West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Resources Cabinet Secretary Karen L. Bowling
today announced applications for the Emergency Low Income Energy
Assistance Program (LIEAP) will be accepted beginning Monday, March 30, 2015
until funds are exhausted. The federally funded program assists eligible state
residents in paying home heating bills.
“This has been a very cold winter and many
West Virginia families are struggling to keep up with high heating costs,”
Bowling said. “This emergency assistance will help residents facing a loss of
utilities due to an inability to pay.”
Residents whose primary source of heat is
either gas or electricity must provide their shut-off notice when applying for Emergency
LIEAP. Those using other primary heating sources or bulk fuel may qualify
for assistance if their heating fuel is at a low level during the application
period.
Households that received direct payment of
regular LIEAP benefits must verify that the payment was used for home heating
by submitting a current receipt with the Emergency LIEAP
application. Failure to submit verification of payment may result in a
denial of the application.
Eligibility for LIEAP benefits is based on
income, household size and whether or not the household is responsible for paying
its heating bill. Income must be at, or below, 130 percent of the federal
poverty guideline for the household size. In situations where a heating
emergency exists, applicants must be seen by a DHHR worker.
To qualify, households must meet all program
guidelines and be in an emergency situation that will disrupt the
primary heating source if not met.
The
maximum allowable gross income levels for LIEAP FY 2015 are listed below:
|
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
|
MONTHLY ALLOWABLE
INCOME
|
|
1 Person
|
$1,265
|
|
2 Person
|
$1,705
|
|
3 Person
|
$2,144
|
|
4 Person
|
$2,584
|
|
5 Person
|
$3,024
|
|
6 Person
|
$3,464
|
|
7 Person
|
$3,904
|
|
8 Person
|
$4,344
|
|
9 Person
|
$4,784
|
|
10 Person
|
$5,224
|
For
each additional person, add $440.
The Emergency LIEAP program will
operate until funds are exhausted. To apply, residents must go to their
local DHHR office. A list of local offices may be found at http://www.wvdhhr.org/bcf/county/
or by calling 304-356-4619.
###
Media Contact: Allison C. Adler, Director, Office of Communications - allison.c.adler@wv.gov or (304) 558-7899