The Ohio Low Income Home Assistance Energy Program is an initiative of the US federal government and is administered by the Ohio Development Service Agency, through its office of Community Assistance (OCA). The program is specifically designed to help low-income residents meet the high cost of energy especially in the winter season when heat becomes a basic necessity.

In order to qualify for these program applicants need to meet a set of specified eligibility requirements. These eligibility requirements are based on the household size, household income and residential status of the applicants. Applicants participating in special programs such as TANF and SNAP are considered automatically income eligible, while those applicants who live in federally subsidized house where heat is included in the rent are not eligible for the Ohio LI-HEAP program.

If you meet the basic eligibility requirements, you should proceed to apply for the Ohio LI-HEAP program. Applying for the Ohio LI-HEAP program is a fairly easy process, all you need to do is obtain and fill an application form, from your nearest Ohio LI-HEAP office. After filling the application you should mail it back and wait for a response from the Ohio LI-HEAP program.

If you are admitted to the Ohio LI-HEAP program, you will start receiving the benefits of the program.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for program membership applicants to the Ohio LI-HEAP program need to meet a specified set of eligibility requirements. These program eligibility requirements are based on the applicant’s household income, residential status and membership to other social service program and are discussed below:

Ohio LI-HEAP Income Eligibility Requirements

Applicants to the Ohio LI-HEAP program need to have a household income that is either equal to, or less than the stated program maximum. These program eligibility requirements are based on the gross household income before tax and are highlighted on the following link: www.development.ohio.gov/ (Ohio LI-HEAP Income eligibility requirements).

Applicants participating in other social service programs, such as SNAP, TANF and SSI are not subjected to the income test, because they are considered automatically income eligible.

Residential Eligibility Requirements

Applicants to the Ohio LI-HEAP program must be residents of the state of Ohio and US nationals or registered legal aliens.

Applicants living in subsidized federal housing, where the heating costs are part of the total rent are not eligible for the Ohio LI-HEAP program.

LIHEAP Application Instructions

If you meet the basic Ohio LI-HEAP eligibility requirements you should proceed to apply for participation in the program. Applying for the Ohio LI-HEAP program is an easy process; all you need to do is to download an application form available on this link: www.development.ohio.gov/files/is/HEAPApp.pdf (Ohio LI-HEAP Program Application form). .Before filling the application form you should make sure that you read and understand all the application instructions.

The Ohio LI-HEAP application forms can also be obtained by:

• Calling Ohio LI- HEAP toll-free at (800) 282-0880

• Visiting your Local Community Action Agencies

• At Local libraries

• Visiting your County Departments of Job and Family Services

• Requesting at the Area Agencies on Aging

• Requesting at the Local Utility Offices

After filling the application form, you should make sure that you sign it and proceed to mail it to the following address:

HEAP
P.O. Box 1240
Columbus, Ohio 43216

You should attach the following documents when mailing the application form:

• A proof for income in the past year

• A copy of the most recent utility/fuel bill, and

• Other documents as specified in the application form

Upon successful processing of the application you will start receiving the benefits of the program.