Big Bills and Little Kids: LIHEAP Heating Help for Families

Questions this episode answers

Key facts

• No. LIHEAP eligibility is based on income, and each state has its own requirements. ACF says LIHEAP helps keep families safe and healthy (ACF).
• LIHEAP can help with heating and cooling costs, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy related home repairs (ACF).
• ACF says LIHEAP does not give grants straight to people and does not charge a fee for a benefit.
• For the Weatherization Assistance Program, the Department of Energy says both homeowners and renters are eligible to apply. For LIHEAP, ask your state or local office about its rules (Department of Energy).
• Weatherization is a Department of Energy program that makes homes more energy efficient. Households at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines, or on SSI, may qualify, and families with children get priority (Department of Energy).
• A national evaluation found households save on average $372 or more every year (estimated). Source: https://www.energy.gov/scep/wap/weatherization-assistance-program
• The National Energy Assistance Referral line, 1-866-674-6327, weekdays 9 am to 7 pm Eastern, can point you to your local office. ACF also points to EnergyHelp.us to find where and how to apply (ACF).
• Shutoff policies differ by state. Contact your state or local office as soon as you can (USAGov).

Chapters

1. 00:00Voicemail: Tasha asks if heating help is just for older folks
2. 00:24Show open
3. 00:36Last time: health coverage when you work for yourself
4. 00:45Big bills and little kids
5. 00:53What LIHEAP is
6. 01:06Welcome to Your Daily Benefit
7. 01:11What it can help pay for
8. 01:27Who may qualify
9. 01:50Money for this heating season
10. 01:58Weatherization, a separate program
11. 02:16On the street: what people think
12. 03:04Three fixes
13. 03:41Who to call
14. 04:10If your heat gets shut off
15. 04:19You apply yourself
16. 04:25Benefit Bull helps you look
17. 04:36The answer for Tasha
18. 04:45Next time: the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
19. 05:06AI voices note

Find help

• Full episode page with transcript
• All Your Daily Benefit episodes
• What Happens When You Apply (Benefit Bull guide)
• EnergyHelp.us, the site ACF points to for where to apply

Benefit Bull helps you find programs. You always apply yourself, through the official program.

Sources

Full transcript

1. 00:00

   Tasha (voicemail): Hi, um... hi. My name's Tasha. I've got two little ones, a three year old and a baby. And our heat bill just, um, it doubled. I heard there's help with heating bills? But isn't that just for, like, older folks? I'm twenty nine. And honestly, who do I even call? Okay. Thanks. Bye.

2. 00:25

   Nayva: Okay, Tasha. Two good questions. Is heating help only for older folks? And who do you call? We'll get to both. Drew, quick catch up first?

3. 00:36

   Drew: Last time, health coverage when you work for yourself. Open enrollment at HealthCare dot gov is open now. The last day is January fifteenth.

4. 00:45

   Nayva: Today, heating help. What do big bills and little kids have in common?

5. 00:51

   Drew: They both keep you up at night?

6. 00:53

   Nayva: Pretty close. Here's the good news. There's a national program that helps families with heating and cooling bills. It's called LIHEAP. L I H E A P.

7. 01:04

   Drew: Okay. LIHEAP.

8. 01:06

   Nayva: Heating help, for short. This is Your Daily Benefit.

9. 01:11

   Drew: And today is for families trying to stay warm this winter. So what does it pay for?

10. 01:16

    Nayva: It can help with heating bills in winter and cooling bills in summer. It can help in an energy emergency. And it can help with small repairs, so your home is safe.

11. 01:27

    Drew: Who may qualify?

12. 01:28

    Nayva: It's based on income. And each state sets its own rules. Some states let you apply online. Some want you to come in.

13. 01:36

    Drew: So Tasha's family. Two little kids, one paycheck stretched thin.

14. 01:42

    Nayva: Her family may qualify, if her income fits her state's rules. Age is not the test. Income is.

15. 01:50

    Drew: Is there money out there right now?

16. 01:52

    Nayva: Yes. The first national money for this heating season went out to states on October ninth.

17. 01:58

    Drew: And there's a second program, right? Separate.

18. 02:01

    Nayva: Separate. It's called Weatherization. It fixes your home so the heat stays in. It's based on income too. A national study found homes save about three hundred seventy two dollars or more a year, on average. Estimated.

19. 02:16

    Drew: Before Tasha's other question. I took a mic outside and asked people about heating help. Take a listen.

20. 02:26

    Drew (on the street): Hey, sorry, real quick. Have you heard of LIHEAP? Help with heating bills?

21. 02:31

    Man on the street: Uh... yeah, I think so? That's for, like, seniors, right? Older people?

22. 02:38

    Drew (on the street): Okay. Thanks, man.

23. 02:41

    Drew (on the street): Hi, excuse me, real quick. How do you think heating help works?

24. 02:46

    Woman on the street: Um, they just mail you a check? Like, you sign up and they send you money? Right?

25. 02:51

    Drew (on the street): Okay, okay.

26. 02:53

    Drew (on the street): Sir, one more, real quick, if you rent

27. 02:56

    Second man on the street: Oh, if you rent, forget it. That stuff's only for people who own the house, right?

28. 03:02

    Drew (on the street): Appreciate you. Stay warm.

29. 03:04

    Nayva: Okay. Three fixes. One. It's not just for seniors. It's based on income, and it helps families.

30. 03:13

    Drew: Two. The check in the mail.

31. 03:15

    Nayva: LIHEAP does not give money straight to people. And it never charges a fee. If someone asks you for a fee, call the H H S fraud line. One eight hundred, four four seven, eight four seven seven.

32. 03:30

    Drew: And three. Renters.

33. 03:32

    Nayva: For Weatherization, the Department of Energy says both homeowners and renters can apply. For heating help, ask your state office.

34. 03:41

    Drew: Back to Tasha's other question. Who does she call?

35. 03:44

    Nayva: The National Energy Assistance Referral line. One eight six six, six seven four, six three two seven.

36. 03:52

    Drew: Slower, please.

37. 03:54

    Nayva: One eight six six. Six seven four. Six three two seven. Weekdays, nine to seven, Eastern time.

38. 04:02

    Drew: And they tell her where to apply?

39. 04:05

    Nayva: They help her find her local office. She can also go to Energy Help dot U S.

40. 04:10

    Drew: What if her heat gets shut off?

41. 04:12

    Nayva: Each state has its own rules about shutoffs. So call fast, and ask your state office.

42. 04:19

    Drew: And she applies herself.

43. 04:21

    Nayva: Right. You apply yourself, with your state or local office.

44. 04:25

    Drew: And if you're not sure what other help is out there for you, Benefit Bull dot com can help you look. You still apply yourself, on the real program's site or phone line. It just helps you find it.

45. 04:36

    Nayva: So, Tasha. Heating help is not just for older folks. It's based on income. And now you know who to call. Thanks for calling.

46. 04:45

    Drew: Okay. What's next time?

47. 04:47

    Nayva: The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. It spreads your drug costs into monthly bills. But it doesn't lower them. We'll walk through it.

48. 04:56

    Drew: I'll be here.

49. 04:57

    Nayva: See you next time. Take care of yourselves. And hey, this and a lot more, you can find at Benefit Bull dot com.

50. 05:06

    AI voices note: Quick note, the voices on Your Daily Benefit are AI generated.