HHS releases LIHEAP funds, launches national eligibility tool
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it was making nearly $3.7 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available for qualifying American households.
Released through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the funding will help households across the country pay for home heating. So far, the Biden Administration has invested nearly $22 billion in KIHEAP, including $100 million in increased funding that was part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in addition to regular appropriations from the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024.
“LIHEAP is critical to lowering energy costs for families, and protecting the health and safety of households, particularly those that include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and young children,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said. “With additional support from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this essential program will help households keep the heat on in the winter and stay cool in the summer while still being able to afford other essentials necessary for good health like food, medicine, and housing.”
Administered by ACF’s Office of Community Services (OCS), LIHEAP funding is released each year to states, tribes and territories to assist families with heating, cooling, home energy equipment repair or replacement, and minor energy-related home repairs. ACF also announced that it is officially launching an eligibility tool that will help households across the country identify if they are eligible for LIHEAP assistance.
“We know that for families and individuals with low incomes, many of whom work overtime or work multiple jobs to make ends meet, it can often be difficult and time consuming to figure out if they meet the eligibility requirements for a specific program,” OCS Director Dr. Lanikque Howard said. “The LIHEAP eligibility tool alleviates some of this burden by allowing households to more quickly identify if they might be eligible in their service area.”
