Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
As the cost of energy outpaces increases in salaries and government benefits, more and more low-income families are struggling to make ends meet. When the utility bills cannot be paid and the heat is turned off in the winter, or electricity turned off in the summer, the health of children, the elderly, and other household members is at risk. LIHEAP is designed to assist low-income households with their energy costs, but federal funding for the program lags far behind the need. Adequate federal LIHEAP appropriations can help families stay current with their energy bills and avoid devastating utility disconnections.
Policy Analysis
Testimony of
the National Consumer Law Center on Behalf of Our Low-Income Clients Before
the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, FY 2009 Appropriations
for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), March 2008, PDF
(44KB)
On Friday, February 22, 2008, the Administration announced the release of $40 million in FY 2008 LIHEAP emergency contingency funds to help low-income households in 11 states afford home heating oil as prices remain at record levels. The 11 states are Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. There now remains around $120 million in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds available for release this fiscal year. To see the HHS chart of the allocations to the 11 states click here.
Administration released $450 million in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds!
On January 16, 2008 the Administration announced the release of $450 million in FY 2008 LIHEAP emergency contingency funds to address the high home heating fuel costs this winter. All states will receive funds from this release. Note that $160 million remains available in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds. For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released go here.
2007
On September 27, 2007 the Administration announced the release of $131.17 million in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds. To address the anticipated high costs for heating fuel this winter, $106.17 million is being distributed to all states under the regular block grant formula. The Administration also targeted an additional $25 million to seven (7) states that are largely dependant on heating oil to address the predicted high increase in those prices. A chart showing the total state-by-state allocations for these $131.17 million in emergency contingency funds can be found here. The HHS press release can be found here.
Issue Brief Title: Full Funding of $5.1B for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Needed to Protect Seniors and Families with Young Children From Dangers of Extreme Heat and Cold, January 2007
2006
Administration releases $79.9 million in LIHEAP Emergency Contingency Funds
On September 12, 2006, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of $79.96 million in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds to 14 states to address the high cost of heating oil. States received LIHEAP Emergency Contingency funds under this release if the met two criteria:
15% or more of their low income households use fuel oil for heat and
States experienced an average temperature less than 47 degrees over their normal temperature for the period of October 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006.
The $79.96 million distributed today is not subject to the normal LIHEAP obligation rules or subject to the 10% carryover limitation. States and tribes receiving a share of the $79.96 million must obligate 100% of these funds before September 30, 2007 (the end of FY 2007).
Here is the list of states receiving LIHEAP Emergency Contingency Funds in this release.
Alaska
$1,430,796
Connecticut
$6,073,328
Delaware
$541,480
Maine
$7,067,369
Maryland
$1,878,119
Massachusetts
$9,177,848
New Hampshire
$2,981,438
New Jersey
$5,271,777
New York
$25,821,368
North Carolina
$2,099,841
Pennsylvania
$11,268,959
Rhode Island
$1,550,154
Vermont
$2,349,628
Virginia
$2,447,895
Total
$79,960,000
***
On
Monday, March 20th, 2006 the President signed into law (P.L. 109-204) the Snowe
LIHEAP
bill, S. 2320, which provides an additional $500 million for the regular
block grant and $500 million in emergency contingency. On Thursday March,
23rd, the Administration announced the release of the full $1 billion from
the Snowe bill. There remains $101 million in emergency contingency that
have not been released. To see the total amount of LIHEAP funding given to
each state, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2006/March2006_liheap.htm
***
On December 30, 2005 the President signed into law the FY 2006 Defense
Appropriations Act (P.L. 109-148). The legislative package included the conference report on HR 3010, the FY 2006 Labor, HHS, Educations Appropriations Act. The FY 2006 LIHEAP program is funded at $2 billion for the regular program and $183 million in LIHEAP Emergency Contingency funds. However, there was a 1% rescission, lowering funding for FY 2006 LIHEAP to $1.98 billion for the regular program and $181 in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds. To
view the State-by-state breakdown of the regular funds click here.
***
On January 5, 2006, the Administration released $100 million of the available $201 million (includes the $20 million in LIHEAP emergency funds carried forward into 2006) in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds to address the rise in residential heating prices. To view state-by-state allotments of the release go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2005/liheap_funding_0106.htm.
HHS press release and the state-by-state allocations: On October 12, HHS announced that under the current Continuing Resolution (CR) (P.L. 109-77), states will receive their full first quarter LIHEAP block grant fund requests for FY 2006, not to exceed 95%, upon the completion of their FY 2006 LIHEAP plans. Ten states have requested the full 100% if their LIHEAP block grant in the first quarter, but are limited to a maximum of 95% of their allocation under this CR. Tribes will also receive 95% of their annual allocations. The CR allocations are based on the FY 2005 LIHEAP block grant funding level of $1.885 billion.
