Title: I Can't Pay My Electric Bill: Where to Get Help
Headings: I Can’t Pay My Electric Bill: Where to Get Help
I Can’t Pay My Electric Bill: Where to Get Help
Learn About Electric Bill Help
Emergency Payment Assistance
Help paying utility bills can come from three different sectors:
Utility Bill Assistance During COVID-19
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
How to Qualify for Energy Assistance
Charity Aid
These are some of the organizations you will be referred to:
Electricity Shut Off Laws
Utility Company Programs
What Can You Do If Your Electricity is Shut Off

Content: The program is meant to help low-income households that pay a high proportion of their income for home energy. The Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance granted $3.32 billion in funding for LIHEAP in 2020. LIHEAP can help pay heating or cooling bills, and help pay for low-cost home improvements such as weatherization to lower utility bills. On average, about 20% of households that are qualified for LIHEAP receive benefits. How to Qualify for Energy Assistance
Eligibility for this program varies by state, but generally it starts at the $18,735 income level for a one-person household (150% of the federal poverty line). Then add $6,630 per person in the household, so a family of four would have to earn less than $38,625 (6,630 x 3 + 18,735 = 38,625) to qualify. You could be automatically eligible If you are currently enrolled in SNAP, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. To apply, you’ll need to find your local LIHEAP office using this search tool, or contact the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) at 1-866-674-6327 or email energyassistance@ncat.org. States also have their own forms of utility assistance. Ohio, Colorado, New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Maine all have various forms of Percentage of Income Payment Plans (PIPP).