North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will now provide more assistance to qualifying households.
HHS will begin accepting LIHEAP applications on Oct. 1. If approved, program applicants can receive heating assistance from October-May.
In the last year, LIHEAP assisted 14,405 qualifying North Dakota households, providing $11.2 million in support of their home energy costs.
The new assistance amount will ensure that households do not spend an unsustainable amount of their income on home energy costs. Assistance amounts vary based on the number of people living in the household, total household income, energy source and other factors.
“Utility costs are part of a family’s total housing cost,” Economic Assistance Director Michele Gee said. “To help improve overall housing affordability, the new LIHEAP assistance calculation is based directly on income and ensures families will not pay more than 6% of their income toward heating their home. Previously, families may have paid up to 14% of their income toward heating costs.”
Both homeowners and renters can apply for heating assistance.
In addition to heating costs, LIHEAP may also assist with weatherization services and the costs of purchasing or repairing cooling and heating devices such as furnaces or air conditioners.
Individuals can apply for LIHEAP and other assistance online at hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp, locally at a human service zone office, or by mail. For help filling out the application or submitting relevant verifications, North Dakotans can also contact Community Options, a partner agency, toll-free at (800) 823-2417, 711 (TTY).