For information on heating assistance in the state of Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/heatingassistanc.
Important Contact Numbers for More Information
What is LIHEAP?
What is the Home Heating Credit?
What is the State Emergency Relief (SER) fund?
How can you receive help with home repairs for heating your home?
What kind of non energy related repairs can occur?
When are these home repairs allowed?
What kind of conditions must be met for the SER?
What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?
What kinds of services are offered by the Weatherization Assistance Program?
How is eligibility determined for the Weatherization Assistance Program?
What is THAW?
Emergency Help for Military
Energy Efficiency Tips for Heating
Important Contact Numbers for More Information
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: (800) 292-5650
- AARP Michigan: (866) 227-7448
- Genesee County Community Action Resource Department: (810) 232-2185
LIHEAP stands for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program – a federal program that gives money given to each state to assist low income families with energy costs. In Michigan LIHEAP block grant is used for:
- Home Heating Credit
- State Emergency Relief
- Weatherization Assistance Program
What is the Home Heating Credit?
- A program administered by the state to help low income households pay their heating costs.
- The Michigan Department of the Treasury determines who is eligible and the type of payments that will be made available to them.
- Residents can apply for the Home Heating Credit without filing an income tax return.
- Eligibility is based on income
What is the State Emergency Relief (SER) fund?
- The program works in accordance with LIHEAP as a crisis intervention program.
- It provides a wide range of non-energy and energy related emergency services such as heating fuel, electricity and home repairs.
- Costs are covered by LIHEAP and other federal and state funds.
- Services are provided year round.
- To apply for the grant, contact your local Department of Human Services office.
- Eligibility is based on:
- Demonstration of immediate need shut as a shut off notice.
- Declared need for a deliverable fuel such as fuel oil.
- Need for energy related home repair.
- Income and assets
How can you receive help with home repairs for heating your home?
- SER assists with home repairs to correct unsafe conditions and restore essential services.
- Eligibility may include repairs or replacements to existing, nonfunctioning furnaces.
- Lifetime maximum for energy related home repairs, including furnaces, is $1,500.
- All energy-related repairs approved since 1/1/1978 count toward this maximum.
What kind of non energy related repairs can occur?
- All home repairs, except furnace repair or replacement, including hot water heaters and septic systems.
- Lifetime maximum for non-energy related home repairs is $1500.
- All non-energy related repairs approved since 12/1/1991 count toward this program.
When are these home repairs allowed?
- Repairs are made only if it is essential to remove a direct threat to health or safety or is required by law or a mobile home park regulation.
- The repair must restore the home to safe, habitable condition
What kind of conditions must be met for the SER?
- Must be an owner or purchaser of the home, or holds a life estate or life lease on the home with the responsibility for repairs.
- The home must be your permanent residence.
- The home must not be listed for sale.
- There must not be any existing problems with house payment or property tax, unless there has been a workable payment plan for paying the arrearage.
- Maintaining the home must be affordable to you or your household.
- The total cost cannot exceed 75 percent of the household's net income.
What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?
- This is a federally funded, low income residential energy conservation program.
- The program provides free home energy conservation services to low income Michigan homeowners and renters to help reduce energy use and lower utility bills.
- Local Community Action Agencies typically administer this assistance.
What kinds of services are offered by the Weatherization Assistance Program?
- Wall insulation.
- Attic insulation and ventilation.
- Air leakage reduction.
- Smoke detectors.
- Foundation insulation.
- Dryer venting.
How is eligibility determined for the Weatherization Assistance Program?
- An inspector will assess the eligibility for energy conservation needs.
- Inspections include a testing for air leakage by a blower door test.
- It is generally based on the household income being at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Recipients of the Family Independence Program (FIP) administered by the Department of Human Services or those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify for this no cost program.
What kind of changes can I see in my heating bill after I have been given assistance by the WAP?
- Households have reported a 20 to 25 percent heating cost deduction, nearly $300 in savings. As fuel costs increase so will the savings.
Who do I contact if I would like more information about these programs?
Department of Human Services (DHS)
Call toll-free, (800) 292-5650 (between the hours of 8 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.)
Visit the DHS Web site, www.michigan.gov/dhs
Fax DHS, (517) 335-6101
Write to DHS:
Michigan Department of Human Services
P.O Box 30037
Lansing, MI 48909
Michigan Department of Treasury
For eligibility, call toll-free (800) 827-4000
Write to:
Michigan Department of the Treasury
Customer Contact- RRF
P.O Box 30757
Lansing, MI 48909
- THAW is a statewide, independent non-profit agency that has provided $49.3 million in assistance to more than 106,000 Michigan households in temporary crisis.
Can THAW help me? And if they can who do I contact about receiving assistance?
- Individuals and families can apply for assistance at more than 100 collaborating agencies such as the Community Action agencies or the Salvation Army.
- To find a local THAW agency, visit www.thawfund.org or call (800) 866-8429.
- After contacting a THAW agency an appointment will be scheduled to begin the application process.
- To qualify households must have:
- Received a shut off notice (except seniors age 62 and over).
- An immediate need for heating fuel.
- A residential utility account in their name in a THAW service area.
- Discussed their bill with their utility company.
- An annual household income less than 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
- Applied for all other public and private resources for energy assistance.
- Made payment of $200 on the utility account in the past 6 months.
Facts to Know for Winter Protection
If you have any questions about your protection plan please contact the Michigan Public Service Commission at (800) 292-5650.
In Michigan, gas and electricity cannot be turned off between Nov. 1- March 31 if you:
- Are 65 yrs or older.
- Earn less than $19,140 a yr for one person and $25, 660 per couple.
- Are receiving Food Stamps or Medicaid
Before your heat can be shut off for non payment at ANY time of the year:
- You must receive a shutoff notice separate from other mailings and must clearly state that it is a shutoff notice.
- The notice must tell you how to avoid a shut off and give payment options.
- Payment arrangements for arrears cannot exceed $50 plus the current monthly bill.
If you have received a shut off notice you:
- Have 10 days to take action from the day you receive the first notice.
- Have the option to contact your local Department of Human Services
- Will receive a second notice which must come 72 hours to two weeks before the shutoff.
If you have a medical condition and have received a shutoff notice:
- Call the utility company and immediately explain to them that shutting off the electricity or gas would medically harm you or someone else who lives in your home.
- Obtain a letter from your doctor with in 7 days indicating that a shutoff would harm your health.
- This may help delay any shutoffs for up to 21 days
Veterans
- May receive assistance to cover the heating costs from local VA agencies or local Area Agencies on Aging.
- Contact the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for Emergency Grant Information at (517) 335-6523.
Active Duty
- Utility customers or their spouses who have been called to full time active duty may apply for shut off protection for electric or natural gas service for up to 90 days
- Utility company may request verification of active duty status.
- Customers will still be responsible to pay for all services used during the time of protection
Energy Efficiency Tips for Heating:
- Install an automatic setback thermostat to lower the temperature to 60 degrees at night and when no one is home.
- Set water heater temperature at 120 degrees.
- When you leave on vacation, turn down the temperature on your water heater.
- Fix leaky or dripping water faucets.
- Clean or replace air filter on the furnace once a month.
- Make sure air vents are not blocked.
- Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors.
- Add a sweep to the bottom of doors that let cold air in.
- Install gaskets behind electrical outlet over plates located on exterior walls.
- Install glass doors on fireplaces and keep the flue damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
- Plant windbreaks to shield your house from the winter wind.
- Upgrade ceiling insulation and wall insulation on basement/crawl spaces.
- When purchasing new windows or a furnace, look for the energy star logo which indicates a high efficiency product.
- Install low-flow shower heads.
- Insulate water pipes so the first horizontal pipe runs off the water heater or provide heat traps on both cold and hot water lines.
- All hot water pipes located in unconditional basements/crawl spaces should be insulated.
- Install water heater blankets in accordance with the suppliers' specifications
- Consider installation of an instantaneous water heater.
- If you use an electric hot water heater, place it on an insulated pad.
- Insulate and provide joint sealant an all hvac duct work.
- Plug major air leaks, especially in the attic and basement.
- Seal around electrical wire boxes and plumbing cutaways.
- Seal around recessed lighting fixtures, but use caution because insulation should not be placed near lights.
- Caulk around outdoor faucets, wire and pipe holes and where different siding materials meet.
- Get a home energy rating to evaluate home energy improvements.