Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Program Type: Energy assistance for low-income households

Geographic Scope: Available in the following Florida counties only: Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Martin, Polk, and St. Lucie

Overview: Assists eligible households with home heating and cooling costs. Part of a broader assistance application that also includes emergency energy assistance and other support services.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must:

Have a total household gross income of no more than 150% of the Federal Poverty guidelines

Be responsible for paying their home heating or cooling bills

Be a resident of one of the eligible counties (Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Martin, Polk, or St. Lucie)

Be a U.S. Citizen, qualified alien, or permanent resident of the U.S.

Additional requirements may be necessary for eligibility determination

Application Frequency

• Home energy assistance applications are accepted once every twelve months
• Applications exceeding this frequency limit will be denied
• Individual applications for electric emergency assistance are accepted only once every six months

Required Documentation

• Photo ID (not expired) for all household members over 18 years of age
• Social Security Cards for all household members
• Proof of Income for the past 30 days for all household members (no bank statements)
• Complete Light Bill (no Final Notice)
• Food Stamp Approval Letter (if receiving assistance)
• Section 8 or HUD Housing Rental Form 50059 (if applicable)

Contact Information

Corporate Office:

Phone: (863) 956-3491

Fax: (863) 956-3357

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3126, Winter Haven, Florida 33885

Street Address: 300 Lynchburg Road, Lake Alfred, Florida 33850

For In-Person Appointments: Call 863-247-3001 (appointments on first come, first served basis; phone system resets every Wednesday after midnight)

For Paper Applications: Email gro.ipla@noitacilppa (with character encoding reversed)

Special Notes

• Accessibility assistance available for individuals unable to apply online due to disability
• Paper applications available for those without computer access
• All offices closed January 24, 2025 for corporate meeting and staff training