Ohio Heating Assistance: HEAP

Ohio runs the federal program as Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), administered by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. 18 different program names appear across the states compiled here, which is why a search for the federal acronym often misses the page a household in Ohio actually needs.

Applications run July 1 to May 31. The agency's own words: "The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that provides eligible Ohioans assistance with their home energy bills. This one-time benefit is applied directly to the customer's utility bill or bulk fuel bill."

The test is 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for households of eight or fewer, and 60 percent of state median income for households of nine or more, measured against the state median income, so the qualifying figure moves with what households in that state actually earn. Ohio Department of Job and Family Services puts it this way: "Ohioans with a household size of eight or less, and income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, are eligible for the program."

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services takes applications online, by mail, local energy assistance provider and area agency on aging. The program line is 614-466-6282. The application itself lives on the agency's own site rather than on a federal one.

The HEAP Winter Crisis Program is the emergency side, open to income eligible households that are facing disconnection, have already been disconnected, need to start or transfer service, or have a quarter of a tank or less of bulk fuel, and a household served by a PUCO regulated utility that still owes a balance afterward has to go onto PIPP Plus or another payment plan. The agency's own words: "The Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program (HEAP Winter Crisis Program) helps income eligible Ohioans that are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer service, or have 25% (or less) supply of bulk fuel in their tank maintain their utility service."

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio sets a separate rule on that, and its short form is: Once the household files, Nov 1 to Apr 15. In several states the two are linked, because receiving assistance is itself what switches the disconnection protection on. The winter shutoff page for Ohio carries the rule.

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services runs Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP), which is the companion to the bill payment side. Its own words: "Provides eligible Ohioans with assistance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their energy costs."

Both, in the way that matters to a household. The money is a federal block grant; Ohio Department of Job and Family Services decides what it is called, when it opens, who is eligible and what it pays. Across the states compiled here that produces 18 program names and 8 different opening months, so the answer is a state answer even though the funding is federal.