LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, helps families with their energy costs. Through LIHEAP, federal funds provide assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. When summer comes electric bills go up, and LIHEAP can help.
LIHEAP is managed by DHHS, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The information in this article is from their publications and website.
To qualify for LIHEAP, a household must have an income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. There are tables on the dhhs.gov website showing what that amount is for different household sizes. The household must be responsible for paying the energy utilities. There are citizenship and residency requirements, and there are some factors that make a household ineligible.
LIHEAP offers both heating assistance and cooling assistance. The cooling season is from June 1st through August 31st. Payments are made one time per cooling season directly to the utility company to reduce the amount a household must pay to utility providers. The household is required to pay the remainder of their utility bill.
Cooling assistance is harder to obtain than heating assistance. To qualify, a household must be LIHEAP eligible and include at least one member who is 70 or older, a child under age 6 who receives ADC (Aid to Dependent Children), or the household has received an air conditioner from DHHS within the last four years. The household might also have a person who has a severe illness or medical condition that is aggravated by extreme heat; this must be verified by a licensed healthcare provider who files Form IM-55.
A LIHEAP household might qualify for the purchase of a window air conditioner. DHHS will ask the household to provide estimates for the cost. A household is not eligible if they have received assistance to buy a window air conditioner within the last 60 months.
Financial assistance is available for the repair or replacement of a furnace or central air conditioner. up to $750. To qualify, a household must be eligible for LIHEAP heating assistance (furnace) or cooling assistance (central air conditioner). They must provide documentation that the repair or replacement is necessary and provide estimates for the cost of the repair or replacement as requested by DHHS. They may receive up to $750. The household is not eligible if they have received repair or replacement assistance within the previous 60 months.
The local DHHS office at 411 Black Hills in Alliance can assist LIHEAP households who need fans.
LIHEAP does a great job of helping low-income households stay safe and healthy by providing financial assistance to offset the costs of heating and cooling. To request information or apply for LIHEAP through the state DHHS office: https://dhhs-access-neb-menu.ne.gov/start/?tl=en; or phone Toll-Free: (800) 383-4278. DHHS has an office in Alliance at 411 Black Hills Avenue, open from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. Their phone number is 308-763-2900.