Thank you for your interest in the Energy Assistance Program. The application period for Program Year 2021 began on Monday, September 14, 2020. Information regading Program Year 2021, including how you may apply, is posted below. Please review this information in its entirety and be sure that you have all required documentation before you complete an application.
If you need immediate assistance, please call 211 or contact your Local Service Provider for referrals to additional resources available in your area. If you are currently scheduled for disconnection on your heating or electric utility, please contact your utility provider and negotiate a payment agreement to avoid disconnection.
Please click here to find a listing of local service providers by county.
What is Energy Assistance?
The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) can help you pay your heat and electric bills! EAP is a federally-funded program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) called the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). EAP provides a one-time annual benefit that can assist you with with the high cost of home energy and can help if you are about to get disconnected. However, an EAP benefit will not cover all of your annual ddheating and electrics costs, so you should continue to pay your bills regularly.
What are the Income Limits and Eligibility Requirements?
The amounts listed below, for 1-8 household members, are 60% of the State Median Income. If your household has 9 or more members, the amount is based on 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Please note that for eligibility determination, we us the most recent three months of income. Monthy and annual equivalent amounts are listed below for reference purposes only.
|
Persons in Household |
Monthly Income |
Three-Month Income | Annual Income |
|
1 |
$2,163 |
$6,849 | $25,961 |
|
2 |
$2,289 |
$8,487 | $33,949 |
|
3 |
$3,494 |
$10,482 | $41,937 |
|
4 |
$4,160 |
$12,480 | $49,925 |
|
5 |
$4,826 |
$14,478 | $57,913 |
|
6 |
$5,491 |
$16,473 | $65,901 |
|
7 |
$5,616 |
$16,848 | $67,399 |
|
8 |
$5,741 |
$17,223 | $68,897 |
|
9 |
$6,075 |
$18,225 | $72,900 |
Below are the minimum requirements to apply for EAP.
- A completed and signed application.
- Proof of income for the past 3 months for all household members age 18 and over except full time students.
- Proof of current enrollment in school (report card, student schedule, etc.) for students over 18 who have income.
- An Income Verification Affidavit for any household member age 18 and over who has had zero income for any of the previous three months.
- If any member of your household receives unemployement income, the Indiana DWD Release of Information Form must be completed.
- A copy of a state or federally issued photo ID such as a driver's license, military ID, or passport for the person signing the application.
- A valid social security number for all household members age 1 and over. This may be in the form of a Social Security Card, and Indiana-issued REAL ID, or US Passport.
- Note: if there are household members who do not have a valid social security number, the household may still be eligible for EAP benefits. Anyone in this situation should contact the local service provider.
- A copy of your most recent utility bills for both heat and electric. EAP benefits will be paid to utility vendors directly.
- If you have utilities included in rent, you must provide a current lease or Landlord Affidavit signed by your landlord.
Depending upon your specific situation, there may be other documents required. If you are unsure of the documentation you need, please contact your local service provider for clarification.
When Can I Apply for EAP?
You can apply for an energy assistance benefit for Program Year 2021 from September 14, 2020 until May 14, 2021.
|
September 14, 2020 |
Applications begin to be accepted at Local Service Providers and online. |
|
November 1, 2020 |
The 2021 Energy Assistance Program benefit begin to be transferred to utility vendors. |
|
December 1, 2020 |
Start of Moratorium protection. Clients with active service who have been approved for EAP are protected from disconnection until March 15, 2021. |
|
March 15, 2021 |
End of Moratorium protection. |
|
May 14, 2021 |
End of the EAP heating season. Last day for households to apply. |
You can apply for an energy assistance benefit for Program Year 2021 from September 14, 2020 until May 14, 2021.
What is Moratorium?
The Moratorium law (Indiana Code 8-1-2-121) states that from December 1 through March 15 of any year, a regulated utility company may not turn off residential utility service to any customer who is eligible for and who has applied for the Energy Assistance Program. This includes utilities that are electric or gas, including municipally owned, privately owned, or cooperatively owned utilities. Moratorium protection applies once a household submits an application and allows the Local Service Provider time to determine eligibility, so please inform your utility provider if you have submitted an application for assistance and you are scheduled for disconnection.
How long will it take before I get my benefit?
Local Service Agencies may take 55 days to determine if you are eligible, and after your benefit has been awarded it may take an additional 30 days for the utility company to process your benefit. Please continue to pay your utility bills while waiting for your EAP benefit to appear on your account.
If you are receiving a direct pay benefit, it may take up to 120 days, or four months, from the date of your benefit approval for your payment to be processed and mailed to you. Please do not follow up on your benefit if 120 days has not passed yet.
How can I appeal if I was denied or if I believe my benefit amount is incorrect?
If you feel you have been wrongly denied, or that your benefit amount was calculated incorrectly you may file an appeal.
You must send your appeal to the Local Service Provider within thirty (30) days of receipt of the denial. The Local Service Agency will review your appeal and send you a written response within ten (10) business days.
If you are not satisfied with the Local Service Provider’s determination, you may request formal review by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). You can work with your Local Service Provider to have them submit the appeal for you or you can submit it directly to IHCDA. This request must be made within thirty (30) days of receipt of the LSP’s appeal determination. IHCDA’s Community Programs Manager will review your appeal and issue a response in writing within ten (10) business days of receipt. Please send your formal appeal to:
IHCDA
Attn: Community Programs Manager, EAP
30 South Meridian St, Suite 900
Indianapolis, IN 46204.
If you needs assistance with this procedure, please email IHCDA at liheap@ihcda.in.gov or call 317 232 7777. Please do not appeal directly to IHCDA prior to appealing to your Local Service Provider.
How Do I Apply for EAP?
To apply for EAP, please contact your local service provider. Please click here to find a listing of local service providers by county. If you are about to be disconnected or are already disconnected, you are advised to contact your local service provider for an appointment rather than applying online.
Please click here to access the EAP online application portal.
What should i do if I am about to be disconnected?
If you are in disconnect, please do not mail your application! A mail-in application may take too long to process to prevent being disconnected! Please call and make an appointment with your local service provider, call 2-1-1, or submit an online application and indicate that you are in crisis.
Please note that we cannot prevent disconnections scheduled prior to November 1, 2020.
What other kinds of Utility Assistance is available?
The EAP program may not be able to cover all of your utility bill or you may not be eligible in certain circumstances:
Your Appeal Rights and Right to Timely Processing of Your Energy Assistance Program Application
You have the right to request an appeal if your Energy Assistance Program (EAP) application is not acted upon in a timely manner once it has been received by the Local Service Provider (LSP) administering EAP in your area. In order to request an appeal for an EAP application not acted upon in a timely manner, please submit a written request for a review of your case along with all relevant facts to your LSP.
You will receive an official written response to your appeal within ten (10) business days of receipt. The written response will include instructions for a second appeal if you are not satisfied with the response.
Please note that an LSP has 10 days to determine eligibility of an EAP application when an in-person appointment takes place, and 55 days to determine eligibility of an EAP application when the application is delivered by other means, including but not limited to drop-off, mail, fax, e-mail, an electronic portal, or by proxy. When a heating crisis situation exists (defined as when a utility disconnection notice has been received, utility has already been disconnected, propane or fuel oil at or below 25% of a tank, or within 10 days of running out of other bulk deliverable fuel), LSPs must provide a mitigating action within 48 hours. In cases where a life-threatening crisis situation exists (defined as when a utility is already disconnected or bulk fuel heating source is already disconnected and there is a documented medical need in the household with an extreme safety concern), LSPs must provide a mitigating action within 18 hours. A mitigating action may or may not necessarily include determining eligibility of an EAP application within this time frame.
Please also note that the program officially opens, and the timeline for application approval begins, on November 1. Therefore, even if you submitted your application early, an LSP has until 55 days from November 1 to determine eligibility on an application if there is no crisis situation present. All other processing timelines will begin no earlier than November 1.
If an EAP application is denied for any reason, you have a right to submit another application, with updated supporting documentation, 55 days after your previous application submission.
What is the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)?
Households completing the EAP application are eligible for weatherization. Just check the box on the application to indicate that you are interested in weatherization. Not all homes who are eligible get weatherization assistance due to wait lists. Once a household fills out an EAP application, no additional application is necessary. For more information on weatherization, click here.