OCS administers federal funding, policy, and oversight for LIHEAP and other community programs. A state, territory, tribe, or local organization usually receives a household’s application and determines eligibility under the applicable program rules.
What OCS manages
- Federal administration of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- Federal grants, guidance, data, and oversight for community-services programs.
- Official state, territory, and tribal contact information for LIHEAP.
- Programs including the Community Services Block Grant and other initiatives intended to reduce poverty and increase economic opportunity.
What OCS does not usually decide
- Whether a specific household qualifies for LIHEAP.
- Whether a local program has funds available at a particular time.
- Which documents, appointment steps, crisis rules, benefit amounts, or application deadlines apply in a particular jurisdiction.
- The status of an application submitted to a state, tribal, territorial, or local agency.
For an individual application, use the official LIHEAP contact for the jurisdiction where the household lives. Local rules and available assistance can differ.
Official public channels
- Office of Community Services
- About OCS
- OCS programs
- Official LIHEAP program page
- LIHEAP state and territory contacts
Related resources
- Apply for LIHEAP home energy assistance
- Submit a LIHEAP application
- LIHEAP when utilities are included in rent
- LIHEAP application checklist
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Individual LIHEAP hearing requests
OCS oversees the federal grant program, but the state, territory, tribe, tribal organization, or local system normally receives an individual hearing request. Federal law requires the administering plan to provide a fair hearing for claims denied or not acted on promptly. Start with the LIHEAP hearing procedure and the official jurisdiction contact.