The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) can help you pay your heat and electric bills! EAP provides a one-time annual benefit that can assist you with the high cost of home energy and can help if you are disconnected or are about to get disconnected . An EAP benefit will not cover all your annual heating and electric costs, so you should continue to pay your bills regularly. These benefits are paid directly to the utility vendor to help cover your heating and electric costs. If your utilities are included in rent, you may still qualify for EAP.

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).

IHCDA partners with Local Service Providers (LSP) across Indiana to assist individuals with completing the EAP application. LSPs process and determine eligibility for all applications. Indiana households that make 60% of the state median income (60 SMI) or less may qualify for these benefits. See below for a detailed breakdown of income qualifications . Income eligibility is based on the most recent three months of income.

You can apply for EAP Program Year 2024 from October 2, 2023 until May 20, 2024

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.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was a temporary emergency water/wastewater program that helped low-income households and families during the COVID-19 pandemic.  It was used to fund a one-time benefit for eligible households who had water/wastewater services with a participating Indiana utility vendor. This funding was available to be used through September 2023. At this time, LIHWAP is closed with no additional funding available.

If you are at risk of disconnection, please contact your utility provider immediately and attempt to negotiate a payment arrangement to suspend disconnection action. You may also reach out to your local service provider, Community Action Agency, or 2-1-1 for referrals to other resources in your community or alternate funding sources.

If you have received a disconnection notice for a metered utility, are within 10 days of running out of bulk fuel, or have already been disconnected or run completely out of bulk fuel, please notify your local service provider immediately.

The Moratorium law (Indiana Code 8-1-2-121) states that from December 1st through March 15th 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. 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 . This includes utilities that are electric or gas, including municipally owned, privately owned, or cooperatively owned utilities.

Many utility companies provide their own energy assistance to their clients. For more information, please contact your utility provider. You can contact your local service provider (LSP), your local utility provider, or dial 2-1-1 for referrals to local resources in your community.

If you feel that your application was not acted upon in a timely manner, that you have been wrongly denied, or that your benefit amount was calculated incorrectly you may file an appeal.

You must send your appeal to your Local Service Provider within thirty (30) days of receipt of the denial. Your LSP will review your appeal and send you a written response within fourteen (14) calendar days.
If you need assistance with this procedure, please email IHCDA at eap@ihcda.in.gov or call 317-232-7777.

Please do not appeal directly to IHCDA prior to appealing to your Local Service Provider. Appeals that are sent to IHCDA without first being appealed with the LSP will be referred back to the LSP.

Appeals can be emailed to eap@ihcda.in.gov Attn: Appeals

Appeals can be mailed to Attn: Appeals Community Programs Manager -  EAP
30 South Meridian St, Suite 900
Indianapolis, IN 46204.

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 fourteen (14) calendar 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 depleted 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 1st. 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.

Please direct all media inquiries to ihcdacommunications@ihcda.in.gov

Documents Required:

• Proof of US Citizenship or residency (Social Security card, Real ID, or other documents)
• Photo ID for head of household
• Proof of Indiana Residency (utility bill, applicant’s Driver’s license, or other documents)
• Proof of Income
• Current utility bills or account statements
• Landlord Affidavit or current
• Lease (for applicants with utilities in rent only)
• LSP may require additional documents based on household circumstances