LIHEAP UPDATE: There is no disruption to Hopelink’s Energy Assistance program. We encourage clients to continue to apply for assistance and keep their existing appointments, and Hopelink will continue to distribute assistance. We know that news of staffing changes at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC has created some concerns. Our funding is still in place and we will continue to distribute home energy assistance. As we learn any new information, we will keep you all informed through this space as well as our social media pages.
Our appointment scheduler is now open! Please know we experience a high volume of calls every day. New appointments are opened each week on Monday mornings at 9 a.m. If you call the line and get a message saying no appointments are available, we recommend calling back at 9 a.m. on the following Monday.
If you are a PSE customer, you can also apply for PSE HELP directly via pse.com
Crisis appointments are available only for those who have been disconnected, have received a shut-off notice, or have less than a 10-day supply of oil, wood, or propane. Proof will be required to book a crisis appointment. If you are in need of a crisis appointment, please send of photo of your current Disconnection notice to energyprograms@hopelink.org or call your local Hopelink center.
Energy Program Overview
Hopelink helps households reduce their home energy costs or avoid disconnection with our Energy Program. The goal of Hopelink’s energy program is to keep members of our community safe and healthy with a stable home environment. We believe a household should never have to choose between heating/cooling, electricity, or other necessities, such as food, healthcare, or shelter. Energy assistance funds enable our community members to devote their resources to other crucial expenses.
What You Need to Know
Assistance can range from $200 to $1250 per household and vary from year to year based on:
- Cost of energy usage over the previous 12 months
- Household’s average monthly income
- Number of people in the household
You are eligible to receive assistance for both LIHEAP/SHEAP (you will receive either LIHEAP or SHEAP based on eligibility) and PSE HELP once per program year (October 2024-September 2025). Clients receiving LIHEAP who do not currently have home-cooling access are eligible for one-time air conditioning units.
LIHEAP and SHEAP (“Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program” and “Washington State Home Energy Assistance Program”)
Funding is available for eligible clients (by income and location) for either LIHEAP or SHEAP based on income criteria and energy type. The same application and appointment will determine which grant is best for your household. Energy assistance grant payments are made directly to the energy provider on behalf of the eligible household, or paid to a vendor of oil, wood or propane deliverable fuel. LIHEAP eligible clients without home cooling access may receive a one-time air conditioning unit delivered directly to their home by indicating their interest/need during their appointment or application.
LIHEAP is available to households with incomes at or below 150% Federal Poverty Level and SHEAP to households with incomes at or below 80% area median income. Assistance ranges from $200-$1250 per household.
PSE HELP (Puget Sound Energy Home Energy Lifeline Program), Bill Discount Program, and Past Due Bill Forgiveness
PSE assistance is available to Puget Sound Energy customers with incomes at or below 80% area median income. PSE Customers may qualify for this assistance in addition to a LIHEAP or SHEAP grant.
PSE HELP provides assistance from $250 to $1000 once per program year. Enrollment in PSE HELP also enrolls you in PSE’s Bill Discount Program, adding a 5% to 45% ongoing monthly discount on your energy billing rate for lower bills overall. For clients with large past-due balances, they may be eligible for PSE’s Forgiveness Program which forgives a portion of the past due balance with each on-time payment over 12 months.
Clients can apply without additional documentation or proof of income through Hopelink or directly via pse.com. For more information about PSE’s assistance programs, visit here.
Seattle City Light customers may be eligible for up to 60% monthly discount on their energy billing rate. Visit Seattle City Light’s Utility Discount Program or call (206)-684-0268.
People who have been disconnected or have less than a 10-day supply of oil, wood or propane, should call their nearest center to schedule an emergency appointment.
In addition, those who have a disconnection notice should contact their energy provider immediately:
- Puget Sound Energy (PSE): 1.888.225.5773
- Seattle City Light (SCL): 206.684.3000
Eligibility
You must live within one of the following zip codes in order to qualify for Energy Assistance through Hopelink. If you live within the following zip codes, please proceed to the “Income Eligibility” chart below.
| Hopelink Service Areas | ||
|---|---|---|
| 98004 | 98005 | 98006 |
| 98007 | 98008 | 98009 |
| 98011 | 98012 * | 98014 |
| 98015 | 98019 | 98024 |
| 98027 | 98028 | 98029 |
| 98033 | 98034 | 98039 |
| 98040 | 98045 | 98050 |
| 98052 | 98053 | 98065 |
| 98072 * | 98073 | 98074 |
| 98077* | 98133 ** | 98155 |
| 98160 | 98177 ** | 98224 |
| 98288 * | ||
(**) North of NE 145 St.
For the October 2024-Sept 2025 Energy Season:
| Household Size |
Monthly Income LIHEAP |
Monthly Income HEAP |
Monthly Income PSE HELP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,882 | $5,887 | $6,475 |
| 2 | $2,555 | $6,729 | $7,400 |
| 3 | $3,227 | $7,570 | $8,325 |
| 4 | $3,900 | $8,412 | $9,246 |
| 5 | $4,572 | $9,083 | $9,988 |
| 6 | $5,245 | $9,754 | $10,729 |
| 7 | $5,917 | $10,416 | $11,467 |
| 8 | $6,590 | $11,080 | $12,208 |
| 9 | $7,262 | $11,800 | $12,946 |
| 10 | $7,935 | $12,450 | $13,688 |
| 11 | $8,607 | $13,100 | $14,425 |
| 12 | $9,280 | $13,800 | $15,167 |
Appointments will be available via our online scheduler or by calling our automated phone system at (425)-658-2592. PSE customers can apply for PSE HELP and Bill Discount program directly via pse.com
If your power is completely disconnected, you’ve received an urgent shut-off notice or have less than a 10-day supply of oil, wood or propane, you can call your nearest Hopelink center and/or 211 to check for crisis appointment options.
At this time, we do not provide general application packets for drop off.
Our goal is to get funds to you as quickly as possible. Having all your documents collected at the time of your phone appointment may help us process your application faster. If you are not sure what documents you need or do not have documentation of your income, your specialist will help you figure out what paperwork you need during the appointment. They can also help you find the easiest way to send in your documents.
PSE HELP applications will be processed without any required documentation such as proof of income or social security number, while LIHEAP/SHEAP assistance will require all listed documentation.
Please see this checklist of needed paperwork to have ready:
An application may take up to 6 weeks to complete. Continue paying bills and/or make payment arrangements to prevent disconnection. Once complete, Hopelink will send a letter informing applicants whether they qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This program is designed to help you pay your bills. You do not have to have a shut-off notice or be behind on your bill to apply.
Assistance varies by household. Benefit amount is calculated based on your average household income, number of household members, historical energy usage and housing type.
Applications are processed in the order they are received, and our specialists handle a high volume of applications each week. Once all required documents are submitted, it may take up to 4–6 weeks from the date of your appointment to complete your application.
In the meantime, please continue to pay your bills or make payment arrangements to prevent disconnection. If you qualify, Hopelink staff will send a “pledge” to your utility account once your application is processed. This pledge is a temporary notification to your utility company that a payment is expected soon. However, it is not an actual payment, and your application must be reviewed and approved before a payment is released.
Applications are processed in the order received. After processing, the payment will be pledged to your account. It can take up to 8 weeks from your appointment date to show as paid on your account.
If you have moved and closed your account or have been disconnected, your benefit can go only toward your new, active account in which you reside in. We recommend calling your utility service provider to make payment arrangements on your closed account balance.
Once Hopelink issues the benefit payment, it is no longer handled by us. We recommend contacting your utility company to check to inquire about any remaining credit on your account. They can assist you in transferring the balance to your new account.
Your benefit is calculated based on household income, household size, housing type and energy usage. Benefit amounts can vary year to year depending on how these variables change. If your household income and size have not changed, the difference may be due to your energy usage.
No. LIHEAP Energy assistance applies to the whole household. Everyone listed as a household member benefit from the benefit awarded and cannot apply separately or be listed as part of another household until the next program year.
Yes. We look at your current income and household size. If you were denied before and want to apply again, we will review your application to see if you meet the eligibility requirements.
During your appointment, the specialist assisting you will prepare your application forms for signature and provide you with secure options to submit your documents, such as through DocuSign or by mail. There is no need to send documentation before your appointment.
Unfortunately, the air conditioning unit is a one-time benefit, and we are unable to provide additional or replacement units.