The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as LiHEAP, provides assistance to low-income households that are struggling to pay their electrical bills. Individuals must apply for this program and provide all the required documentation. Additionally, individuals will be educated on how to budget and manage their energy needs.

Eligibility: 

• Proof of citizenship (US Birth Certificate/Passport, Naturalization or Resident Alien Card)
• 30-day income verification for all individuals living in the household 18+
• Photo I.D. for all adults in the household
• Social Security Cards for ALL children and adults in the household
• Current PG&E Bill/Shut-Off or Propane Statement

Additional Programs:

• Rental assistance
• Helping hands
• Housing Opportunities Meals Empowerment
• Housing Support Services CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP)
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA)

Contact the office for additional information. 

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program is called LIHEAP. They assist low income people and families with their heating and cooling bills. This program is therefore, a year long program that is available 12 months a year. To qualify for the LIHEAP assistance, you need to qualify. We provide the current Federal Poverty Rates nationwide below.

You are automatically qualified for LIHEAP assistance if you participate in the SNAP food stamps program, TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the SSI program through Social Security.

Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2024

Persons In Family	Earnings (100% Fed Poverty Guideline)
1	$15,060
2	$20,440
3	$25,820
4	$31,200
5	$36,580
6	$41,960
7	$47,340
8	$52,720

*Alaska and Hawaii have different rates for HUD federal poverty guidelines.
These numbers above represent 100% of the Federal Poverty Rate. In order to get legal aid from some offices, they use a sliding fee scale. When they use a sliding fee scale, the 100% rate can be different than 100%. In those cases, using for example a 200% federal poverty level, you will only need double the 100% number listed above to 200%.

User questions & answers

Have you used the San Benito County Dept of Community Services - LIHEAP service before? If so, please help our website users by answer these questions below.