Energy

Assistance Programs

Energy

Assistance Programs

Effective March 31, 2024, Step Forward's Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is closed and no longer accepting applications.

Step Forward assists Cuyahoga County residents through six different utility assistance programs & services to help pay utility bills.

When this program is available

Beginning November 1st of any year and operating through the end of March of the next year, the Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program helps income-eligible Greater Cleveland residents that are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected, or have less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel in their tank maintain their utility service. This is a one-time benefit and is to be used in emergency situations when you are faced with disconnection.

Who qualifies for Emergency Assistance

Emergency assistance is available for Greater Cleveland residents experiencing the following utility crisis conditions:

Services are already off
Services are in disconnect status
Need to establish new service
Need to transfer service
Have a PIPP default with disconnection

YOU MUST HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE

Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

You can make an appointment by:

Call (216) 350-8008 or
Schedule online here.

Please note that appointment scheduling is reserved for clients who meet one or more of the crisis conditions listed above. All other non-emergency applications are submitted online, by mail, or drop off at Step Forward's Home Energy Assistance Program located at 2203 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.

All crisis appointments are conducted by phone. You do not need to visit an office.

Scheduled customers must submit all necessary paperwork at least 3 days in advance of their appointment. Customers can send the necessary documentation via email to Heapdocuments@stepforwardtoday.org.

HEAP Application

Additional Forms

Crisis appointment holds will only be granted once per heating season to those who have not already taken advantage of the Winter Reconnect Order before scheduling. If you pay the $175 to a utility or split payment to both utility companies, they will not get another hold on their account by making a crisis appointment.

How to make an appointment

Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

You can make an appointment by:

Call (216) 350-8008 or
Schedule online here.

HEAP's Winter Crisis Program will end March 31st. No new applications are accepted after March 31. For applications in process on or before March 31, all documentation for the Winter Crisis Program must be submitted to Step Forward's HEAP office by April 9, 2024. Documentation submitted after April 7th, 2024 is at risk of not being processed.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps residents at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to pay for utilities. This assistance is intended to help manage heating costs. It is directly applied to the customer's utility or bulk fuel bill.

Eligibility

To be eligible, the total household countable income for the last 30 days or 12 months from the date of the application must be equal to or less than 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. To determine eligibility, a household must provide documentation for the prior 30 days of income for all income types, except for self-employment, seasonal, and other countable income, which must provide 12 months of income documentation.

Apply Online: www.energyhelp.ohio.gov

download a copy of the application and mail it to:

Energy Assistance Programs

P.O. Box 1240

Columbus, Ohio 43216

Effective May 1, 2024, Step Forward is no longer accepting drop off applications at any location, including at 2203 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Any application mailed to Step Forward's location will be returned to sender with a pre-addressed envelope to Energy Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 1240, Columbus, Ohio, 44114, and an instruction sheet on how to apply online using energyhelp.ohio.gov for faster service.

All non-emergency HEAP applications must be received by May 31, 2024.

HEAP Application

Additional Forms

Processing Non-Emergency Applications

Step Forward processes applications in the order they are received. Processing time may take up to 12 weeks, especially during heating and cooling crisis periods. Online applicants may review their application date and processing status by logging into their account.

What to do if your heating or cooling is disconnected right now

Emergency assistance is available for Greater Cleveland residents experiencing the following utility crisis conditions:

Services are already off
Services are in disconnect status
Need to establish new service
Need to transfer service
Have a PIPP default with disconnection

Step Forward handles emergency utility needs separately through an appointment process.

Click here to schedule an emergency appointment

When this program is available

July and August are two of the hottest months of the year in Ohio, especially for senior citizens or those with serious medical conditions. Beginning July 1 and continuing until September 30, Step Forward will help income-eligible Cuyahoga County residents with payment of an electric bill or the purchase of a fan/air conditioning unit to help ease the burden caused by summer heat.

This program provides a benefit once per cooling season to Cuyahoga County residents who are at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (at or below $52,500 for a family of four) and must meet at least one additional eligibility criteria listed below:

A household member who is age 60 or older*
A household member has a documented medical condition verified by a licensed medical professional who is qualified under Ohio law to write prescriptions*.
Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) customers are eligible for assistance towards their default PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs, or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan*.
A household’s electric utility has a disconnect notice, has been shut off, needs transferred or new electric service is being established for the household.

*Note: Clients who are currently on PIPP, are only eligible for an Summer Cooling Program monetary benefit if they have a default PIPP payment. PIPP customers who are current with their PIPP installments may receive an air conditioner and/or fan ONLY if they have not received one in the past three program years and are medically or age eligible.

YOU MUST HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE

Scheduled customers, need to have required documents in-hand to receive assistance at the time of appointment. 

Customers with scheduled appointments should submit their documentation at least 3 days in advance of their appointment to help with the telephone interview process.

How to Make an Appointment

Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

To make an appointment:

Call (216) 350-8008 or
Schedule online here.

NEW THIS YEAR:

Income requirements have changed!

Ohio Development Services Agency’s Office of Community Assistance (OCA) now requires 30 days or 12 months of income to qualify for this program. All seasonal and self-employed applicants must provide 30 days or 12 months of income.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP+) helps eligible households maintain gas and electric services throughout the year by paying the utility company a percentage of their household income. The program makes energy bills affordable year-round and if the monthly payments are made on-time and in-full, overages and the rest of the month’s bills are forgiven.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) is an extended payment arrangement that helps Ohioans maintain their natural gas and/or electric service. Regulated gas and electric companies accept payments based on a percentage of the customer’s household income.

The program provides customers with a consistent payment amount year-round and customers who pay on-time and in-full receive credit for the balance of their current bill as well as credit to reduce their outstanding balance. Over 24 months, a customer can eliminate their outstanding balance by paying on-time and in-full.

Eligibility

Ohioans with a household income at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guideline and are a customer of an electric or natural gas company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

For some customers, applying for PIPP Plus does not require a face-to-face meeting. You are able to complete the application and send it and all required documentation to the address listed below.

First-time PIPP applicants

If you are applying for PIPP, you must make an appointment. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

You can make an appointment:

by calling (216) 350-8008 or
Scheduling here.

To reverify for PIPP

You need to verify that you qualify every year.

You can either:

Reverify online using the Online Reverification Portal link 

you can drop off your application and required documents:

Step Forward HEAP 

2203 Superior Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44114

Here’s what you’ll need in order to be reverified, whether you do it online or drop off your documents:

Your completed Utility Assistance Programs Application 
Proof of income for each household member

Copies of your most recent utility bills
A list of Social Security Numbers and birth dates for each person who lives with you
Proof of U.S. citizenship/legal residency for all household members
We can accept any one of these per person living with you:
- Social Security card
- Birth Certificate
- U.S. passport
- Naturalization Paper
- Permanent VISA
- INS ID card.
- Disability Verification (if applicable)

What to do if your heating or cooling is disconnected right now

Emergency assistance is available for Greater Cleveland residents experiencing the following utility crisis conditions:

Services are already off
Services are in disconnect status
Need to establish new service
Need to transfer service
Have a PIPP default with disconnection

Step Forward handles emergency utility needs separately through an appointment process.

Click here to schedule an emergency appointment

Do you have questions about your electric energy choices? The Consumer Advisory Hotline can help!

Step Forward, in collaboration with CHN Housing Partners, operates the Consumer Advisory Hotline.

This is a FREE service!

Get reliable, unbiased answers to your questions about Ohio’s energy suppliers.

We can help you:

Understand your energy costs

Avoid scams
Compare energy suppliers
Understand Ohio’s green pricing options

The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Call 1-844-378-8856 to reach a representative or send us an email at consumeradvisoryhotline@stepforwardtoday.org.

Submit Your Info Online

The Consumer Advisory Hotline is a program of Step Forward, formerly the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland, and CHN Housing Partners.

Program Forms

Navigating the Home Energy Assistance Program application process is a crucial step towards securing the support you need for your energy expenses. To ensure a smooth processing experience, you may be asked to submit various forms relevant to your situation and program you're applying to.

Below, you'll find forms that our dedicated Energy Assistance Specialists may request you to complete during the application process.

HEAP Application

Employment Verification Form

Self Employment Form

Seasonal Employment Verification Form

Self Declaration Form

We understand the importance of a hassle-free experience, and providing accurate and complete information through these forms is instrumental in expediting your application.

How to Use:

Download the Forms: Click on the respective form links to download the documents needed for your application.
Complete the Forms: Fill out each form accurately and thoroughly. Providing precise information ensures a faster processing time.
Submit the Forms: Once completed, please submit forms through the designated channel specified by your energy assistance specialist.

Energy

Assistance Programs

Energy

Assistance Programs

Effective March 31, 2024, Step Forward's Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is closed and no longer accepting applications.

When this program is available

Who qualifies for Emergency Assistance

YOU MUST HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE

How to make an appointment

Program Forms

How to Use:

​

All utility assistance programs require annual income verification.