(Radio Iowa) – Federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP is not yet known for this year. Utility analyst Keetah Horas told the Iowa Utility Commission the he proposed federal budget zeroed out funding but both the Senate and House had proposed bills at the time of the shutdown to increase total funding. She says some states have paused the program, but Iowa has not. this week.

“The Iowa profile for LIHEAP funding year 2024 indicates that the program served more than 83-thousand households. This includes the one time heating assistance, year round, crisis assistance, and weatherization.” She says sign up for this winter has already begun for one group. “The early application period for households with elderly or disabled members opened on October 1st. Our latest communication with H-H-S reports over 15-thousand applications have been received,” she says.

Horas says other applicants will be able to sign up at the end of this month. “The general application period for all other households begins November 1st. And the deadline for all applications is April 30th. Eligibility is primarily based on household income, specifically, 200 percent of the federal poverty level,” Horas says. She says a family of four making just over 64-thousand dollars annually would qualify for assistance.

The winter moratorium on utility shut offs starts November 1st.