From keeping your home cool in the summer to warm in the winter, the cost of energy is a hardship experienced by many people year-round. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps lower the cost of energy bills for eligible low-income households. The program provides weatherization services that make homes more energy efficient, and many states also provide services like health and safety inspections. By reducing air pollution, promoting affordable housing, and creating job opportunities for weatherization service-providers, the WAP helps with economic growth in the communities it serves.
In this article, we share how the Weatherization Assistance program works and how it can help you with high home energy costs.
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
The Weatherization Assistance Program is awarded to all U.S. states, tribes, and territories through formula grants. Once the grants are awarded, states partner with local organizations and contractors to perform weatherization services for eligible low-income households.
The program gets its funding from the DOE and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Many states get more funding from state and private WAP programs and organizations.
From there, state and local governments work with their own networks of weatherization service providers to implement the program.
Eligibility
Eligibility for weatherization assistance is determined by a couple factors, but the main one is income. DOE guidelines require that applicants’ income must be at or below 200% of the poverty income guidelines; or that the applicant gets Supplemental Security Income or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). States can also use the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services LIHEAP criteria, which requires incomes to be at or below 60% of the state’s median income.
Another eligibility factor is a household’s energy burden. Low-income households that use more energy are considered in greater need of aid. Priority is also given to the elderly, families with one or more members with a disability, and families with children.
For more information on eligibility, visit Weatherization Assistance Program.
How to Apply
Weatherization assistance is provided at the state and local level, through a state weatherization agency. To apply in your state, contact your state weatherization provider, which can be found here.
For more application information, view the How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance page.
Non-Energy Benefits of Weatherization
According to the DOE, the non-energy benefits of weatherization programs include:
- Homes that are more livable.
- An average savings of $514 in out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- An average savings of $583 in pay per year due to fewer missed days of work.
- Market growth for American manufacturing by using locally sourced products and equipment.
To learn more about the benefits of weatherization, visit the Whole-House Weatherization page.
More Energy Assistance Resources on Benefits.gov
You can use the Browse by Category feature on Benefits.gov to search the Energy Assistance category to learn about over 100 federal and state programs to help with energy costs.
