not adequate, assistance may be limited to once per year. Contact the LIHEAP provider agency in the county where you live to see if funding is available and how to apply. The amount you could receive will depend on:
    • Whether you have a home energy crisis (determined by each individual agency)
    • If you have a home energy crisis, how much it will take to resolve the crisis
    • The number of people in your household
    • The total income of all people living in your household
    • If funds are available
  5. Does my utility service have to be disconnected before I can apply for LIHEAP crisis assistance? Most local LIHEAP providers do not require that you be without power before they will help you. Most agencies do require that you have a late payment notice or a disconnect notice. You are encouraged to contact the local LIHEAP agency prior to the date in which your utility services will be turned off. This will hopefully prevent the shut-off and any additional deposit and/or reconnect fees.
  6. Does my utility bill have to be listed in my name? Most local LIHEAP providers require that the person applying for assistance be the applicant or they must explain why the bill is not in their name. The bill must be for your house address. You must live in the household and provide proof of residency i.e., rental lease or other bills with your name and address on it.
  7. If I qualify for assistance, how are the payments made to my utility company? The LIHEAP provider makes the payments directly to your utility company on your behalf.
  8. Does LIHEAP pay for water, sewer or phone utility service? No. The purpose of the LIHEAP program is to assist low-income individuals and households pay their energy bill (heating or cooling costs) only.
  9. Will LIHEAP pay my natural gas or propane bill? LIHEAP will pay your natural gas or propane bill only in the winter and only if you use gas or propane as your primary heating source. If you use gas or propane for purposes other than heating only, such as for hot water or cooking, LIHEAP will not pay for it.
  10. Are LIHEAP benefits the same in Florida as in other states? Although LIHEAP is a federally funded program, each state is allowed to design its individual program. The benefits and program designs vary greatly from state to state. Qualifying for LIHEAP in another state does not automatically mean you will be able to receive the same level of help in Florida.
  11. I still have questions that were not answered here. Who can help me? The local agency providing LIHEAP services in the county in which you live can answer most questions. Question 2 above explains how you can contact them. If they are unable to answer your questions, you can contact the state office through the following link: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.