LIHEAP

Help with Home Energy Bills

When heating and cooling bills increase, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available to assist families through Energy Assistance (EA) and Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). It can take up to 30 days to process a request and receive payment, so please be mindful of timelines when applying for the program.

Each year, MVCAA supports more than 4,000 Missouri households in keeping their utilities on with LIHEAP. This program is a supplemental program that is critical for vulnerable populations in our area especially during extreme heat or cold.

LIHEAP Components

Energy Assistance (EA)

EA is a one-time payment for heating or cooling costs November through May. It can only be awarded to the primary utility company listed on the application. Maximum benefit depends on fuel type.

Emergency Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP)

If a person has received a disconnect notice or is currently without services, ECIP may assist with a portion of the total amount past due.

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.

Who is Eligible

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.

How to Apply

Get more information and download an application

Apply Now In English Apply Now In Spanish

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 or access the document portal.

Submit LIHEAP Info

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Frequently Asked Questions

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 non-energy/non-electric charges including water, storm water, sewer, internet, or trash fees, etc.

Mail all information to 1415 S. Odell Avenue, Marshall, MO 65340.

Drop off at your local Family Resource Center during business hours.

Paper applications can be found outside each 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.

Submit LIHEAP Info

Once you submit your application and required documents, it can take up to 30 days to process an application and 45 days to receive payment, so please be mindful of timelines when applying for the program. 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.

You must submit a new LIHEAP application for the following reasons:

New program year
Elderly and disabled-must apply every year after October 1
General Households-must apply every year after November 1
If your address or energy provider changes
Your original application was denied

Some of the operations of the application through the Department of Social Services website are limited to Adobe Acrobat software and limitations of using PDF formatting. You may complete the application on your phone; however, you will need to have Acrobat Reader fillable forms on IOS.

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 saved application and other documents.

The submitted LIHEAP application and any attachments will then be sent by an encrypted email to the agency.

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You may contact the Community Outreach Specialist at your local Family Resource Center to check on the status of your application. You can also check with your utility provider to make see if a pledge has been made to your account.

We process thousands of applications, please only leave one message per day. We often experience 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. During the beginning of a new LIHEAP season, processing times may be longer due to high number of applications received in a short period of time. Our LIHEAP staff works diligently to process your application. All applications are processed in the order they are received.

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 on top of your rent, or to your landlord directly, provide the Landlord/Renter Documentation Form to your landlord to complete. 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.

If your entire household is attesting to receiving zero income, please complete the Low Income Interview Guide.

Read it carefully andreturn the information by the requested date. For questions, contact your local Family Resource Center. A Community Outreach Specialist can assist with applications or direct your questions to the LIHEAP Department if needed.

You must mail, drop off during business hours or submit your documents here. 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 currently disconnected or in threat of disconnection. 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 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.

LIHEAP Forms & Create PDF Instructions

How to create a PDF on an iPhone

How to create a PDF on an Android Phone

Employee Wage Request Landlord/Renter Documentaton Request Low income interview guide