LIHEAP payments: Application to receive up to $2,116 for energy bills to open in Maine in six days

Eligible residents in Maine may begin to apply for assistance with their energy bills for the 2023-2024 heating season in only six days.

Applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program in Maine are scheduled to open on July 17 for fiscal 2024, according to the state.

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The program offers assistance with heating costs, including spending on fuel and emergency fuel delivery, per the Maine State Housing Authority. The state says individual residents and households seeking help with their energy costs should apply as early as possible.

For the 2023-2024 heating season, the maximum monthly gross income to qualify for the benefits is $2,723 for a single-person household and $6,074 for a household of five people. The requirements for other household sizes are available on state websites for the program.

For fiscal 2022, the maximum benefit was $2,116, while the minimum benefit for the program was $152, per the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Heating assistance is available in all 50 states, while some states also provide cooling assistance during warmer months. Cooling assistance through LIHEAP is available in 28 states and the District of Columbia, with each jurisdiction offering different amounts of money to help low-income citizens stay cool during warm weather. Maine does not offer cooling assistance but does offer heating assistance.

LIHEAP payments for cooling assistance can be used to purchase, install, or repair air conditioning units, along with heat pumps. In addition to those uses, the payments from the government can be used to pay for electric bills or security deposits for operating cooling equipment, among other eligible expenditures.