Baby, it's going to be cold outside

If you face heating bills that are burdensome, the State of Alaska’s Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program could be your solution.

LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills. It can help you stay warm in the winter and reduce the risk of health and safety problems such as illness, fire or eviction.

The program may be able to offer you one or more of the following types of assistance: bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, and weatherization and energy-related home repairs. For information, visit https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1411.

In order to qualify, your income must fall within guidelines of annual income limits before taxes (see below). The yearly income shown in this table is for 2022, and while the new numbers will not be posted to the program’s website until Oct. 2, this should give you an idea of whether or not your income might qualify you.

Make it warmer

Would you like to lower the cost of heating your home? Weatherization programs may be able to help lower your heating cost by installing energy efficient improvements. To find your local weatherization program go to https://www.ahfc.us/efficiency/energy-programs/. Or phone the Municipality of Anchorage for residences in Anchorage at 907-343-4881; the Alaska Community Development Corporation at 800-478-8080 for Mat-Su, Kenai Peninsula, Copper River, Kodiak, Bristol Bay, Aleutians, and Southeast except for Juneau; for Interior Alaska, call Interior Weatherization at 800-478-5323; and for Juneau, Western and Northern Alaska, call RurAL CAP at 800-478-7227.

Where and how to file for fuel assistance

The application is very detailed, so make sure you follow the directions closely.

You cannot receive benefits from both a tribal organization and the state. Your benefits can be delayed if you apply with the wrong organization. For a list of communities served by tribal organizations, please visit https://bit.ly/3rdmapk or contact your local tribal organization.

And you cannot share or barter your benefit.

If you live in a trailer or mobile home, list the exterior length and width in question 9. If you live on a boat, provide the square footage of your heated living space.

And if there is an approved vendor of heating fuel in your area, you must use them.

The application asks a lot of questions—read it carefully and have all the information they request available, like pay stubs, bills and mortgage information.

Applications for Heating Assistance are accepted Oct. 1 (again, wait until the new income guidelines come out this year on Oct. 2) through April 30.

If you are legally disabled or age 60 or older, your application will be expedited when received for the benefit year. You can contact the office at 1-800-478-7778, or email hss.dpa.offices@alaska.gov for assistance.

For information on the program and to fill out an application for heating assistance, go to https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1411

If you are not computer savvy, call or go to your local Alaska State Dept. of Health, Division of Public Assistance:

Ketchikan, 2030 Sea Level Drive, Suite 301

Kodiak, 211 Mission Road, Suite 101

Anchorage, University Center, 3901 Old Seward Hwy., Suite 131

Nome, 214 E. Front Street

Fairbanks, 675 7th Ave., Station E

Sitka, 304 Lake Street, Suite 101

Wasilla, 855 W. Commercial Drive

The phone number to reach all offices is the main state office number, 800-478-7778.

You can mail, fax or drop off the application. The fax number is the same for all state locations, 1-888-269-6520.

2022 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME LIMITS

(before taxes) *

HOUSEHOLD

SIZE. INCOME

1 $25,485

2 $34,335

3 $43,185

4 $43,185

5 $60,885

6 $69,735

7 $78,585

*For households with more than eight people, add $8,850 per additional person. Always check with the appropriate managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines.