The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. This important resource provides financial assistance to eligible households in managing costs associated with:

    Home Energy bills
    Energy Crisis
    Weatherization
    Repair or replacement of heaters or furnaces

Households may qualify for LIHEAP assistance for natural gas, wood, electricity, liquid propane/butane gas, and other energy-related services.

Individuals who have never received services may submit a Pre Application through the Common Web Portal (https://www.access.ms.gov/). This site is available nationwide, but services and funds are for residents of Mississippi only.

This office also assists with those applying for LIHEAP, Utility Assistance.

The following documents must be presented at the time of the appointment:
Income Verification:

    Award Letter(s): Social Security, SSI, Disability, etc.
    Pay Stubs (for the previous 30 days)
    Pension (all retirement income)
    Unemployment Determination
    Child Support, TANF Printout
    Other documents deemed eligible to verify income
    Zero Income (affidavit must be notarized)
    Unemployed: must register with the WIN Job Center
    Self-Employed – must provide receipt of payment for services and/or product, accounting records, and a copy of the IRS Transcript.

Social Security Cards:

Social Security cards are required for all household members.
Valid Photo ID:

*Identification must be presented for all household members 18 years and older.

    Driver's License
    Passport
    State Issued ID
    Employment ID
    Military ID
    School or College ID
    Tribal ID
    Alien Registration / Permanent Residence Card or Temporary Card
    Residence Verification:
    Copy of Utility Bill
    Lease or Rental Agreement
    Utility Deposit (must have a copy of the application from energy provider establishing account)
    Mortgage Documents (deeds or taxes)
    W-9 (Landlord)

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 LIFT Lee County MS Community Action LIHEAP Utility Assistance service before? If so, please help our website users by answer these questions below.