Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP)

DE, PA, & MD Grants for Heating Oil Bills

If you need help paying your heating bills or have a heating emergency… It is called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federal program designed to temporarily assist households who cannot afford to pay to keep their utilities on. Each state has its version of the program. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families pay their heating bills. LIHEAP is a grant. You do not have to repay it.

LIHEAP is a grant for low-income families unable to pay their heating bills and does not have to be repaid. These crisis grants are necessary because of the immediate danger of being without heat. A one-time payment is sent directly to the utility company/fuel provider and will be credited to your bill. Cash grants range from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income, and fuel type.

How does LIHEAP work?

LIHEAP offers both cash and crisis grants. Families may apply for the following:

Cash grants help families pay their heating bills. The one-time payment is sent directly to your utility company or fuel provider and will be credited to your bill. (Sometimes, the check may be mailed to you directly.) Cash grants range from $200-$1000 and are based on household size, income, and fuel type.
Crisis Grants may be available if you have an emergency and are in jeopardy of losing your heat. You can receive more than one Crisis grant, as necessary, during the season until the maximum benefit of $800 is reached

Crises include:

Broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced]
Lack of fuel
Termination of utility service
The danger of being without fuel (less than a 15-day supply) or of having utility service terminated (receiving a notice that service will be shut off within the next 60 days)

Please call your local county assistance office (CAO) if you have a heating emergency.

Hillside Oil Heating & Cooling is a proud heating oil provider for LIHEAP eligible customers in DE, PA, & MD.

Delaware: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Delaware Energy Assistance Program (DEAP) is a federally funded program for low-income families that need help meeting home energy costs. The Division of State Service Centers (DSSC) administers this program on a contractual basis with Catholic Charities, Inc. Funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). DEAP services assist income-eligible families in helping them meet their home energy needs. Income eligibility is defined as 200% of the federal poverty level.

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Fuel Assistance: Help with home energy bills from the period of October 1 – March 31. This includes grants to income-eligible households to help pay for home heating, which includes electricity, natural gas, kerosene, propane, coal, or wood. Grants are made to both homeowners and renters.
Crisis Assistance: This component helps households in crisis during the winter months and may be in the form of a supplemental grant to their fuel assistance benefit. In addition to being income eligible, households must show they are experiencing a crisis (i.e., shut-off notice, out of fuel, no money to pay for fuel).
Summer Cooling Assistance Program (SCAP): This program operates during the months of June-August and helps pay for electricity to cool homes with air conditioning during the hot, humid summer months. In addition to receiving a grant to offset the high costs of electricity to air condition a home, some populations may be eligible to receive a room-sized air conditioning unit.

It is important to call Catholic Charities to find out where and how to apply for assistance. To contact Catholic Charities call:

Kent County: (302) 674-1782
New Castle County: (302) 654-9295
Sussex County: (302) 856-6310

For additional information about LIHEAP, the following link is available:

www.neada.org

For further information, contact:
Division of State Service Centers
Herman Holloway Campus
Charles Debnam Building – Office of Community Services
Attn: LIHEAP Program Manager
1901 North DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 255-9875
Fax (302) 255-4463

Eligibility

Financial eligibility criteria vary from program to program. The most common benchmarks by which DSS sets income criteria are the following:

Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Tables
- 100% FPL
- 130% FPL
- 165% FPL
- 200% FPL

2017-2018 Countable Income Limits
100% FPL
Family Size	Gross Monthly Income
1	1,005
2	1,354
3	1,702
4	2,050
5	2,399
6	2,747
7	3,095
8	3,444
9	3,793
10	4,142

2017-2018 Countable Income Limits
130% FPL
Family Size	Gross Monthly Income
1	1,307
2	1,760
3	2,213
4	2,665
5	3,118
6	3,517
7	4,024
8	4,477
9	4,930
10	5,383

2017-2018 Countable Income Limits
165% FPL
Family Size	Gross Monthly Income
1	1,659
2	2,233
3	2,808
4	3,383
5	3,958
6	4,532
7	5,107
8	5,682
9	6,257
10	6,832

2017-2018 Countable Income Limits
200% FPL
Family Size	Gross Monthly Income
1	2,010
2	2,708
3	3,404
4	4,100
5	4,798
6	5,494
7	6,190
8	6,888
9	7,586
10	8,284

For information about income limits for the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) Programs follow the below link http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dmma/fpl.html

Delaware Energy Assistance Program

Pennsylvania: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Statewide Toll-Free Hotline 1-866-857-7095

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and wish to communicate with the helpline may call PA Relay Services by dialing 711.

LIHEAP helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. Crisis grants also are for households in immediate danger of being without heat. Cash grants send a one-time payment directly to the utility company/fuel provider and will be credited to your bill. Cash grants range from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income, and fuel type. Remember: This is a grant and does not have to be repaid.

If you believe you are in a heating crisis, contact your local county assistance office (CAO).

A listing of CAOs and other helpful information can be found at: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/LIHEAP.aspx

Apply online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are also available at your local county assistance office.

How do I apply?

Apply online at: www.compass.state.pa.us
Request an application by calling the Statewide LIHEAP Hotline at 1-866-857-7095 or PA Relay at 711 for the hearing impaired.
Applications are available at your local CAO

To apply, you will need:

Names of people in your household
Dates of birth for all household members
Social Security Numbers for all household members
Proof of income for all household members
A recent heating bill

After processing your application, you will receive a written notice telling you if you qualify. If eligible, it will tell you the amount of your grant.

ELIGIBILITY

You must meet income guidelines
You don’t have to be on public assistance
You don’t need to have an unpaid heating bill
You can rent or own your home

INCOME GUIDELINES

You may qualify for a LIHEAP grant if your household income meets the following income guidelines:

After your application is processed, you will receive a written notice that will tell you if you qualify. If eligible, it will tell you the amount of your grant.

INCOME GUIDELINES (2020 – 2021 LIHEAP)

Household Size 1: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 19,140

Household Size 2: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 25,860

Household Size 3: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 32,580

Household Size 4: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 39,300

Household Size 5: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 46,020

Household Size 6: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 52,740

Household Size 7: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 59,460

Household Size 8: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 66,180

Household Size 9: | Maximum Annual Income:$ 72,900

Household Size 10: | Maximum Annual Income: $ 79,620

Each Additional Person” Add $ 6,720

APPLY

To apply, you will need: names of people in your household, dates of birth for all household members, Social Security numbers for all household members, proof of income for all household members, and a recent heating bill. There are three ways to apply for LIHEAP: online, on paper, or in person.

Online

Apply for the LIHEAP benefits online using COMPASS, an online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for health and human service programs and manage benefit information.

On paper

When the program officially opens for the season, you will be able to download a paper application right here, print it, fill it out, and return it to your local county assistance office.

In person

Visit your local county assistance office to fill out an application in person.

After your application is reviewed, you will receive a written notice explaining your eligibility and the amount of assistance you will receive. Please allow 30 days for a response.

CRISIS GRANTS

Households experiencing a heating crisis may be eligible for additional benefits through the LIHEAP crisis program. 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)
Danger of having utility service terminated (you’ve received a notice that service will be shut off within the next 60 days)

MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT INFO

For more information about LIHEAP, please contact your county assistance office, or call the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095, Monday through Friday. Individuals with hearing impairments may call 711.

Assistance with home heating crisis situations is available 24 hours a day. In most counties, you should contact your county assistance office.

MORE INFORMATION

Pennsylvania Energy Assistance Program

Maryland: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), Nationally known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), is a federally-funded program that helps low-income households with home energy bills. LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Doing so can reduce the risk of health and safety problems (such as illness, fire, or eviction).

The Maryland LIHEAP program may be able to offer you one or more of the following types of assistance:

Bill payment assistance.
Energy crisis assistance.
Weatherization and energy-related home repairs.

ELIGIBILITY

In order to qualify, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:

Household Size*	Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1	$20,790
2	$28,035
3	$35,280
4	$42,525
5	$49,770
6	$57,015
7	$64,278
8	$71,558

*For households with more than eight people, add $7,280 per additional person. Always check with the appropriate managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines.

The LIHEAP program in your community ultimately determines if your household’s income qualifies for the program.

You must be a resident of the state of Maryland and you must need financial assistance with home energy costs.

The Maryland LIHEAP program may also require households to meet additional eligibility criteria to receive LIHEAP assistance.

A person who participates or has family members who participate in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or certain needs-tested Veterans benefits may be automatically eligible.

In order to qualify, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:

Household Size*	Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1	$20,790
2	$28,035
3	$35,280
4	$42,525
5	$49,770
6	$57,015
7	$64,278
8	$71,558

*For households with more than eight people, add $7,280 per additional person. Always check with the appropriate managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines.

APPLY

To apply for LIHEAP online, please visit the Office of Home Energy Programs Applying for Energy Assistance page.

To find a local office, please visit the Department of Human Resources Local Home Energy Program Office page.

MORE INFORMATION