ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS:
Energy Assistance Program Applications will be available October 1, 2025 – April 20, 2026.
Crisis Assistance starts November 1, 2025.
NOTIFICATION LETTERS AND PLEDGES CANNOT BE SENT/MADE UNTIL NOVEMBER 1.
If your heat and/or electric utility goes into a Crisis status after submitting an EAP application, notify the office immediately. The definition of Crisis is a disconnect notice, disconnected, low (25% or less) or out of fuel, low (21 days of running out or less) or out of biofuel, and/or low pre-paid balance (within 10 days of being out of service.
ENERGY EMERGENCIES AFTER HOURS AND/OR OFFICE CLOSINGS
Please call 211 for further assistance or visit: Indiana 211
HSI External Referral
*This is a list of agencies that may be able provide additional resources.
OUR PURPOSE
LIHEAP
To assist income qualified households with the high cost of home energy by providing one time assistance to offset the cost of winter heating.
TYPE OF ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED
Energy Assistance Program (EAP):
Provides funds to assist income qualified households with electric and/or heating bills who have an energy burden primarily during the winter months.
EAP assists with a variety of heat sources including but not limited to: electric (prepaid and regular), natural gas, bulk fuel (propane, fuel oil), biofuel (wood, corn, pellets, etc.), and/or households that have one or both of the utilities included in the rent.
There are two types of funds available:
Regular EAP benefit: one-time benefit that is applied to a qualified household’s electric and heating utilities.
Crisis EAP benefit: benefit that is applied in addition to a Regular EAP benefit to a qualified household’s electric and/or heating utility if the household is in imminent danger of disconnection, already disconnected, or is already out of deliverable bulk fuel or about to run out of deliverable bulk fuel. Crisis will be applied based on the utility bills at time of application ONLY. If payment is not made while an application is in process and a disconnect bill is received, additional Crisis benefits will NOT be given. The application will be processed immediately, however, only the crisis benefits needed at time of application will be applied.
INCOME GUIDELINES
To qualify, a household must complete an EAP application, submit required documents, and meet program guidelines.
Benefits are first come, first serve and subject to availability of funds.
The benefit payment is a ONE-TIME PAYMENT (not monthly). Continue to pay your bills.
The EAP and LIHEAP programs are implemented throughout our five-county service area.
Applications can be obtained the following ways:
-Email: eap@hsi-indiana.com and request an application.
-Visit your local drop box and pick one up.
| Main Office: | 4355 E CR 600 N Columbus, IN 47203 |
| Decatur County: | 422 E Central Ave Greensburg, IN 47240 |
| Jackson County: | 1058 A Ave Seymour, IN 47274 |
| Johnson County: | 486 N Morton St Franklin, IN 46131 |
| Shelby County: | 1609 S Miller St Shelbyville, IN 46176 |
| *Drop boxes are available 24/7 for pick up/drop off only. * | |
-Access the application below.
-Apply online at: HTTP://EAP.IHCDA.IN.GOV
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
If you have any questions after reviewing the application, please reach out ONE of the following ways:
-Email: eap@hsi-indiana.com
-Call: (812)372-8407 or (800)296-8026
*Calls are returned within 48 business hours Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM if a voicemail is left.
-Walk-In Hours:
Main Office: 4355 E CR 600 N Columbus, IN 47203
Date: 1st Wednesday of the month
Hours: 8:30am-11:00am & 1:00pm-3:30pm
The following information is needed to apply for LIHEAP:
- EAP Application: all sections completed and application signed.
- Proof of Income for Each Household Member 18 and Older
- Employment: copy of paystub with the YTD gross for the most recent 13 weeks.
- Social Security Benefits: copy of complete current award letter or bank statement that shows deposit.
- Pension, Retirement, VA Benefit: copy of complete current award letter or current check stub.
- Unemployment: signed Indiana Department of Workforce Development Form.
- Self Employed: copy of 2024 1040 and Schedule C. All pages.
- Other Income Not Covered: copy of complete current documentation.
- No Income or Cash Income: completed and signed Undocumented Income Verification form (previously known as the Income Verification Affidavit).
- Tenant Verification Statement (if utilities are included in rent only)
- Utility Bill(s): complete most recent utility bill or billing statement for heat and/or electric.
- Non Household Member Declaration Form: if bill(s) are in someone’s name not in the household.
- Direct Benefit Payment Election Form (utilities included in rent or wood): only needed if direct deposit is preferred over paper check.
- HSI Internal Referral Form
Additional Documents May Be Requested As Needed. A detailed checklist can be found here: Documents Checklist.
Applications and/or documents can be returned one of the following ways:
-Mail to:
Human Services, Inc.
Attn: EAP
P.O. Box 119
Clifford, IN 47226
-Drop off at the local drop box. See addresses above.
-Email to: eap@hsi-indiana.com
Allow up to 55 days from the date the application was received by the agency (or November 1, 2025, whichever is later) for the application to be processed. Staff process as quickly and accurately as possible, however, due to the high volume of applications received, this does take time.
Once the application has been processed, a notification letter will be sent by mail notifying you of the status of the application. Notification letters will not be sent out until November 1st.
If Incomplete, please make sure that the requested documentation is returned as soon as possible. Failure to submit required documents will result in a delay in processing and/or denial of your application.
If Approved, benefits are paid by IHCDA directly to the utility company unless the heat and/or electric utility is included in the rent or a biofuel (wood). It can take up to 60 days before a credit will show on the utility bill or account statement. Continue to pay utility bill(s) while waiting on the benefit to appear on the account. If the utility is included in the rent, allow up to 120 days from the application approval date or November 1, 2025 (whichever is latest) to receive the check by mail or direct deposit.
Undocumented Income Verification (previously Income Verification Form)
Department of Workforce Development Release of Information if receiving unemployment benefits.
Tenant Verification Statement (previously Landlord Affidavit) if one or both utilities are included in the rent.
Non Household Member Declaration Form: (previously Utility Affidavit and Declaration of Absent Household Member forms) if bill(s) are in someone’s name not in the household and/or if someone’s name not in the household appears on any documentation that is submitted.
Direct Benefit Payment Election Form: if one or both utilities are included in the rent OR heat with bio fuel (wood, corn, pellets, etc.) and would like to have benefit direct deposited.
Please contact the office for any other questions
or email: eap@hsi-indiana.com.