CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) is reminding qualified individuals that applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) will be accepted until Friday, March 18, 2022, or until funds are exhausted. The federally funded program assists eligible state residents in paying home heating bills. 

Eligibility for LIEAP benefits is based on income, household size and whether the household is responsible for paying its heating bill. To qualify, households must meet all program guidelines, which includes an applicant’s annual income being at or below 60 percent of the state median income. In situations where a heating emergency exists, applicants must contact a DHHR worker for case evaluation. 

The maximum allowable gross income levels for LIEAP Fiscal Year 2022 are listed below:

For each additional person, add $567. Households whose income exceeds the maximum amount are not eligible; however, some types of income may be excluded for LIEAP. Social Security and Veterans income will be excluded for the current LIEAP application period. 

Applications are available online at www.wvpath.org and may also be obtained at local DHHR offices, Community Action Agencies, or senior centers operated by an Area Agency on Aging. 

Completed applications should be delivered or mailed to the DHHR office located in the applicant’s county of residence. A list of local offices may be found at https://dhhr.wv.gov/bcf/Pages/MapList.aspx  or by calling 304-352-4431. Mailing the application to any other office or to a utility company may delay the receipt by DHHR and prohibit processing the application.