Americans to get surprise one-time seasonal energy payment starting October 1 - do you qualify?

Alaska’s Heat Assistance Program helps low-income households in the state with heating costs between October and April every year. The program comes shortly after Alaska paid out its Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) to residents who stayed in the state for a full calendar year.

Heat assistance program rules

The two compulsory conditions to fulfil if you are to reap the benefits of Heat Assistance Program is spending a minimum of $200 per annum on heating, and your monthly income shouldn’t be beyond a certain per capita mark, the Sun reported.

The income limits for the program are, 1 person = $2,350, 2 people = $3,192, 3 people = $4,033, 4 people = $4,875, 5 people = $5,715, 6 people = $6,556. For households larger than six people, you add $841 per extra person.


A new application opens after October 1, and it can be submitted at a local Public Assistance Office or sent by mail or email. You can find your local office on the program’s website. The same application form also works for other Alaska programs, including Crisis Assistance and Subsidized Rental Housing Utility Deposit, as stated by The Sun report.

SRHUD helps with deposits for subsidized rental buildings where heat is included in the rent, but renters still pay for electricity and gas for cooking. Applications are open year-round. Crisis Assistance gives a one-time payment during specific crises, and applications are also accepted year-round.

LIHEAP and PFD payments

LIHEAP is a federal energy aid program, but states can set their own rules for eligibility. To check if you qualify for LIHEAP or apply, you can visit your state’s website or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project, which is free, according to the report by The Sun.

Alaska started sending its Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) in August, and the payment is worth $1,702 per person. The PFD payment includes $1,440 from the fund and $262 as a bonus because of rising oil prices. The PFD is sent in waves based on when people applied and their “Eligible-Not Paid” status.

The first wave went out on September 11, the second wave went out on October 2, and the final wave will be paid on October 23. Only residents who meet the “Eligible-Not Paid” status will receive the PFD, as mentioned in the report by The Sun.

FAQs

Q1. Who can get Alaska’s Heat Assistance Program?

Low-income households in Alaska who spend at least $200 a year on heating and meet income limits can apply.

Q2. When will the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) be paid?

Alaska is sending the PFD in waves, with the first on September 11, second on October 2, and final on October 23.