Subsidized and Rental Household Eligibility and Benefits

[Last updated: 12/23/2023]

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Alabama

 
Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

Alaska

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes*
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Comment *Renters who live in subsidized housing must show $200/yr in out-of-pocket costs above the utility allowance they receive in order to qualify for benefits.

Arizona

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

Arkansas

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Comment If the household declares that its utilities are included in the rent, it must provide documentation by submitting a copy of its lease agreement.

California

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Comment Clients receiving other utility, rent or mortgage subsidies are not prioritized

Colorado

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits A flat amount of $30 per month or $180 per season is deducted from the estimate of home heating cost for subsidized households with utility allowance.

Connecticut

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits SNAP recipients whose incomes are below 150% FPG, have their heat included in their rent, and pay less than 30% of their income toward their rent receive a minimal benefit.

Delaware

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes*
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits The State specifies the flat payment and the ceiling amount for the rent per month for renters living in subsidized housing when heat is not included in the rent. If rent in subsidized housing is greater than the ceiling amount specified by the State, then the LIHEAP benefit is issued according to the LIHEAP Benefit Matrix.

District of Columbia

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No
Benefits Applicants that are residents of subsidized housing or residents of a dwelling unit where utilities are included in the rent must provide proof in the form of a utility bill that they are directly responsible for paying their own heating costs.

Florida

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Must show proof that the applicant is responsible to pay for part or all of the utility bill.

Georgia

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay No
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No

Hawaii

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Comment When a payment for energy undesignated in the form of rent, the household shall submit a current utility bill and bonafide rental or lease agreement or Hawaii Housing Authority statement for the address listed on the utility bill.

Idaho

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Households with heat included in rent receive the minimum benefit. Households with subsidized housing receive a benefit equivalent to that of a low-burden household.

Illinois

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes*
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No
Comments Renters with utilities include in their rents have to prove their rent is greater than 30% of their income for 30 days prior to application in order to be eligible to receive benefits. In addition, the furnace component is for homeowners, renters are not eligible for furnace assistance.

Indiana

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No

Iowa

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

Kansas

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

Kentucky

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Crisis: Residents of subsidized housing will have benefits based on their reduced energy burden, and the benefits for these renters will be less than all other households. Households residing in subsidized housing will be responsible for a higher co-payment due to receiving a utility allowance. The co-payment amount will be based on the household's percent of poverty: for those 75-100% FPG, 15% for subsidized; 101-130%, 20% for subsidized. The consumers that receive a utility allowance payment must utilize the allowance first, but will not be denied if that amount has already been utilized for heating costs.

Louisiana

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes*
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits For renters living in subsidized housing, the amount of the utility allowance is deducted from the total energy cost. Households receiving a utility allowance greater than the utility bill are not eligible. Applicants over 60 years old are exempt from this requirement.

Maine

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes*
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Comments *Maine limits categorical eligibility to households residing in subsidized housing with heat included where the household has out-of-pocket expenses for a portion of their rent or electricity costs. The maximum LIHEAP benefit for households residing in subsidized housing with heat included is $21 per program year.

Maryland

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Applicants who are renters are eligible to receive energy assistance benefits provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. Specific rental arrangements between the renter (tenant) and the landlord must be verified in order to determine if and how benefits will be paid. Applicants who are renters and pay their heating costs directly must identify their energy supplier and fuel type. Applicants who are renters (including roomers and boarders) and pay their energy costs indirectly as undesignated portions of rent payments are required to furnish the name, address, and phone number of the landlord to whom the rent payments are made. If their application is qualified, benefits will be paid to the landlord and their rent will be reduced accordingly. Applicants who are residents of subsidized housing must provide proof that they are directly responsible for paying their own heating costs and receive a lower benefit level than those with similar incomes that do not have access to subsidized housing.

Massachusetts

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits A renter living in a subsidized building or living in a Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) building who pays a vendor directly for their heat, or who live in a subsidized building or a LIHTC building, with heat included in rent where the monthly rent is more than 30% of the gross LIHEAP monthly income, is eligible for a partial LIHEAP benefit. A renter that does not live in a subsidized building or a LIHTC building, that either pays their vendor directly for their heat or whose heat cost is included in their rent is eligible for a full LIHEAP benefit.

Michigan

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Renters, whose heating costs are included in their rent or if heat service is in someone else's name, the credit is reduced by 50 percent. Do not differentiate between subsidized and nonsubsidized housing residents.

Minnesota

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Residents of subsidized housing who are responsible for their heating costs are eligible for grants based on their consumption. Residents of subsidized housing who are responsible for electric costs only are eligible for a minimum grant which will be paid to the electric account with their vendor. Residents of subsidized housing who pay neither heat nor electric costs to a vendor are not eligible to receive an Energy Assistance Benefit.

Mississippi

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Comment The applicant should provide either a copy of their lease; a written, signed notarized statement from the landlord detailing the heating/cooling arrangement with the client; or collateral contract with the landlord that verifies the heating/cooling arrangement that the landlord has with the household. Roomer/boarder status is given to an individual who is not a required household member and is paying the client to reside in their residence. To qualify as a roomer/boarder, the applicant /household must be the homeowner.

Missouri

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Individuals living in rental property and who are paying a home energy supplier directly for their heating costs receive the same benefit as a similarly situated homeowner. Households residing in public subsidized housing with utilities included as an undesignated portion of their monthly rent, provided they can document they are paying energy costs over and above the utility allowance included in their regular monthly rental charge are eligible. Households with heating costs included as undesignated portion of their monthly rental charge receive a payment equal to 8% of their annual rental costs or the amount they would receive as a home owner, whichever is less.

Montana

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Residents of subsidized housing whose energy costs are included as a portion of their rent or who reside in subsidized housing and have an obligation to pay a base load electric bill are not eligible for a regular LIEAP benefit. However, these households are eligible for a modified LIEAP benefit paid at the rate of 5% of the amount of a regular LIEAP benefit. A minimum payment of $25 will be paid to the household annually. For eligible non-subsidized tenant households where energy costs are included in rental payments are eligible for payments that do not exceed 50% of their rent or a pro-rata monthly amount of the benefit, whichever is less.
Comment Households determined eligible for the Subsidized Housing Energy Assistance modified LIEAP benefit whose economic and housing situation does not change will be determined LIEAP eligible for a period of 5 years.

Nebraska

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Comments For subsidized housing, the household must be responsible for a portion of the heating payment to be eligible for heating.

Nevada

Eligibility  
  Subsidized with heat included in rent No
  Subsidized direct pay Yes
  Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
Benefits Renters living in subsidized/public housing where all utilities are included in the rent and they are not billed separately for their energy costs are ineligible for an EAP benefit. If the utility account(s) are in the landlord's name and the utilities are included in the rent, and the residence is not master-metered, an eligible household may receive the minimum payment of $180 paid directly to the household if all other eligibility criteria are met.
Comment The following rules pertain to master metered households: 
  • If all utilities are in the landlord's name and are included in the rent AND the household does not receive a separate bill that includes consumption and dollar usage, the household is ineligible for energy assistance.
  • If all utilities are in the landlord's name and are included in the rent, BUT the household receives a separate bill that includes consumption and dollar usage, the household is eligible for a fixed annual credit payable to the household.
  • If one of the utilities is in the landlord's name and one is in the household's name, the household will receive a fixed annual credit based on the utility in the household's name payable to the household's utility; UNLESS, the household receives a separate bill from the landlord that includes consumption and dollar usage in which case the household receives a fixed annual credit based on both utilities that is payable to the household's utility not to exceed the annual usage, and the remainder payable to the household.
  • New Hampshire

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

    New Jersey

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

    New Mexico

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Households who cut/gather their own firewood or whose utilities are included in their rent receive a benefit but do not receive the energy burden points.

    New York

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Households that do not make payments directly to a vendor for their primary heating but make undesignated payments for heat as a portion of their rent and are in an eligible living arrangement will receive a benefit based on the two-tier payment structure.

    North Carolina

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No

    North Dakota

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

    Ohio

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Renters who reside in subsidized housing must have a main heating or electric bill in their name to receive assistance. Renters with utilities included in the rent must show proof of responsibility and cannot live in subsidized housing. A weighted benefit is given to clients that have someone in the home over the age of 60 or a documented disability.

    Oklahoma

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Renters with utilities included in rent and renters in subsidized housing receive the same benefit amounts as homeowners. Renters in subsidized housing must be responsible for at least a portion of the heating utility in order to be considered vulnerable. Renters with utilities included in rent must verify that a specific portion of the rent is for the cost of utilities or be charged a surcharge during high usage months to be considered vulnerable. Applicants that are roomers receive a smaller benefit in heating, still based on income.

    Oregon

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits All households applying for LIHEAP must demonstrate energy burden using acceptable forms of documentation. Many residents of subsidized housing receive a utility allowance that is intended to cover a portion of their utility costs. This utility allowance provides the basis for a reduced energy assistance payment. It is assumed that all residents of subsidized housing have a utility allowance unless they can prove otherwise. Acceptable forms of documentation that can be used to prove there is no utility allowance is a Landlord Letter, Subsidized Housing Contract, and/or Utility Bill. Applicants residing in subsidized housing with heat included in rent are not considered vulnerable to rising energy costs, and are therefore generally not eligible for LIHEAP Heating Assistance benefits.

    Pennsylvania

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No
    Benefits Eligible roomers and renters who pay for heat indirectly for their residence as an undesignated part of the rent will receive 50 percent of the LIHEAP cash benefit for which they would otherwise qualify. Renters, including subsidized-housing tenants, are ineligible if their rental charge includes an undesignated amount for heat and is based on a fixed percentage of their income or on their source of income.

    Rhode Island

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

    South Carolina

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

    South Dakota

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Households that have utilities included in rent have different benefit amounts than households that pay a vendor directly.

    Tennessee

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes, if subsidized households with heat included in rent are subject to overage.
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Households which are only subject to the payment of "overages" for their energy costs receive benefits that are equal to the amounts of their monthly "overages", but are not greater than the maximum benefit levels allowed. Overages that are eligible for LIHEAP assistance must be based on documentation secured from public housing authorities.

    Texas

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No
    Comments If the renter's situation is one where the utilities are not a distinct charge from the rent, the State does not provide assistance as there is no individual bill and neither energy cost not energy burden can be determined.

    Utah

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Roomers and/or boarders who pay energy costs as part of their rent must use 10% of their monthly rent amount to determine their monthly energy cost. In order for a household living in government subsidized housing to be considered vulnerable and, thus, eligible for the HEAT program, they must pay a utility bill for heat costs directly to a utility provider. (This could include landlord, if usage and billing information is included on the rent bill)

    Vermont

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Households where 'the heat is included in the rent' are deemed by state statute and by department rules to "make undesignated payment for energy for heat in the form of rent." These households are deemed to have the lowest energy burden, regardless of income, and are granted the lowest LIHEAP heating assistance benefit of $21.

    Virginia

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Benefits Subsidized households who are responsible for periodic payment of individual excess fuel usage charges (even though heating expenses are included in their rent) are not eligible for heating assistance. Subsidized households whose total heating costs are included in their rent are not eligible for heating assistance.

    Washington

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes

    West Virginia

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent No
        AG's that have utilites included in the rent but are not billed separately for a heating cost are not eligible for LIHEAP. If a client applies for LIEAP and indicates their utilities are included in their rent, the worker requests verification of those said utilities. This can be done via phone call, rent receipt, lease, contract, etc.

    Wisconsin

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent No
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes
    Comment

    The landlord’s or management company name and phone number is required when heat or electric is included in rent or a separate payment is made to the landlord. Verification of heat and/or non-heating electric included in rent is required and the means of verification must be indicated in HE+ System Notes, such as, but not limited to:

    • Observation of a lease or rental agreement,
    • Observation of previous year's information if the applicant is at the same residence,
    • Verbal contact with the landlord, or
    • In some cases the heating vendor can verify if heat is included.

     

    Wyoming

    Eligibility  
      Subsidized with heat included in rent Yes
      Subsidized direct pay Yes
      Nonsubsidized with heat included in rent Yes