OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Human Services is now accepting online applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Cooling and Low Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) at OKDHSLive.org.
LIHEAP is offered two times a year for winter heating and summer cooling, in addition to the Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP), which is offered mi d-March, and life-threatening crisis assistance, which is available year round.
Eligible households already receiving assistance through Oklahoma Human Services can be pre-authorized to receive LIHEAP for the summer cooling period, which means they do not need to complete an application. Households that are not pre-authorized but currently receive assistance through Oklahoma Human Services have been notified by mail and should apply online at OKDHSLive.org.
LIHWAP is a temporary program created under the Consolidated Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through onetime funding. It provides funds to assist lowincome households with water and wastewater bills. Like LIHEAP, applications are accepted online.
The non-emergency water bill pay program provides assistance to eligible households with a one-time payment per open enrollment to the public drinking water or wastewater participating provider for the household.
In order to receive LIHWAP, the public drinking water or wastewater company must be a participating provider.
Households with a member who is Native American may apply through OKDHSLive.org or through their tribal nation. Households cannot receive assistance from both Oklahoma Human Services and their tribe during the same federal fiscal year.
Only one payment per year, per household is allowed for the summer cooling program. LIHEAP payments made on behalf of eligible households must be applied to the primary source of cooling or to reimburse for the actual cost to purchase or repair cooling equipment up to $150.