Energy Assistance

MAAC is dedicated to reducing poverty by helping low-income individuals and families achieve and maintain economic security, meet their home utility needs, and reduce their utility costs through energy efficiency upgrades and access to clean renewable energy.

The Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program aimed at assisting low-income households that pay a high portion of their income to meet their energy needs. LIHEAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services.

BENEFITS

• One-time benefit: The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides one-time, once-a-year, financial assistance to help balance an eligible household’s utility bill.
• Maximum Benefit: Will be based on household size and gross total monthly income.
• Disconnection notices: Assists low-income households that received a 24-48 hour disconnect notice or service termination by their utility company.
• Coverage: Payment can cover a household’s current or past due energy bill (electricity, gas, etc.)

Benefits will be paid directly to owners and operators of public systems (your service provider), or through certified mail, via check sent to your home address (considerations may apply).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

• Have access to an email account.
• Submit proof of a government-issued photo Identification.
  • Examples include State identification (ID) card, Tribal identification (ID) card, Driver’s license, U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. military card (front and back), Military dependent’s ID card (front and back), Permanent Resident Card, Certificate of Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, Employment Authorization Document.
  • An expired government-issued ID is acceptable for one year from the expiration date. 
  • For seniors 60 and over, an expired government-issued ID is acceptable regardless of expiration date.
• Have at hand the most current energy bill.
  • The applicant may be a member of the household. It is not required that the applicant’s name be the same as the account holder (will be required to fill out additional forms).
• Reside in MAAC’s service area:

• Be income eligible.
  • The household must be 60% under the SMI (State Medium Income for California).
  • Or categorically eligible if a member of your household is a current recipient of CalWorks, or CalFresh.
  • Review the chart below to verify household income eligibility.

2024 INCOME GUIDELINES

Persons in Household	Monthly Income
1	$2,882.83
2	$3,769.83
3	$4,656.83
4	$5,543.92
5	$6,430.92
6	$7,317.92
7	$7,484.25
8	$7650.58
9	$7,816.92
10*	$7,983.17

• If your household (name of client, address, energy account number) was approved for benefit during the previous year. Your application process will be denied. A household may reapply only if it has passed 365 days after their last approved application.
• Clients are assisted on a first come first served basis, Income Eligibility, and dependent on their Priority Points calculation.
• Additional Priority Points are given to households that include persons 60 years or older, persons FIVE years or younger, and household members with disabilities.
• Funding is limited and we cannot guarantee benefit approval once an application is submitted.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Go to the MAAC LIHEAP web page and apply.
2. Fill out the Energy Intake Form (the application).
3. Attach the required documentation to your application.
   • Government Issued photo ID,
   • Proof of Income,
   • Most current energy bill,
   • For categorical eligibility, CalFresh or CalWORKs award/benefit letters.
4. Our staff, depending on your household eligibility, will require further information and/or documentation and forms to fill out.
5. Utility Specialists will determine eligibility for the household and depending on the information a household provides, PRIORITIZE the assistance.
6. Wait for confirmation from our staff that your application process will begin.
7. Communication will be through email.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What if the client does not provide accurate and complete information and/or documentation? All required documentation must accompany the application to qualify.
• How much time does the application process take? The complete process from review to payment can take an estimate of 8 to 10 weeks.
• Will LIHEAP pay for my utility bill? The program is designed to help households mitigate the burden of a past due energy bill. The benefit will be granted according to each household’s particular situation (income, size, monthly charge, etc.)
• Does LIHEAP cover the full amount of my debt? It will depend on each household’s particular situation (income, size, monthly charge, etc.)
• How would I know if I was approved for the benefit? When the review process is complete, you will receive an email notice to DocuSign your application. Only once we receive the signed application, you will be sent an approval letter, notifying the amount the benefit granted.

CONTACT US

If you have questions regarding the LIHEAP program, please contact us via phone at 619.434.3829 or by mail at energy@maacproject.org.

In office hours:

• Call Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
• To ask for the status of an application process, make comments, to request assistance for disconnections or 48-hour disconnection notices call Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
  • The household will be required to present the disconnection documentation.

ASSISTANCE CLINICS

If an applicant cannot start the process online, we have opened assistance clinics from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in THREE locations, where you will be assisted for Intake of information and document reception exclusively (we will not process your application that day):

• Tuesday at MERCADO apartments – Address at 2001 Newton Ave. San Diego (Barrio Logan) CA, 92113.
• Wednesday at MAAC Project’s headquarters – Address at 1387 3rd Ave. Chula Vista CA, 91911.
• Thursdays at SAN MARTIN DE PORRES apartments – Address at 9119 Jamacha Rd. Spring Valley CA, 91977.

NOTE: In our assistance clinic locations, the staff WILL NOT PROCESS APPLICATIONS nor give grants, benefits, and letters of approval.