Alaska LIHEAP, referred to as the Heating Assistance Program (HAP) within the state, is a federally funded program that is designed to safeguard the health and well-being of low income Alaska residents by offsetting the cost of home heating. This energy assistance program provides financial assistance for all fuel costs, including electric, natural gas, oil, propane, coal and other types of heating fuels. The program runs seasonally and only provides assistance through certain months of the year. For this reason, applications are only accepted during a certain period of time.
If you are in need of utility assistance in Alaska, it is important to learn more about the program, including the benefits that are provided to qualifying applicants and how long those benefits may be available. When learning how to apply for assistance, it is also worth reviewing eligibility requirements and when applications can be submitted within the state. In addition to general application periods, there are also specialized application periods for certain individuals.
Learn About Types of LIHEAP Energy Assistance in Alaska
This Alaska heating assistance program provides one benefit grant per household per season. In Alaska, benefits are only available between November 1st and April 30th. Benefits cannot be issued prior to November 1st. In some cases, emergency assistance may be provided as your application may be expedited if you receive a disconnect notice from your utility provider. In most cases, benefits are paid directly to the heat vendor or electric company as a credit onto your account.
The Alaska low income home energy assistance program can also assist with deposits that are required to establish service in subsidized rental buildings. In order to qualify for deposit assistance, your heat must be included in the rent, but you must have payments towards your own electric or gas for cooking. Unlike assistance with heating costs, deposits can be provided year round.
What are the Alaska LIHEAP requirements?
Before you apply for LIHEAP in Alaska, it is worth learning more about HAP eligibility requirements. By reviewing these requirements, you will gain a better understanding as to whether or not you and your family may qualify for benefits. The Heating Assistance Program is only available to Alaska residents. Nonresidents will be referred to their own state’s assistance programs.
To be eligible for the LIHEAP program, your family must be considered low income. You cannot exceed income limits that are determined by the state, but based upon the federal poverty line. Limits are reassessed annually and a household cannot exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty income guideline in order to qualify for benefits.
Before you can participate in the low income home energy assistance program, you must have already paid a certain amount of out of pocket costs towards your heating and energy bills. As stated previously, you may only apply for benefits once per season. In Alaska, a season takes place between November 1st and April 30th.
How to Apply for LIHEAP in Alaska
Alaska LIHEAP can be applied for in a number of ways. You can find a LIHEAP application online if you wish to take advantage of a convenient application method that can be completed from the comfort of your own home. If you do print an application from the website, however, you will still be required to supply the appropriate documents to support your application.
You can apply for energy assistance at a number of locations throughout the state, including WIC offices, vendor locations and senior centers. Alternatively, you can also contact the Heating Assistance Program by phone in order to apply over the phone.
Heating assistance applications are accepted October 1st through April 30th. However, if you or one of your household members is legally disabled or 60 years of age or older, an application can be accepted in September. As stated previously, grants will not be provided until November 1st at the earliest. Applications for the Subsidized Rental Housing Utility Deposit (SRHUD) are accepted throughout the year.
When applying for LIHEAP, it is very important that you submit the documentation that will be required to process your application. These documents include:
- Proof of income for each household member that receives income.
- A copy of your ID, such as a license, state identification card or passport.
- Copies of your most recent heat and electricity bills. If your heat is included in your rent, you must include a copy of your rental agreement and your most recent rent receipt that shows that heat is included in your rent.
If you have received a disconnection notice that has informed you that services will be disconnected within 48 hours and you are requesting emergency processing, you must include a copy of that disconnect notice.
How much could LIHEAP pay in Alaska?
Alaska LIHEAP income guidelines not only determine your eligibility, but help to determine the amount of benefits that you and your family may be eligible to receive. However, income is not the only factor that determines beneficiary amounts. The Heating Assistance Program benefits are determined by use of a point system. This point system is based upon the county that you live in, your home’s heat type, your dwelling type, your household size and your household income.
How can I check the status of my LIHEAP application?
After you have applied for utility assistance in Alaska, it is important to know that general applications will take up to 45 days to process. During this time, it is imperative that you continue to pay for your heat and electricity while you await a decision on your application. If you bills are overdue or you may face a disconnect, it is important that you contact your utility company and set up a deferred payment, if possible. Make sure that you inform the company that you have applied for assistance.
You can check a LIHEAP application status by contacting the Heating Assistance Program. You will be asked for your case number (located on your Notice of Receipt of Heating Assistance Application) and the last four digits of your Social Security number. However, information regarding applications will not generally be available until the second business day in November. To learn more about getting heating and utility assistance, download our LIHEAP guide today.