Assistance Listings Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Overview
Objectives
The objective of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to make awards available to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Native American tribes and tribal organizations for the purpose of assisting eligible households to meet immediate home energy needs. The target population is low-income households, especially those with the lowest incomes and the highest home energy costs or needs in relation to income and family size. There are four components of LIHEAP: (1) block grants, (2) energy Emergency Contingency funds, (3) Leveraging Incentive awards, and (4) the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH). Block grant funds are distributed by formula to recipients who design their own programs according to very broad federal guidelines. Emergency Contingency funds may be awarded to recipients in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency and typically must be utilized under the normal statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to block grants. Leveraging Incentive funds allows for HHS to set aside a portion of appropriated funding to reward recipients that have acquired non-federal resources to provide services to LIHEAP-eligible households beyond what could be provided by other federal funds. The REACH program makes competitive awards available to recipients to help eligible households reduce their energy vulnerability through community-based organizations. Contingency funds, Leveraging Incentive awards, and REACH funding are only administered when funding for those components is available and allocated to them. This program is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Community Services.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not Applicable.
Assistance Listing Description
Financial Information
| Obligation(s) | FY 23 | FY 24 (est.) | FY 25 (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula Grants Total | $6,117,256,047 | $4,139,779,910 | $4,211,000,000 |
| Training and Technical Assistance | $9,595,062 | $8,884,964 | $10,600,000 |
| LIHEAP Formula Grants | $3,990,400,000 | $4,015,400,000 | $4,100,400,000 |
| Re-Allotment Grants | $17,260,985 | $15,494,946 | $0 |
| Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) | $100,000,000 | $100,000,000 | $100,000,000 |
| Continuing Appropriations Act Supplemental | $1,000,000,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act | $1,000,000,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Totals | $6,117,256,047 | $4,139,779,910 | $4,211,000,000 |
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Average award to primary recipients in FY23 is $19,000,000 for regular LIHEAP funding, including FY22 reallotment, and $485,437 for IIJA funding. The estimated range in direct awards is approximately $2,348 to $394,566,146 for regular LIHEAP FY24 funding, not including FY23 reallotment. For IIJA of FY2024 funding, the estimated range in direct awards is approximately $54 to $8,394,348.
Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2024: HHS continues to enhance the tools and resources available to LIHEAP recipients. HHS has issued additional guidance on LIHEAP Obligations, Expenditures and Refunds, and has worked to publish information collected with the Application Streamline and Electronic Verification Workgroup. The learning document published serves as a tool for LIHEAP recipients to learn about promising practices and lessons learned from members of the group. During FY24, HHS also conducted multiple training sessions for LIHEAP recipients to ensure compliant program administration.
Account Identification
75-1502-0-1-609
Criteria for Applying
Types of Assistance
A - Formula Grants
Credentials and Documentation
Each recipient is required to submit a LIHEAP Model Plan annually which describes how the recipient’s program will be administered. This includes a set of program integrity questions where the recipient must describe the systems in place to detect and deter fraud, waste, and abuse. Additionally, the chief executive officer of the State, Tribe or Territory or his/her designee, must certify to 16 assurances required by federal law and submit documentation of the public participation the recipient obtained on its Plan for the coming year. Households must meet beneficiary eligibility requirements set by recipients. A separate application is required for recipients that wish to apply for a leveraging incentive or a REACH award, if funds are available. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.
Applicant Eligibility
Designations
U.S. Territories and possessions, Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments, State, Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitalsAll States, the District of Columbia, federally and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments and organizations, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may receive direct awards. Only LIHEAP recipients active in FY 2023 received IIJA LIHEAP awards. They did so without the need for a separate application. There were 13 recipients, all tribes, that did not receive IIJA LIHEAP funding because ACF had already awarded the maximum permitted for FY 2023 to those recipients.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Designations
Low IncomeEnergy Assistance Block Grants: Households with incomes up to the greater of 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) or 60 percent of the estimated State median income (SMI) are eligible for benefits. Recipients may establish lower income eligibility levels, but they may not set the limit below 110 percent of FPG. Training and Technical Assistance Grants/Contracts: States, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and Territories managing LIHEAP programs are the intended beneficiaries of the technical assistance services. Citizens of Compacts of Free Association (COFA) countries (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau) residing in the United States are included in the definition of qualified non-citizens and are eligible as of March 9, 2024, for LIHEAP.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Block Grant awards are made to recipients with complete LIHEAP Model Plans for carrying out the program within the federal fiscal year. Up to 10 percent of a federal fiscal year's award may be held available for obligation by the recipient in the subsequent federal fiscal year. For Leveraging Incentive Funds or REACH funds, obligation must occur by the end of the federal fiscal year following the year in which the funds are appropriated, without regard to the 10 percent carryover limit. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: See the following for more information: Section 2607 of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, (42 USC 8626) as amended.
Use of Assistance
Designations
EnergyBlock Grant funds are awarded to States, eligible Tribes and Tribal Organizations, and Territories, which then make payments directly to an eligible low-income household or, on behalf of such household, to an energy supplier to assist in meeting the cost of home energy. Up to 10 percent of these funds may be used for planning and administration by state and territories recipients. Tribal Organizations have a different administrative earmark. Up to 15 percent may be used for low-cost residential weatherization. Beginning April 1st each year, LIHEAP recipients may request in writing a waiver from HHS for that federal fiscal year to increase the amount of funds that can be allotted by the recipient for residential weatherization up to 25 percent of the total LIHEAP award for that year. Recipients must reserve a reasonable amount of funding for crisis assistance through at least March 15th each year. Depending upon specific appropriations, HHS may allocate supplemental LIHEAP leveraging incentive funds to current recipients, based upon receipt of a Leveraging Report made available by the Department regarding the extent to which the recipients acquired nonfederal leveraged resources in order to provide additional benefits and services to LIHEAP-eligible households to help them meet their home heating and cooling needs. Funds may also be Beginning April 1st each year, LIHEAP recipients may request in writing a waiver from HHS for that federal fiscal year to increase the amount of funds that can be allotted by the recipient for residential weatherization up to 25 percent of the total LIHEAP award for that year. Recipients must reserve a reasonable amount of funding for crisis assistance through at least March 15th each year. Depending upon specific appropriations, HHS may allocate supplemental LIHEAP leveraging incentive funds to current recipients, based upon receipt of a Leveraging Report made available by the Department regarding the extent to which the recipients acquired nonfederal leveraged resources in order to provide additional benefits and services to LIHEAP-eligible households to help them meet their home heating and cooling needs. Funds may also be allocated by HHS to current LIHEAP recipients, based upon a REACH proposal submitted by the recipient to the Department, when solicited. The proposal must provide services, through community-based nonprofit organizations for state recipients, to LIHEAP-eligible households to reduce their energy vulnerability, including health and safety risks posed by a high home energy burden, preventing homelessness due to home energy, and increasing the efficient usage of home energy. Additional funds may be authorized and distributed as emergency contingency funds to meet needs arising from a natural disaster or other emergency. Such funds will be made available only after submission to Congress of a formal budget request for all or part of the funds by the President that designates the amount of the request as an emergency under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Under the LIHEAP statue (42 U.S.C. 8628a) the Secretary has authority to set aside up to $300,000 for technical assistance and training purposes. In FY 2012 Congress raised the amount available to the Secretary for LIHEAP training and technical assistance to $3 million. Since FY 2014, Congress has earmarked approximately $3 million for each fiscal year for training and technical assistance services and monitoring. These activities can be accomplished through grants, contracts, or jointly financed cooperative or interagency agreements with other Federal departments, States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, public agencies, private companies, and private nonprofit organizations. Funds are used to conduct on-site compliance reviews of LIHEAP recipients and to provide training and technical assistance. The nature and amount awarded for training and technical assistance varies from year to year.
Applying for Assistance
Deadlines
Recipients must submit their applications for block grants by September 1, prior to the federal fiscal year for which funds are sought, unless the Department agrees to a later date in the form of an approved extension. The Department will only award new funding after it has reviewed and accepted complete Plans from prospective recipients. Recipients that submit incomplete plans must address the deficiencies, no later than December 15 of the fiscal year for which funds are sought, unless the Department (in the case of States and Territories) or the State (in the case of Tribal recipients) agrees to a later date in the form of an approved extension. Leveraging incentive fund reports are due by November 30 of each year, if funding is available. REACH applications are due by March 30 of each year, if funding is available. No application was needed to receive IIJA LIHEAP funding.
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. All prospective LIHEAP recipients must obtain public participation through inspection and comment on their proposed LIHEAP Plans prior to submitting their Plans to ACF. Additionally, States must conduct public hearings with respect to the proposed use and distribution of funds to be provided. Tribal recipients are not required to conduct public hearings; however, meaningful public input is required.
Application Procedures
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Some sections of 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program (see also 45 CFR Part 75). Each State. Territory, or Tribe desiring to receive an allotment for any federal fiscal year shall submit an application (LIHEAP Model Plan) via the ACF Online Data Collection (OLDC) system no later than September 1st each year, unless otherwise directed by ACF. The prospective recipient's Model Plan must contain certification of the federal LIHEAP assurances by the chief executive officer of the State (Tribal Chief/Chairperson), or his/her designee. The Model Plan must include an explanation of how the entity sought public participation on the Model Plan and to what extent their Model Plan and policies changed as a result of the public comments received.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria pertinent to LIHEAP awards are announced in Action Transmittals to eligible entities regarding regular energy assistance block grants, Leveraging awards, and/or REACH awards. Criteria for selecting REACH proposals will be published in the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Those notices will be made available on https://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html.
Award Procedure
Block Grants are made upon receipt of a complete LIHEAP Model Plan by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services via the OLDC system. Leveraging Incentive Funds can be awarded based on applications submitted by recipients when sought by ACF. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. For REACH awards, applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated by objective review panels using only the criteria described in the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. Results of the competitive objective review are taken into consideration by ACF in the selection of projects for funding, however, objective review scores and rankings are not binding as scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. ACF reserves the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations. and to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio, considering geographic distribution of federal funds. ACF will complete a review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR 75.205. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management of financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and management subrecipient. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.
Date Range for Approval/Disapproval
For Block Grants, the Department reviews plans for completeness and will act on the plans submitted as quickly as possible. Leveraging Incentive and REACH applications will be reviewed and acted upon within deadlines. The range of review time varies for training and technical assistance applications depending upon the nature and complexity of a request for proposals and as established by the Department. Separate instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released.
Renewals
Annual applications are required for Block Grants. Separate annual applications are also required for Leveraging Incentive Funds and REACH funds. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. For REACH awards, non-competing continuations will be issued for training and technical assistance based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with award terms and conditions, and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government.
Appeals
Recipients may request a hearing regarding repayment of funds or withholding of funds under Section 2608 of the authorization and 45 CFR 96.52 for Block Grants. There is no appeal for unsuccessful applicants for training and technical assistance. For existing recipients, appeals in regards to disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A.
Compliance Requirements
Policy Requirements
Subpart B, General provisions
Subpart D, Post Federal; Award Requirements
Subpart F, Audit Requirements
Subpart C, Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards
Subpart E, Cost Principles
Additional Information: For Energy Assistance Block Grants: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR Part 200, and has codified the text, with HHS-specific amendments in 45 CFR Part 75. Except for 75.202 and 75.351 through 75.353, Subpart C, Subpart D, and Subpart E of Part 75 do not apply to this program.
Reports
Program Reports: Annually, LIHEAP recipients must submit a LIHEAP Model Plan in order to receive LIHEAP funds. A LIHEAP Household Report is required annually from all LIHEAP recipients. States and Territories must submit the Long Form Household Report regarding the number and income levels of households served by assistance type and an unduplicated total household count served during the previous federal fiscal year, the number of households that are served that have members who are elderly, disabled, or young children, and the number and income levels of all households that apply for assistance whether or not they are served. Tribes must submit the Short Form Household Report regarding the number of households served by each type of LIHEAP assistance (heating, cooling, crisis, weatherization) in the prior federal fiscal year. Both the Long and Short Form Household Reports include reporting demographic information including race, ethnicity and gender, and housing status. An initial report must be included as part of the annual Plan before new funds are released. The LIHEAP Carryover and Re-allotment Report is required annually. The initial report is typically required by August 1st. This report includes the estimated amount of funds that the recipient desires to carry over for obligations in the succeeding federal fiscal year, the reasons any such funds will not be used during the first fiscal year, the types of assistance to be provided with funds carried over and the amount of funds, if any, to be subject to reallotment (return to HHS). Awards for the following fiscal year will not be released until this report is received. State recipients only are required to complete the annual LIHEAP Performance Data Form. The first module includes recipient information on sources and uses of LIHEAP funds, average LIHEAP household benefits, and the maximum income cutoff for 4-person households for each type of LIHEAP assistance provided by each state. The second module includes state recipient developmental performance measurement data on home energy burden targeting, restoration of home energy services, and prevention of loss of home energy services. LIHEAP recipients must track, account for, and report on, the IIJA supplemental funding separate from the rest of their FY 2023 funding. There will be additional reporting requirements specific to this supplemental funding. All recipients are required to submit a quarterly report providing the number of households served, restoration and prevention of disconnection occurrences, and obligation of funding information. Tangible Personal Property - When the equipment acquired under this program is no longer needed, the SF-428 Tangible Personal Property—Cover Page with the SF-428 Attachment C must be submitted to the Office of Grants Management. Please see the ACF Property, Tangible Personal Property Reporting instructions and the ACF Property, Tangible Personal Property Disposition instructions at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/tangible-personal-property#book_content_2. Expenditure Reports: An SF-425, Federal Financial Report, is due annually no later than December 31st via the Payment Management System (PMS). This report concerns the obligation balances for each federal fiscal year and for each type of LIHEAP award (block grants, reallotment, emergency contingency, Leveraging, and REACH). A report is required from those recipients expending up to 5 percent of funds under section 2605(b)(16) (42 USC 8624(b)(16)) for services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs. A report is due by November 30 of each year, if funding is available, for those recipients that wish to receive Leveraging Incentive Funds, reporting the amount value of leveraged resources they added to the program in the previous fiscal year. For REACH, a financial status report is due 90 days after the end of the program year and a final evaluation is due six months after the end of the federal fiscal year.
Audits
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-F
Additional audit requirements:
However, according to 42 USC 8624(b)(10) and 45 CFR 96.31(a), LIHEAP recipients and sub-recipients are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) An independent auditor in accordance with generally accepted Government auditing standards covering financial audits shall make the audits.
Records
Award records must be maintained in accordance with 42 USC 8624(b)(10) and 45 CFR 96.30(a).
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
45 CFR 96, Subpart H and 45 CFR 75 as applicable.
Formula and Matching Requirements
Contact Information
Regional or Local Locations:
None.Headquarters Office:
Division of Energy Assistance, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services,
330 C Street, SW., 5th Floor West, Mail Stop 5425
Washington, DC 20201
megan.meadows@acf.hhs.gov
2024011149
2024015661
Division of Energy Assistance, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services,
330 C Street, SW., 5th Floor West, Mail Stop 5425
Washington, DC 20201
andrew.germain@acf.hhs.gov
2023086444
2024015661