Households may apply for LIHEAP benefits for any of the following components:
Cash component
The Cash component provides cash payments to help eligible low-income households pay the costs of home heating.
Crisis component
The Crisis component provides some form of assistance to eligible households that will resolve an energy crisis within the following time frames:
The CAO should provide assistance to a household that is without heat:
Within 18 hours of receiving a completed application for households in a life-threatening situation.
NOTE: A life-threatening situation is defined as a documented medical emergency. This documentation must come from a medical professional and should be related to a specific medical condition of a household member; documentation should be retained in imaging or case comments using collateral contact narration guidelines.
Within 48 hours of receiving a completed application for all other eligible households.
The CAO should provide assistance to a household that is in danger of being without heat:
Within 10 workdays of receiving a completed application if a household’s fuel supply will run out within 15 days or before the household runs out , whichever is sooner.
Within 10 workdays of receiving a completed application if a household has received a shut-off notice or prior to the date of termination, whichever is sooner.
Weatherization component
The Weatherization component provides energy conservation and weatherization measures to help low-income households reduce the costs of home heating.
Reviewed August 15, 2025, replacing August 20, 2024