The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides help with energy needs including heating and cooling assistance, energy crisis intervention, low-cost residential weatherization and other energy-related home repairs.
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a temporary emergency program that can help eligible families pay for water and wastewater services. A one-time payment is made directly to the utility company. Funds are available through September 2023 or until the funds are used up (whichever comes first). The income eligibility is shown in the chart below.
Who Qualifies?
- Households that meet income guidelines (see below).
- Must be a citizen or lawfully present immigrant. ‘Mixed status households’ (e.g., parent is undocumented and children are citizens/lawful immigrants) may be eligible. Family income is measured against the household size of the eligible members.
Income and Resource Limits
Resources are not counted. Income must be within the limits listed below.
How to Apply
Contact the Community Action Program that serves the applicant’s city or town. You can call 401-921-4968 to find the local CAP agency. New applications are taken by the CAP agencies from September through May.
Other Energy Assistance Programs
- Keep the Heat on: The Diocese of Providence sponsors the “Keep the Heat On” Challenge, which helps heat the homes of those who have exhausted all other public and private resources and with no place left to turn for assistance with their heating bills. Applicants can call 401-421-7833 x 207 for emergency assistance. Funds may not always be available.
- Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund. The program helps those who are not eligible for LIHEAP and is focused on families who are faced with a crisis or emergency. Grants can be paid for heating bills, oil, or another fuel source. Call 2-1-1 to find out whether grants are available.
- JOE-4-OIL program. Citgo Petroleum as well as Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program work together to provide struggling families with financial assistance in the form of oil and fuel. Qualified families can usually receive up to 100 gallons during the winter. To find out whether funds are available, check the website.
LIHEAP Income Guidelines (Oct 2023)
| Household Size | Maximum Yearly Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $35,674 |
| 2 | $46,651 |
| 3 | $57,628 |
| 4 | $68,605 |
| 5 | $79,581 |
| 6 | $90,558 |