Heating Assistance Available for Low Income Households

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Help with home heating costs will be available across the state this winter through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program administered by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
The application period for assistance through OKDHS will begin Tuesday, December 1. Applications will be accepted until allocated funding is spent.

Funding for winter heating assistance in Oklahoma is projected to be approximately $18 million. Last year, OKDHS served more than 100,000 households during the winter heating assistance program.

“Many, but not all households that receive public assistance through OKDHS may be automatically authorized for LIHEAP and will not need to make application. These households will be notified of their eligibility,” said Cari Crittenden, OKDHS LIHEAP coordinator. She also encouraged those who are usually pre-approved to make application at their local OKDHS office if they  have recentlymoved or did not receive a pre-approval notice this year.

Most other households that receive some type of public assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or state supplemental payments to the aged, blind or disabled will be mailed LIHEAP applications.

Eligibility for help through LIHEAP is based on household income and assets. Low-income households that do not receive public assistance may also be eligible for home heating assistance.

“It is important that persons requesting LIHEAP assistance have their household’s latest heating bill and income information when applying,” Crittenden added.

The maximum income guidelines are:

To locate the OKDHS Human Services Center in your community, visit http://www.okdhs.org​

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