As we continue to see the weather turn cooler, many families are already beginning to wonder how they will be able to afford increased utility costs associated with heating their homes. LIHEAP, or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federally-funded energy assistance program designed to help low-income families with their heating bills. Last year, approximately 90,000 households in Iowa received benefits from LIHEAP with an average payment of $445 per household. Community action agencies process applications and administer the funds from the United States Department of Health and Human Services and customers are encouraged to sign up with these agencies early to ensure they receive the assistance they need. To be eligible, the total household income must be at or below 175 percent of the 2015 federal poverty guidelines. More information on LIHEAP can be found by following the link included below. For those who want to help others stay warm this winter, MidAmerican Energy’s I CARE program raises funds for local community action agencies to provide assistance. Customer donations are combined with a 25 percent match from MidAmerican, with every dollar going directly toward assistance. Giving to I CARE is as simple as adding a dollar amount to your monthly MidAmerican Energy Bill and noting it should be applied to I CARE. Online pledge forms are also available on the MidAmerican website.
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LIHEAP Information
