Low Income Home

Energy and Weatherization Assistance Programs

Low Income Home Energy, Water and Weatherization Assistance Programs
Low Income Home Weatherization Assistance Program

 


You may apply for assistance at any time during the year by contacting the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving your community. Click on "local eligibility office" to access phone numbers.

The State of Montana, through the Department of Public Health and Human Services, offers two programs aimed at helping eligible Montanans.

  • The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) pays part of winter energy bills and may be able to assist with furnace emergencies for eligible people.
  • The Weatherization Assistance Program helps participants to improve the heating efficiency of their homes and thus reduce their energy consumption.

When & Where to Apply

To apply for assistance, Montanans can submit a combined LIHEAP and Weatherization application. The application can be completed online but must be printed and delivered or mailed to the local eligibility office listed on the last page of the application.  See the Income and Resource Guidelines below to see the limits based on family size and income.

You may apply for LIHEAP during the heating season, which is October 1 through April 30 of each year, by contacting the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving your community.

You may apply Weatherization assistance at any time during the year by contacting the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving your community.

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Local Eligibility Offices

Tribal LIHEAP Offices

Who Is Eligible

Eligibility for assistance is based on your income and resource limits. Both homeowners and renters may apply for these programs.

If your household receives benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, you may qualify automatically for assistance.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Weatherization Programs
2023-2024 Program Year
Income Limits

Income limits

Number in Household

LIHEAP Upper Income Limits

Weatherization Upper Limits
200%

1 $29,796 $29,796
2 $38,964 $39,440
3 $48,132 $49,720
4 $57,300 $60,000
5 $66,468 $70,280
6 $75,636 $80,560
7 $77,355 $90,840
8 $79,074 $101,120
9 $83,550 $111,400
10 $91,260 $121,680
11 $98,970 $131,960
12 $106,680 $142,240
13 $114,390 $152,520
14 $122,100 $162,800
15 $129,810 $173,080

The upper limit amounts are 60% of the state median income for household sizes one (1) through eight (8). The upper limit amounts for household sizes nine (9) and greater are 150% of the poverty threshold for the household size. For households at 150 percent of HHS poverty guidelines with more than nine (9) members add $7,710 for each additional member.


Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Weatherization Program
2023-2024 Program Year
Resource Limits

Resource Limits

Number in Household

Upper Resource Limit

1 $13,277
2 $19,924
3 $21,253
4 $22,582
5 $23,911
6 $25,240
7 $26,569
8 $26,569
9 $26,569
10 $26,569
11 $26,569
12 $26,569

Non-Business Resources include, but are not limited to: cash on hand, savings, checking account, CD's, stocks, and rental properties.

Business Resource limit is $25,000.

Households who qualify for LIHEAP are also eligible for weatherization and Energy Education.  Discounts on electric bills may be available.  All approved LIHEAP applications are ranked according to degree of need and placed in "priority groups." Special priority is given to older adults and disabled individuals. If your application is approved but you're not in a priority group and if you don't receive assistance within a year of your application date please reapply.

An energy auditor will set up a time to visit with you about your home's needs for weatherization materials. The auditor is trained to determine the most cost-effective weatherization measures for your home. These measures may include a furnace tune-up, caulking, client education, insulation, weather-stripping, storm windows, replacement of broken glass, or repair of exterior doors.

Weatherization workers may not be able to install all the materials you need, but they will do the most important weatherization within the dollar limits allowed. In some cases it may not be cost effective to install any weatherization measures.

When your home is scheduled for weatherization work, a crew or an independent contractor will come to install the necessary materials in your home. After the work is completed, you will be asked to sign a statement indicating that you believe the work was done properly and to your satisfaction.

Single Family Base Benefit

#Bedrooms

Natural Gas

Electric

Propane

Fuel Oil

Wood

Coal

1 $531 $839 $1,034 $1,234 $641 $462
2 $772 $1,219 $1,503 $1,794 $932 $671
3 $1,052 $1,661 $2,048 $2,444 $1,270 $914
4 $1,447 $2,286 $2,818 $3,362 $1,747 $1,258
Multi Family Base Benefit

#Bedrooms

Natural Gas

Electric

Propane

Fuel Oil

Wood

Coal

1 $378 $596 $735 $901 $455 $328
2 $552 $872 $1,075 $1,318 $666 $479
3 $732 $1,156 $1,425 $1,747 $882 $635
4 $817 $1,290 $1,590 $1,949 $985 $709
Mobile Home Base Benefit

#Bedrooms

Natural Gas

Electric

Propane

Fuel Oil

Wood

Coal

1 $532 $841 $1,036 $1,296 $643 $463
2 $802 $1,266 $1,561 $1,952 $968 $697
3 $1,176 $1,857 $2,290 $2,865 $1,420 $1,022
4 $1,374 $2,170 $2,676 $3,347 $1,659 $1,195
Income/HDD Multipliers

% of Poverty

AEM

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

0-25 1.00 1.04 0.99 0.98 0.92 0.99 1.11 0.96 0.95 1.06
>26-50 0.95 0.99 0.94 0.93 0.87 0.94 1.06 0.91 0.90 1.01
>51-75 0.90 0.93 0.89 0.88 0.83 0.89 1.00 0.86 0.85 0.95
>76-100 0.85 0.88 0.84 0.83 0.78 0.85 0.94 0.82 0.81 0.90
>101-125 0.75 0.78 0.75 0.73 0.69 0.75 0.83 0.72 0.71 0.79
>126-150 0.65 0.68 0.65 0.64 0.60 0.65 0.72 0.62 0.62 0.69
>151-175 0.55 0.57 0.55 0.54 0.51 0.55 0.61 0.53 0.52 0.58
>176-200 0.45 0.47 0.45 0.44 0.41 0.45 0.50 0.43 0.43 0.48
>201 0.35 0.36 0.35 0.34 0.32 0.35 0.39 0.34 0.33 0.37

For more ideas about how you can 1) lower your living expenses by conserving energy, 2) get help paying your energy bills, or 3) qualify for an energy tax credit.

To help you with weatherization strategies-many of which you can do yourself-the HRDCs and the Montana State University Extension Service offer many resources. Contact your HRDC or MSU Extension Office for brochures on these topics:

  • Top Ten Home Energy Saving Tips
  • Air Sealing - Keep Heat Where it Belongs
  • Cool Your Home Naturally
  • Energy-Efficient Lighting
  • Water Heater Maintenance
  • Storm Windows
  • Home Insulation Choices
  • Attic Insulation
  • Insulating Side Walls of Existing Homes
  • Floor and Foundation Insulation
  • How to Save Energy
  • Gas Appliances and Your Health
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • How You Can Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  • Controlling Condensation
  • Energy Tips for Mobile Homes
  • Power Bill's Home Energy Activities
Energy Share
Montana Cancer Control Program