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 2008 Appropriations
for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), March 2007, PDF
(38KB)
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.
and NCLC