There are several types of utility assistance currently available through CAC that includes:
Utility assistance payments will be made directly to your utility provider and will be credited on your bill. Please read about each program to determine what you may be eligible to receive.
If you are unsure about which program is the best one for you and have questions, call us at (865) 637-6700.
LIHEAP
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
IMPORTANT NOTICES
- FOR HOUSEHOLDS SEEKING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE: Applications must be received in person at our main office, located at 2247 Western Avenue between 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday.
- LIHEAP Online applications will only be accepted during the 1st-15th of every month, starting October 1, 2024 through July 15, 2025.
About LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is one of the most critical components of our community’s social safety net. Home heating costs are a big part of every household’s budget. Combined with increasing food and gas prices, staying warm all through this winter could be very difficult.
LIHEAP provides heating and cooling assistance to roughly 8,000 households annually. If you are interested in getting help with your energy bills, you may want to see if LIHEAP can help you. Regular LIHEAP applications are accepted year-round but there is no guarantee that funds will remain available to assist all applicants.
Continue reading to learn more about the eligibility requirements, a list of required application documents, the different ways that you can apply, and to download the application packet. If you would like to apply online, you can access the TN online application by selecting the “Online Portal Here” button in the “Apply Online” section below. You will need an email account to use the online portal. Once you create an e-mail account, you can begin the process of applying for LIHEAP online. You should expect to provide personal and financial information on yourself and persons living in your household throughout the application. You will also need to upload copies of required documentation.
If you need immediate utility assistance, you must apply in person at our main office, located at 2247 Western Avenue between 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday.
- There is a child age 5 and under in the home
- At least 1 member of the household is aged 60 or older
- At least 1 member of the household is disabled
- At least 1 member of the household is active military or a veteran
- Household has an unanticipated medical or major household expense
- Household wage earner with at least a year of stable work history has lost their job within the last 12 months
- Household wage earner has left the home in the last 45 days
- Death of a wage earner within the last 12 months
- Significant loss of work hours
- Household wage earner is unable to work due to illness and does not receive pay for time away from work or sick leave pay
Use the “Online Portal Here” button in the “Apply Online” section below to apply online. You cannot apply online if you need immediate crisis utility assistance. Call us at (865) 637-6700.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants may be assisted one time between October 2024 through September 2025 for LIHEAP Energy or Crisis Assistance, pending availability of funds or as other funds become available. In order to qualify you must meet income guidelines. For households of greater than 8 people, call (865) 637-6700.
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income | Annual Gross Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,557.75 | $30,693 |
| 2 | $3,344.75 | $40,137 |
| 3 | $4,131.75 | $49,581 |
| 4 | $4,918.84 | $59,026 |
| 5 | $5,705.84 | $68,470 |
| 6 | $6,492.84 | $77,914 |
| 7 | $6,640.42 | $79,685 |
| 8 | $6,787.92 | $81,455 |
Required Application Documents (originals will not be accepted):
- Copy of your most current utility bill.
- Copy of valid state-issued photo ID of the applicant.
- Copies of social security cards for all household members, unless the member is under 1 year of agge, then a birth certificate can be submitted.
- Copy of proof of income for all household members 18 years of age and older. This includes wages from work, Worker’s Compensation, TANF, Families First, Social Security, Retirement / Pension, SSI, SSDI, Child Support, and any other source of income. Please note: bank statements cannot be accepted as proof of income.
- Anyone in your household age 18 or older that does not have income will need to be listed on the self‐declaration of zero income form.
- If you are currently employed, please provide copies of pay stubs (see the next line for how many) each showing full name, address, pay date, and gross payment amount.
- If you are paid weekly: copies of 4 most recent pay stubs; bi-weekly: copies of 2 most recent pay stubs; monthly: copy of 1 most recent pay stub; semi-monthly: copies of 2 most recent pay stubs.
- If you are receiving unemployment, please provide a copy of your maximum benefit letter.
- Proof of military service (if applicable).
You can apply for LIHEAP today!
There are 4 different ways to apply:
Apply Online
Online Applications are only accepted during the 1st – 15th of every month starting October 1, 2024 through July 15, 2025.
You will need an email account to use the online portal. Once you create an e-mail account, you can begin the process of applying for LIHEAP online. You should expect to provide personal and financial information on yourself and persons living in your household throughout the application. You will also need to upload copies of required documentation.
- You will be able to save the application and come back to it later.
- Once you complete the application, you should be able to submit it online.
- You will receive an emailed confirmation that your application has been submitted.
- You may be asked to verify additional information after you submit.
- You can check in on the status of your application by revisiting the online portal
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Online applications are NOT for immediate assistance. If you are seeking immediate utility assistance then please contact our main office at 865-637-6700 OR visit in person at 2247 Western Avenue, between 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday – Friday. Read the “Required Documentation Checklist” in the Application Packet found below for additional information. Please note that funds may not be available to serve all applicants.
Apply Online Here
Apply by Mail
Call us at (865) 637-6700 to request a copy of our application guide to be mailed to you.
When you get your application, fill it out completely and include information on all members of your household. You will also have to include required documents.
Include copies only of the required documentation. Do not send originals, they will not be accepted.
Mail the application via United States Postal Service to:
ATTN: LIHEAP OFFICE
P.O. Box 51650
Knoxville, TN 37950-1650
You may be contacted by CAC staff for additional information to complete your application.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Mailed applications are NOT for immediate assistance. If you are seeking immediate utility assistance then please contact our main office at 865-637-6700 OR visit in person at 2247 Western Avenue, between 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday – Friday. Read the “Required Documentation Checklist” in the Application Packet found below. Please note that funds may not be available to serve all applicants.
Drop Box Application
Located at the main entrance of the Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue, or at the East Neighborhood Center, 4610 Asheville Highway, Monday-Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:45 pm.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Drop Box applications are NOT for immediate assistance. If you are seeking immediate utility assistance then please contact our main office at 865-637-6700 OR visit in person at 2247 Western Avenue, between 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday – Friday. Read the “Required Documentation Checklist” in the Application Packet found below Please note that funds may not be available to serve all applicants.
Make an Appointment
Appointments will only be scheduled if you are unable to complete your application on your own.
You will need to make an appointment to speak with staff in-person. To make an appointment, call us at (865) 637-6700.
You will need to bring the required application documents to your appointment in order to complete the application.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you are seeking immediate utility assistance then please contact our main office at 865-637-6700 OR visit in person at 2247 Western Avenue, between 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday – Friday. Read the “Required Documentation Checklist” in the Application Packet found below. Please note that funds may not be available to serve all applicants.
LIHEAP Application Packet
Use the button to the right to download your LIHEAP application packet (instrucciones para la aplicacion de LIHEAP). It includes:
- Application Instructions and Required Documentation Checklist
- LIHEAP application form
- Self-declaration of zero income form
- Customer Grievance Procedure
LIHEAP Additional Documents
Use the buttons to the right to download your LIHEAP Additional Household Members form in English.
LIHEAP Additional Documents
Use the buttons to the right to download your LIHEAP Self-Employment Income Form in English or in Spanish (formulario de ingresos de trabajo por cuenta propia).
Project HELP
Project Help is a nonprofit that partners with KUB to provide emergency energy assistance for people in need, regardless of the energy source in their home (electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil, wood, or coal).
In order to qualify, you must live within KUB’s service territory, have a final utility notice, a documented financial hardship, and meet income guidelines:
| Household Size | ANNUAL Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | From $22,591 up to $45,180 |
| 2 | From $30,661 up to $61,320 |
| 3 | From $38,781 up to $77,460 |
| 4 | From $46,801 up to $93,600 |
| 5 | From, $54,871 up to $109,740 |
| 6 | From $62,941 up to $125,880 |
| 7 | From $71,011 up to $142,020 |
| 8 | From $79,081 up to $158,160 |
To apply for Project Help, please call the LIHEAP office at (865) 637-6700.
Here is how you can donate:
Donate to Project Help in the following ways:
- Visit any local Food City or Home Federal Bank location between January 5 – February 1.
- Set up a recurring monthly donation using the form here.
- Make a one-time donation if you pay your KUB bill using the one-time bank draft option, SelectPay. In the bill-pay process, click the box that says “Add a one-time Project Help donation.” *If you pay your bill using AutoPay, you can not make a one-time donation online.
- Make a one-time donation by visiting a KUB payment kiosk at no charge.
- Make a one-time donation by mailing a check payable to Project Help to P.O. Box 59017 Knoxville, TN 37950
Project Help of East Tennessee, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and donors receive an annual contribution letter for tax purposes.
Project Help depends solely on contributions from the community. KUB collects Project Help donations and CAC distributes them to qualifying families and individuals. All administrative costs are paid by KUB and CAC. One hundred percent of all funds collected go directly to help people with their heating bills.
Some programs listed on this webpage are supported by Grant Number 93.568 (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) from the Office of Community Services a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Office of Community Servcies or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the the Office of Community Services.