Non-Emergency
Assistance
Non-Emergency
Assistance
High energy costs can strain household budgets, but the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) offers relief. This non-emergency program provides a one-time annual payment to help make utilities more affordable.
HEAP is designed to help manage heating costs by applying the payment directly to the customer’s utility or bulk fuel bill. The program runs annually from July 1 to May 31.
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
or
download a copy of the application and mail it to:
Energy Assistance Programs
P.O. Box 1240
Columbus, Ohio 43216
Step Forward does not accept drop-off applications at any location and does not accept applications mailed directly to our agency. Mailed applications must be sent to the address printed on the HEAP application.
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All Regular HEAP applications must be submitted online or postmarked on or before May 31, 2024, to be eligible for processing.
Processing Non-Emergency Applications
Step Forward processes applications in the order they are received. Processing time may take up to 12 weeks. Online applicants may review their application date and processing status by logging into their Ohio Department of Development Energy Assistance Programs user account.
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Need emergency services instead?
What to do if your heating or cooling is disconnected right now
or you recently received a disconnection notice
Winter Crisis emergency services (available during heating season)
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Summer Crisis emergency services (available during cooling season)
Learn about consumer rights for utility services in the State of Ohio