Note: please note that this issue brief should (a) link back to the issue overview on this topic, (b) be focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (c) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items.  See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you. 

Goal Statement

• Link here to the Low-Income Heating Assistance overview page for the goal statement related to this issue brief 

Scope of the Problem  factual statements on the extent of the problem in the past, current, or future

• • The recent economic crisis, paired with spiking fuel prices, has caused a large increase in the number of families and individuals in need of low-income heating assistance.
  • In response to the greater demand for heating and energy assistance, many state and national programs have been increasing their eligibility criteria, making low-income heating assistance available to a wider range of incomes. (http://www.thecaap.org/pdfs/08EnergyReport.pdf)
  • However, this makes it more difficult for the families with the lowest incomes to get the increasing assistance they need. This may also create problems if resources shrink due to future budget decisions in Congress, when the amount of money that can be allocated to low-income heating assistance decreases despite the recent increase in individuals relying on that 

Past Policy  key legislation and milestones including significant policy and funding shifts, major studies, etc.

• A sharp increase in petroleum prices following the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) embargo of 1973 caused the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to attempt to meet the significant need of families across the country who could not afford to heat their homes through the coldest parts of the year.^[1]
• HHS' Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)--provided for home heating, medically necessary home cooling, and weather related and supply shortage emergencies; $1.85 billion appropriation. The FY 1981 program expanded the use of HHS funds to assist with medically necessary cooling costs along with home heating costs and weather related and supply shortage emergencies. ^[2]

• 1981CSA's Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP); funded by $89.4 million set-aside from LIEAP appropriation. ^[3]

• •      1982-1984 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1984 (HSRA)--10/30/84
  • LIHEAP- Augustus F. Hawkins Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1990 (HSRA)--11/3/90
  • LIHEAP National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993--6/10/93
  • LIHEAP Human Services Amendments of 1994--5/18/94
  • LIHEAP Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998--10/27/98
  • LIHEAP Energy Policy Act of 2005--08/08/05

Current Policy  summary of current policies in the form of legislation, programs, and funding

• Low Income Heating Assistance Program (U.S. Department of Health and Human Service)

  • The intent of the LIHEAP program is “to assist low income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs.”^[4] LIHEAP is funded each year through a block grant: a large sum of money which HHS distributes to States, territories, and tribal organizations.  Since it was instituted HHS has set eligibility requirements for receiving LIHEAP funds at 150 percent of the established poverty level, or 60 percent of the state median income.^[5]  These requirements act as general guidelines for all LIHEAP grantees (i.e. states, territories, and tribes), but the LIHEAP statue^[6] allows a certain amount of discretion on the part of each particular grantee. These privileges include being able to define “income;” choosing whether to use the federal poverty guidelines or state median income in order to determine eligibility; and provide categorical eligibility to applicants who are already receiving support through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Food Stamps, or certain Veterans benefits.

  • In an attempt to meet the increased need for home heating assistance, Congress passed a set of emergency guidelines for LIHEAP’s FY 2009 heating season.  First, Congress more than doubled the LIHEAP block grant allocation from $1.9 billion to $4.5 billion and added an extra $590 million in emergency funding.^[7]  Furthermore, Congress widened the eligibility guidelines, permitting all individuals and families living at up to 200 percent of federal poverty or up to 75 percent of their state’s median income.^[8]

Policy Options   

• Link here to the Low-Income Heating Assistance overview page for the policy options and/or model programs related to this issue brief 

Key Organizations/Individuals   contacts for public and private organizations and key individuals

• Government

  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

    HHS, Administration For Children and Families 

    Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance 

    Aerospace Building, 5th Floor West 

    370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W. 

    Washington, D.C. 20447

    Phone Number: (202) 401-9351

    Fax Number: (202) 401-5661 

• Non-Profit

  •  

• Foundations

  •  

• Business 

  •  

Glossary of Terms

• Link here to the Low-Income Heating Assistance overview page for the glossary of terms related to this issue brief 

Bibliography   web sites, reports, articles, and other reference material 

• “Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Fact Sheet.” United States Department of Health and Human Services. 

Footnotes

1. "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Chronology."; United States Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/about/chronology.html ▲
2. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/about/index.html ▲
3. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/about/index.html ▲
4. "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Fact Sheet."; United States Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/about/factsheet.html ▲
5. "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Fact Sheet."; United States Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/about/factsheet.html ▲
6. Title 45: Public Welfare, Part 66—Block Grants. ▲
7. "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Fact Sheet."; United States Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/about/factsheet.html ▲
8. "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Fact Sheet."; United States Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/about/factsheet.html ▲