For homeowners or renters with terminated service, follow the steps below:
Determine if the household is responsible to pay for their primary 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, even if service will not be restored.
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
NOTE: Crisis can be authorized to the secondary heat source even if the primary heat source will not be restored.
Crisis can be used to cover a reconnection fee to restore service
Regulated utilities must agree to keep service on through the moratorium period or for a minimum of 30 days if the termination occurs at the end of the moratorium. Regulated utilities must enroll the client in a CAP or budget program if the customer is eligible
Any available LIHEAP credits on account with the vendor is considered to be available and must be used first for the resolution of the crisis.
When LIHEAP Crisis is requested for a vendor prior to a LIHEAP Cash grant being received by that vendor, including a Cash grant that has been authorized and not yet received, a Crisis will be initiated for the full amount needed to resolve the Crisis situation if the household is otherwise eligible, regardless of whether the Cash grant would be sufficient to resolve the Crisis.
Authorize LIHEAP Crisis if the total amount available to the household will establish service and other conditions of eligibility are met
NOTE: If available funds are not sufficient to restore primary heating service, the household can select a new primary heat source.
619.71 Balance From a Previous Address
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 utility must apply the remainder of the Cash grant to the household's future bills.
Example: Marco owes $600 to their primary heat vendor from a previous address. The balance is preventing them from establishing service at the new address. LIHEAP funds can be used to pay $300 of the balance if it will establish service.
Reviewed August 15, 2025, replacing August 20, 2024