HHS Releases LIHEAP Funds; All Emergency Funds for FY 04 are Distributed

HHS Releases LIHEAP Funds; All Emergency Funds for FY 04 are Distributed

On February 5, the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the release of FY 04 LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) regular and emergency. States received $92.1 million in regular funding and $99.4 million in emergency funds.

States can use the funds to assist low-income households facing increases in heating fuel prices as well as colder-than-normal January weather. Emergency funds can be used for any purpose authorized under LIHEAP, including heating assistance, crisis assistance, weatherization, and administrative costs.

Congress authorized $99.4 million in federal FY 04 LIHEAP emergency funds in the recently passed 2004 omnibus appropriation. So this release of funds means that all emergency funds available for FY 2004 have been exhausted.

Of the total amount of emergency funds released on February 5, $39.8 million was allocated to all states according to the regular block grant formula. The remaining funds were distributed to the 18 states and the District of Columbia that experienced January temperatures above the norm.

The $92.1 million in other funding going to states reflects the enactment of a full-year appropriation that provides a higher funding level than could be made available under the continuing resolution that funded LIHEAP through most of January.

The list of state allocations is available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040205.html. These totals include funds that will be provided directly to tribes in these states.

For FY 05, the President has proposed funding LIHEAP at $1.8 billion for the block grant and $200 million in contingency funds.

For additional information, contact Sheri Steisel or Lee Posey at fedhumserv@ncsl.org, or call NCSL's D.C. office at (202) 624-5400.