DCA Encourages Residents to Apply for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Other Utility Assistance Programs

• Posted on: 03/10/2023

Utility and Heating Shutoffs for Bill Nonpayment Will Resume After the Winter Termination Program Ends on Wednesday, March 15

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) urges New Jersey residents to apply for the Low Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWAP) program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and other utility assistance programs, which are available to help with past-due utility bills. On March 15, the Winter Termination Program (WTP) will end and utility companies can resume shutoffs for nonpayment. The WTP is an annual program that prevents utility and heating shutoffs for eligible customers during the cold, winter months. While the WTP ends on March 15, residents can still apply for utility assistance programs after this date.

“As the March 15 Winter Termination Program deadline approaches, we urge people who need help paying their heating, water, and sewer bills to apply for assistance,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of DCA, which administers LIHWAP, LIHEAP, and other utility assistance programs for the State of New Jersey. “Moderate-income households are also eligible for assistance as a result of increases in federal income limits. Therefore, if you are behind on your utility bills, don’t hesitate to reach out to DCA. Significant funding is available and we want to help New Jersey families pay their bills.”

The LIHWAP program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides benefits directly to water and wastewater (sewer) companies on behalf of residential customers. The assistance can be used to:

• Restore services where services have been terminated and pay reconnection fees and other charges accrued due to a disconnection;
• Avoid service disruption for those residential customers who are in danger of disconnection (i.e., received shut-off notices or have past due balances) and to help them afford bill payment going forward; and
• Support those household customers who are current in their bills but might be in danger of falling behind in the near future.

Priority is given to families with elderly or disabled household members and/or with children under the age of five.

To be eligible for LIHWAP assistance, applicants must be water/wastewater bill holders who are responsible for paying their water and sewer bills directly to the companies. Also, applicants’ total gross household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income ($6,662 a month for a family of four). The LIHWAP frequently asked questions webpage has additional information about maximum income limits and other items.

Participants in LIHEAP are automatically eligible for LIHWAP assistance as long as they are water/wastewater bill holders.

LIHWAP is one of several programs DCA provides to help New Jersey households in need with basic resources such as housing and heating to promote long-term physical well-being. These programs include LIHEAP, which is a federal program that helps households at or below 60 percent of the state median income ($6,662 a month for a family of four) pay for energy costs (electric, gas, deliverable fuels and those included in rent), and the Universal Service Fund (USF) program, which provides a monthly credit on electric and gas bills for households at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($111,000 a year for a family of four). To qualify for USF, the household must pay more than 2 percent of its annual income for electric or for natural gas. If a household has electric heat, it must spend more than 4% of its annual income on electricity to be eligible.

Households can visit the DCAid portal at http://www.nj.gov/dca/dcaid to submit an application for LIHWAP, LIHEAP, or other assistance programs. The DCAid portal has a tool for people to check what other benefits they may qualify for. People who do not have access to computers or the internet can call 1-800-510-3102 to be directed to one of the community action agencies partnering with DCA to assist them with starting, completing, and submitting an application online. A list of the community organizations providing such assistance is available at https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/agencydirectorylist.html on the DCA website.

LIHWAP and LIHEAP applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and assistance is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis so applicants should not wait to apply.

DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including affordable housing production, fire safety, building safety, community planning and development, local government management and finance, and disaster recovery and mitigation.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: