Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists low-income households with the cost of home energy through two components – Subsidy and Crisis.

Subsidy Component

The Subsidy Component provides eligible households with a one-time payment to the household’s energy provider. It begins on the first Monday of November and ends the second week of December; applications are taken alphabetically by last name of head of household.

To be eligible for Subsidy benefits, a household must meet the following program requirements:

  • Complete an application.
  • Be directly responsible for home energy costs or an undesignated portion of rent.
  • Have a combined household income, for the calendar month prior to the month of application, not in excess of 150% of the federal poverty level.
  • Live in Kentucky when the application is made and apply in the county of residence.

Crisis Component

Crisis Component allocates assistance to eligible households experiencing a home-heating crisis. It begins in early January and continues until March 31, or until crisis funds have been obligated, whichever comes first.

To be eligible for Crisis assistance, a household must:

  • meet all regular program eligibility criteria (see Subsidy Component)
  • be within four (4) days of running out of fuel if bulk fuel (coal, fuel oil, propane, kerosene, or wood) is the heat source
  • have received a past due/disconnect notice if natural gas or electric is the heat source or the household’s home heating costs are included as an undesignated portion of the rent, and the household has received an eviction notice for non-payment of rent

To Apply                               

Contact the Big Sandy Area Community Action service office in your county to begin your application process.

Information you will need to supply:

  • Names and Social Security numbers of all household members.
  • Most recent heating bill or verification that heating expenses are included in the rent.
  • Proof of all household income from the preceding month. Click Here to Download Zero Income Form

LIHEAP is funded through Community Action Kentucky (CAK), the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Big Sandy Area Community Action Program serves Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike counties. If you live in another county, you can access the program by finding the Community Action Agency in your area at capky.org