LIHEAP

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Get help with heating and cooling bills.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists families with energy costs in the summer and winter months.

MVCAA assists more than 5,000 mid-Missouri families annually by restoring or maintaining their utilities through LIHEAP.

There are two components of LIHEAP – Energy Assistance (EA) and Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP).

Get more information and download an application here: //www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/liheap.htm.

LIHEAP Program Components

Energy Assistance (EA)
EA is a one-time payment for heating or cooling costs from October – May. It can only be awarded to the primary utility company you list on your application. Maximum benefit depends on fuel type.

Emergency Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP)
ECIP pays the total amount due on your account, rounded to the nearest dollar, only if you have received a disconnect notice, or are currently without services. Your account much be active.

2025 Program Information

As the Energy Assistance program applications detail, households that apply for assistance should continue to pay on their bill to avoid disconnection. All requests are processed in the order they were received, by account status.

Tips on submitting your application electronically:

  • Always submit your documents as a PDF.
  • PDFs should be attached to not pasted in the body of an email.
  • Make sure the PDF is clear and can be easily read.
  • Make sure the required information is clearly visible.
  • Screenshots of text notices that are received will not be accepted. It MUST be a copy of the actual utility bill.

LIHEAP Frequently Asked Questions

EA stands for Energy Assistance. This is the one time a year, lump sum, benefit amount applied to your primary supplier as indicated on your LIHEAP application. The benefit amount varies based on the fuel source for your household (i.e. electric, gas, propane, etc). You must be approved for this amount before you qualify for any additional assistance. Refer to the DSS website for more information
ECIP stands for Emergency Crisis Intervention Program. This refers to the Winter/Summer benefit amounts that are in addition to the EA benefit amounts. You must be approved for the EA benefit before you qualify for ECIP funds. You must submit a copy of your utility disconnect notice each time you request assistance through this program, as ECIP will only pledge on the balance due at the time your request is processed.
  • This is not an automatic utility bill pay program, nor is there an account set up for each household. The funds from the Winter season (November 1 – May 31) do NOT carry over to the summer season (June 1 – September 30).
  • Funds do not carry over from one program year (November – September) to the next.
 Refer to the DSS website for more information.
To qualify for LIHEAP assistance, the following requirements must be met:
  • Be responsible for paying home heating and cooling costs.
  • Be a United States citizen or have been legally admitted for permanent residence.
  • Have $3,000 or less in bank accounts, retirement accounts, or investments.
  • Meet specific income guidelines that vary according to household size.
  1. Some of the operations of this application are limited to Adobe Acrobat software and limitations of using PDF formatting.
  2. You may complete the application on your phone; however, you will need to have Acrobat Reader fillable forms on IOS.
  3. Once you click the submit button, you must save the completed LIHEAP application to your computer or phone. After saving the application, you will proceed to a page where you’ll be asked to attach the application and other documents.
  4. The submitted LIHEAP application will send an encrypted email with the application and any attachments to the agency based on the county the applicant selected. If an application is received from a customer that does not reside in a county serviced by that agency, the application will be sent to the agency that provides assistance for the county where the applicant resides.
You can also obtain applications outside every Family Resouce Center. All supporting documentation must be submitted with the application to avoid processing delays.
Mail all information to 1415 S. Odell Avenue, Marshall, MO 65340.
Fax all information to 660-831-5039.
Drop off at your local Family Resource Center.
  • If you are dropping off your application in person, please only do so during scheduled business hours.
  • We are not responsible for any applications and/ or supporting documents left outside of our building when our offices are closed.
  • Do not leave documents unsecured outside the door, under the door, or illegally placed in our mailbox.
  • Your applications contain highly sensitive information, and it is your responsibility to keep it protected.
  • If you cannot drop it off during scheduled business hours mail/email the documents instead.
Email to liheap@mvcaa.net.
  • Screenshots will not be accepted.
  • Please convert all documents to PDF. This can be done on your phone. You can find instructions on how to convert documents below in the LIHEAP Forms section below.
  • PDFs need to be ATTACHED to the email, not placed in the body of the email.
  • Submit your application and documents through the Department of Social Services online website or email at liheap@mvcaa.net.
  • The online application can be found at: https://mydss.mo.gov/utility-assistance/liheap.
  • You may contact the Community Outreach Specialist at your local Family Resource Center to check on the status of your application.
  • Rerminder, we process thousands of applications, please only leave one message per day.  We have experienced high call volumes and will return your call as soon as possible.
Standard processing time takes about 30-45 business days when we have all required information submitted with the application. If there is additional information needed, it can cause delays in processing.
  • The LIHEAP program runs from November 1 through September 30 for elderly/disabled applicants. We can accept applications for the elderly/disabled starting October 1.
  • The LIHEAP program runs December 1 through September 30 for all general public applicants. We can accept applications for the general public starting November 1.
  • Every household must apply for assistance one time a year, every year. Should any information change during the same year you have originally applied, you will be asked to submit a new application.
  • Should your original application be denied, you must submit a whole new completed application with all necessary documents again.
When anything changes from the original application you submitted.  These changes can include:
  • Your address changes
  • Your account number changes
  • If your previous application was denied
  • Someone moves in/out of your household
  • Your utility company changes
  • When your legal name changes or bill holder name changes, and more.
Charges that are applied to your utility bill that the LIHEAP program funds cannot cover, such as water, sewer, trash, internet, etc.
  • Energy Assistance (EA) one time annual payment can cover any fees that are included in your bill.
  • ECIP (energy crisis) funds can cover energy costs, reconnect fees, late fees, deposits, tank (pressure) tests, off-route delivery fees, rental fees, tank pick-up/removal fees, and sole energy costs.
  • ECIP cannot pay for any water, storm water, sewer, internet, or trash fees, etc.
Refer to the signature page of the LIHEAP application that lists all the documents required to process your application.
  • You must submit a completed application, including written Social Security numbers for ALL household members on Part 2 of the application, as well as copies of your utility bills.
  • Refer to the signature page of the LIHEAP application. You will find a list of documents needed for processing the application, even for those who are actively receiving food stamps.
If your entire household is attesting to receiving no income at all, please complete the Low Income Interview Guide. Form located under “LIHEAP documents.”
It is required that all utility bills are in the name of at least one household member who is listed on the application. If not, contact your utility provider to update the name on the account.
  • If the bill is in a landlord’s name and you pay your utilities in your rent, or to your landlord directly, provide the Landlord/Renter Documentation Form to your landlord to complete.  Form located under “LIHEAP Documents.”
  • Once your landlord has completed the form, attach to your LIHEAP application before submitting.
  • Households that have their utilities included in their rental payment are not eligible for ECIP assistance.
Each utility company has a different webpage, however there should always be a link or “View your bill” option on your account login page. Once that PDF is downloaded, you can print and mail, email, or fax it into MVCAA. NOTE: Screenshots of text notices that are received will not be accepted. It MUST be a copy of the actual utility bill.
You must mail, email, drop off, or fax your disconnect notice. We know emergencies happen and unexpected things come up, but please plan accordingly.  We have 48 hours to process all ECIP requests, whether your service is already disconnected or not.  Requests are processed in the order they are received.  We will not move your application to the front because you are disconnected. It will be processed in the order we receive it.
You must mail, email, drop off, or fax your disconnect notice. We know emergencies happen and unexpected things come up, but please plan accordingly.  We have 48 hours to process all ECIP requests, whether your service is already disconnected or not.  Requests are processed in the order they are received.  We will not move your application to the front because you are disconnected. It will be processed in the order we receive it.
Please read the letter carefully to learn what is needed by the LIHEAP Department to process your request. If you still have questions about what documentation is required, call your local Family Resource Center.
The main form of communication from the MVCAA LIHEAP Department will be via letter following the State program requirements. You can contact the Community Outreach Specialist at your local Family Resource Center.  If they cannot answer your question, they will contact the LIHEAP Department for further guidance.  You can make an appointment with the Community Outreach Specialist to help fill out an application or answer any questions.
Once you submit your application and required documents, your application will be reviewed within approximately 30 business days (unless it is considered a crisis for LIHEAP). After you apply, please continue to pay your utility bills, if you can, so you do not get disconnected or run out of fuel such as propane, wood, or pre-paid electric. The LIHEAP agency is not responsible for your utility bill. A letter will be mailed to you that tells you if you qualify for help and the amount you get.

LIHEAP Forms & Creating PDF Instructions

Landlord/Renter Form
Have your landlord fill out this form completely if utilities are included in your rent OR your utility bills are listed in your landlords’ name. Attach this form when submitting the LIHEAP application.

Low Income Interview Guide
Fill out this form and submit with your application if the ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD (all household members over 18 years old) does not claim any income for the month prior to submitting the LIHEAP application.

Employee Wage Verification Form
Have your employer complete this form IN PLACE OF paystubs if your official paystubs are unavailable. Turn it in as proof of income with the LIHEAP application.

English Application
Complete this application and submit it with any necessary documentation as outlined on the last page of the application.

Spanish Application
Completa esta solicitud y envíela con toda la documentación necesaria como se describe en la última página de la solicitud.

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