The following individuals and members of their households are considered to be responsible for home-heating costs:
55 Pa. Code § 601.31(2); LIHEAP State Plan § 601.31(2); PLA 15989-605; PLA 18220-605
Homeowners and renters, including people living in subsidized housing, who are responsible to pay an energy provider directly for home-heating fuel or utility service.
NOTE: For homeowners and renters whose utility service has been terminated , see 605.27.
Renters who pay for heat indirectly for their residence as an undesignated part of rent. Households that rent with heat included and roomers receive half of the benefit amount to which they would otherwise be entitled. This benefit is generally issued as a direct payment, but if the household has a secondary heat account it can be sent to that provider.
NOTE: Renters, including people living in subsidized housing, are ineligible if their rent includes an undesignated amount for heat and is based on a fixed percentage of their income or on their source of income.
If a household in subsidized housing that has been paying for rent and utilities as a fixed portion of its income has to start paying an energy provider for any or all of its main heating costs, that household may be eligible for a LIHEAP Cash and Crisis benefits.
If the household shares a fuel tank or meter, the person applying for LIHEAP benefits must prove that they pay to heat the home. Only the person who pays the fuel provider can apply for LIHEAP benefits. If two persons share a tank or meter, they can both apply if they can prove they have separate addresses, account numbers, or heating bills.
If a LIHEAP applicant cuts wood or receives free firewood for use as the household’s main heating source, or has free gas from a well, they are not eligible for LIHEAP Cash benefits. If the applicant is responsible for paying for a secondary source of heat directly to an energy provider or indirectly through a third party, they may be eligible for LIHEAP Crisis benefits.
Applicant households must permanently live in Pennsylvania. In situations where the household is not living in its permanent home, the household must provide proof of the emergency or situation beyond the household’s control that forces the household to live somewhere else. Examples of proof could include a doctor’s note or a letter from the board of health saying why the household is not living in its permanent home.
55 Pa. Code § 601.106; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.105
Some applicants cannot get accounts in their own names because of a bad credit history. Others may get heating bills in the name of a deceased spouse. If an applicant’s bill is in someone else’s name, the applicant must prove that they are responsible for paying the home-heating costs.
55 Pa. Code § 601.106; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.104(d)
Examples of proof include a canceled check to the heating company or a bank statement showing a payment to the heating company.
The applicant must provide written proof, besides the heating bill, that the applicant resides at the address. The applicant also must provide in writing the reason why the bill is in the name of a non-household person’s name.
If proof of heating responsibility is not provided at the time of application, the CAO will send a pending notice requiring such proof.
In situations when the heating bill is in the landlord’s name and the household is responsible for paying the heating bill directly to the vendor, a landlord statement or a copy of the lease indicating this arrangement is acceptable proof. If the heating responsibility for the household cannot be established, the application will be denied.
Energy bills cannot be in the name of a child, even if the child lives in the household.
Direct pays are appropriate in most situations where the account is in someone else's name.
NOTE: LIHEAP grants can be paid to account in the name of a deceased spouse.
Some energy providers do not take part in LIHEAP. An applicant can decide whether they would like to switch to a vendor that takes part in LIHEAP. In some situations, a direct payment can be made to an eligible household that receives energy from a nonparticipating energy provider.
For example, a household can receive a direct payment if no participating energy providers serve the area where it lives or if a nonparticipating energy provider owns the household’s fuel tank.
NOTE: Prior to authorizing payment to a household using a non-participating vendor, the CAO must verify with the Vendor Unit that the vendor has been contacted in regards to participation in the current LIHEAP season.
Some fuel providers make a scheduled delivery approximately every 30 days during the heating season and approximately every 45 days during the non-heating season. These arrangements generally prevent the household from being in a Crisis situation. When a person applies for Crisis benefits, the CAO must contact the fuel provider to find out if the household receives automatic deliveries.
If the vendor says that the household has been dropped from the automatic-delivery schedule for nonpayment, the household may be considered to be in a Crisis situation.
If the household is within 15 days of running out of fuel and their next auto delivery will not occur prior to them running out, the household would be considered to be in a Crisis situation.
For homeowners or renters with terminated service, follow the steps below:
Determine if the household is responsible to pay for their main source of heat, Homeowners and renters whose utility service has been terminated remain responsible for heating the residence
LIHEAP Cash:
Ensure the household has an account at the current address
The account can be inactive or temporary
The account can be for a primary or secondary heat source, depending on where the applicant is requesting payment be sent
Authorize LIHEAP Cash if other conditions of eligibility are met
LIHEAP Crisis:
Ensure the Crisis, alone or combined with other resources, will establish service
Ensure the household has an account at the current address
The account can be inactive or temporary
The account can be for a primary or secondary heat source, depending on where the applicant is requesting payment be sent
Crisis can be used to cover a reconnection fee to restore service
Regulated utilities must agree to keep service on through the moratorium period and enroll the client in a CAP or budget program if the customer is eligible
Authorize LIHEAP Crisis if the total amount will establish service and other conditions of eligibility are met
NOTE: If the household owes a balance from a previous address, LIHEAP funds can be used to pay for up to 50% of a back balance from that address if it will establish service at the new address. If a LIHEAP Cash grant exceeds 50% of the customer's back balance, the regulated utility must apply the remainder of the Cash grant to the household's future bills.
Applicants who are responsible to pay for their main source of heat, but have it paid by someone outside of the household because the household has zero/minimal income, are considered to have a heating responsibility and are therefore eligible for LIHEAP benefits.
LIHEAP State Plan § 601.31(2)(i)(a)
NOTE: A household is not considered to have a heating responsibility if it is agreed that an agency is always responsible for the heating bill. Examples include someone in subsidized housing who has the bill paid by a housing agency even though the bill is in the applicant’s name, or a student who has someone outside the household always paying the heat bill regardless of the student's income.
Updated August 17, 2022, replacing October 6, 2021