Automatic $1,000 payments to be issued in new wave of November 15 energy bill credits

AMERICANS can soon expect payments ranging from $200 to $1,000 as part of an energy bill relief program.

The federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program aims to help households nationwide with their energy expenses.

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In order to be eligible you must meet certain income thresholds (stock photo). Credit: Getty[/caption]

LIHEAP is available nationwide. However, states get to determine eligibility limits.

Eligible residents in Louisiana will soon be seeing money, which comes from LIHEAP’s $59 million funding, toward their energy bills.

The payments can range from $200 to $800 for cooling and heating costs and up to $1,000 as a crisis benefit.

In the 2024 fiscal year, over 100,000 households in Louisiana received money towards their heating and cooling bills.

Experts advise that Americans don’t hold back from potential benefits.

“If you’re having trouble paying that utility bill, don’t hesitate to reach out to apply for assistance,” Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, said in an interview with The U.S. Sun.

LIHEAP benefits can only be received once each season and are not always guaranteed.

The Louisiana program separates heating, cooling and crisis into four sections.

Heating benefits run from November 15 to March 5 and cooling from April 1 to September 30.

Crisis and weatherization programs run year round, with weatherization having a July start.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

There are certain conditions residents must meet in order to be eligible, including income level thresholds. The thresholds are broken up by the number of people in a household.

For a one person household, the annual income limit is $29,889. For two people, the limit is $39,086.

For households of three to five people, the limit ranges from $48,283 to $66,676.

For weatherization, you must meet 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines in order to be eligible. For a one person household, that would be $30,120.

One energy company in Louisiana offers a senior discount program.

Entergy Gulf States Utilities, Inc. offers a $6 monthly waiver to customers who are 65 and older with an annual income under $10,000.

Energy companies Entergy New Orleans and Entergy LA also offer additional benefits like caulking, outlet plugs, solar screens, refrigerator replacement and general repairs.

APPLY SOON

With the heating season approaching, residents can apply for the benefits soon, but they must provide several pieces of information in their application.

Applicants are required to have utility bills for heating or cooling from the last 30 days, check stubs for all employed household members and proof of unearned income (Social Security, Pensions, Retirement, Unemployment Insurance.)

Interested applicants must also provide proof of address, a government-issued ID, Social Security cards for all members living in the household.

For crisis assistance, you must provide a disconnect or pending disconnection notice.

Louisiana offers a provider directory for interested applicants with office phone numbers, addresses and websites,

All LIHEAP applications nationwide are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds run out, so it’s important to apply early into the season’s opening.

Residents in North Dakota can soon receive LIHEAP payments up to $1,100.

Washington D.C. residents can also expect payments ranging from $250 to $1,800 for energy bill relief.