What You Need To Know
The Alabama Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps individual or families with low-income with paying their energy bills. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which provide money to the state of Alabama and the local community agencies in the state through a block grant program.
There are different agencies that work to administer the LIHEAP program including the Salvation Army, community agencies, and various social service offices. In Alabama, it is funded by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
Program Objectives
The main objective of the program is helping people from underprivileged backgrounds with low-incomes to be able to afford necessities of life. Through the program, people can afford to keep their power on during hot Alabama season and when the weather is freezing cold during the winters. The assistance is provided on both regular basis and also as crisis grants to the residence of Alabama.
The Alabama Low-Income Home Assistance Program provides supports through;
- Utility bill payments
- Energy crisis grants
- Any kind of energy-related home repair assistance
- Weatherproofing of the house
- Assistance at times of emergency energy need
The selected households and individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are provided with a credit payment directly applied to their utility expenses per month.
Eligibility Criteria
To be able to qualify for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) the applicant needs to be a permanent and legal resident of the state of Alabama. You must need assistance in paying your utility bills. Your eligibility is assessed on two important factors;
- Gross income ( per year)
- Household size
The table below provides a detailed understanding of the household size and the maximum gross income which should be either equal or less than,
| Size Of The Household | Maximum Annual Income Level ($) |
| 1 | 18735 |
| 2 | 25365 |
| 3 | 31995 |
| 4 | 38625 |
| 5 | 45255 |
| 6 | 51885 |
| 7 | 58515 |
| 8 | 65145 |
If there are more than 8 members in the house than an amount of $6630 is added for each additional member. It is also important to check with the local agencies that manage the program and can give you the exact and the most current information regarding the Alabama LIHEAP program.
You can also visit the Alabama LIHEAP official website to check whether you are eligible for the program. The procedure is simple, you need to answer some questions related to your
- Gross income
- Household size
- Whether or not you are receiving any other kind of assistance from the state
In case you or any of your family member are receiving benefits from any other kind of program like the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or any need-based benefit for Veterans then there are chances of you being automatically selected for the Alabama LIHEAP program.
How To Apply
The applicants are required to have all the important documents with them at the time of applying, they will need a copy of their,
- Utility bills including electricity, gas, heating, and cooling, propane, and others
- The income of all the household members working at the time
The applicants can submit the application form for the Alabama LIHEAP program along with all the documentation and certifications that might be required through the non-profit agency in their Alabama County.
In order to apply please get in touch with the Community Action Agency in your area using the Community Action Association of Alabama’s Agency Finder website. Other ways to receive the application form is through online or by mail. Once you get in touch with your agency they will guide you on how to apply and all the documents and attestation that might be needed.
It is important to note that any assistance in the form of cash that you might get from the program goes directly to your respected energy provider or utility company.
For Further Information
In the case of further details or any extra information that you might require, please visit the official website page of the Alabama Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to learn more about the program and its requirements related to the application process and eligibility criteria. Other than that, the applicants can also learn about the Alabama LIHEAP policies by calling 334-242-4909.
By checking the official website you can get a better understanding of the program policies and guidelines which will make it easy to apply for the Alabama LIHEAP program. Keeping in mind the deadline is another important thing so that your household is not deprived of the benefits provided by the program.