The Office of Family Empowerment will open up applications for its Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) beginning Monday, Oct. 2.

The program provides energy bill assistance for income-eligible Hamilton County residents. It annually runs from October through Sept. 30 of the following year, and residents can only apply once a year.

Note: The assistance can be received only once in a program year + is directly applied to the applicant's account with their energy provider.

Eligibility requirements

Must be a Hamilton County resident
Must provide proof of citizenship + Social Security number for all household members
Must provide proof of income for the past 30 days
Have at least a 12-month energy account history
If the applicant is living in Section 8 housing, a copy of your HCPV Resident Worksheet must be provided
If the applicant is claiming veteran status, a copy of the DD-214, VA ID, or other acceptable documentation must be provided

Pro tip: Read the full details regarding LIHEAP requirements before submitting an application.

Director of The Office of Family Empowerment Rachel Howard said the office encourages anyone in the county who meets the eligibility requirements to apply.

“LIHEAP is a valuable benefit for so many families in our community, helping to ease the burden of rising home energy costs and alleviating some of the strain on family budgets,” said Howard.

Interested in applying? There will be an application pick-up drive-thru event Monday, Oct. 2-Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6098 Debra Rd. If you're unable to attend the event, applications will be available online or at the main office located at 5715 Uptain Rd.

Once you apply, allow for four to six weeks to receive a letter by mail stating if you were approved, denied, or if your application is pending. If further assistance is needed, you can call (423) 643-6434.