Iowa LIHEAP Low Income Energy Bill Assistance Program

The federally funded low income energy assistance program, or LIHEAP, was designed to help families, including those in Iowa, with the payment of a portion of their utility and heating bills. The Iowa Bureau of Energy Assistance administers the program in the state, and they work closely with community action agencies and other non-profits.

LIHEAP has energy bill crisis intervention components. This is offered in an emergency, and can provide qualified low income families and seniors with addressing potentially life-threatening situations. Another component is client education. This will provide funds and grants for activities that encourage regular utility payments, encourage reduction of energy use, and promote energy awareness through weatherization, energy efficiency, and client education.

Funds from LIHEAP will go directly to your energy provider.  You must continue making payments on your heating and electric bills while you are enrolled in the program. Another benefit is that an approval for the LIHEAP program allows Iowa families to automatically enroll and access the winter moratorium protection from disconnection. However it does not guarantee a payment.

There are currently 2 types of benefits under this energy program, and they are emergency benefits (crisis) as well as regular benefits. The ongoing, regular cash benefits need to be applied to annually, a great dollar amount is usually paid out, and they have a longer approval process. Emergency grants are for those families in Iowa who are at immediate risk of having their utilities disconnected, or who are dangerously low on fuel or out of heating oil. The approval process is much quicker.

If after apply to the low income energy assistance program, and if your application is approved, LIHEAP may provide cash assistance in the form of a one-time payment towards your heating bill. All funds will be paid on a first-come first-serve basis, so apply early as the amount of resources is limited. Everything is subject to the availability of federal funds. The total amount that an individual will receive as an LIHEAP payment will be based on factors such as type of heating fuel used, total household income, household size, and their dwelling type.

 

 

Note that LIHEAP is not designed to pay for a customer’s entire utility bill or winter's heating costs. Rather it was intended provide low-income families in Iowa with an opportunity to prioritize their spending over the winter months.

LIHEAP application sites

Community Action Agency of Sioux land - Woodbury County
2700 Leech Avenue, Sioux City
Phone number (712) 274-1610
Community Action of Eastern Iowa
500 East 59th Street, Davenport
Main telephone:(563) 324-3236
Eastern counties of Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine, Scott

Community Action of Southeast Iowa
2850 Mt. Pleasant Street, Suite 108
Burlington, IA 52601
Call (319) 753-0193
Counties are Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, Lee

Des Moines Community Action Agency
100 E. Euclid Avenue, Suite 101
Des Moines, IA 50313
Primary telephone - (515) 323-8987

Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP)
Counties are Benton, Iowa, Jones, Johnson, Linn, Washington
1515 Hawkeye Drive
Hiawatha, IA 52233
(319) 393-7811

MATURA Action Corporation
Regions are Iowa counties of Adair, Adams, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor, and Union
203 West Adams
Creston, IA 50801
Main number - (641) 782-8431

Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc.
1001 S.18th Ave.
Marshalltown, IA 50158
Main telephone: (641) 752-7162
Counties are Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, Story, Tama. Limited services in: Benton, Boone, Calhoun, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Jasper, Kossuth, Mahaska, Marion, Pocahontas, Warren, Webster, Wright.

Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc.
418 Marion Street
Remsen, IA 51050
Dial (712) 786-2001
Counties supported - Cherokee, Ida, Lyon, Plymouth, Sioux

New Opportunities, Inc.
Carroll, Iowa
Telephone :(712) 792-9266
Audubon, Calhoun, Carroll, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Sac

North Iowa Community Action Organization
Offers LIHEAP in counties of Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth
218 5th Street, SW
Mason City, IA
Main telephone :(641) 423-8993

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation helps people in the counties of Allamakee, Bremer, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek
305 Montgomery Street
Decorah, IA 52101
Primary telephone :(563) 382-8436

Operation Threshold
Waterloo, IA 50704-4120
(319) 291-2065
Counties include Black Hawk, Buchanan, and Grundy

Operation: New View Community Action Agency
1473 Central Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001-4853
Primary telephone :(563) 556-5130
Counties are Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson

Red Rock Area Community Action Program, Inc.
1009 S. Jefferson, Suite 2
Indianola, IA 50125
Main telephone: (515) 961-6271
Main counties Boone, Jasper, Marion, Polk (excluding City of Des Moines), Warren

South Central Iowa Community Action Program, Inc.
Address is 1711 Osceola Avenue, Suite 103
Chariton, IA 50049
Main telephone: (641) 774-8133
Offers LIHEAP in Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Decatur, Wayne

Southern Iowa Economic Development Association
226 W. Main
Ottumwa, Iowa
Telephone number is (641) 682-8741
Counties are Apponoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Van Buren, and Wapello

Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc.
Graettinger, IA 51342-0519
Primary telephone number is (712) 859-3885
Counties - Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Hamilton, Humboldt, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Wright, Webster

West Central Community Action
PO Box 709, 1408 "A" Highway
Harlan, IA 51537-709
Primary telephone :(712) 755-5135
Low income energy assistance is offered in Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Monona, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby County.