Washington state low-income energy aid continues despite federal shutdown

The U.S. government shutdown has turned off the spigot of federal aid for people who need help to keep the heat on, but the situation in Washington state is less dire than elsewhere.

With the shutdown, already the longest in U.S. history, financial help from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is in limbo.

The program helps pay about 6 million low-income families’ heating bills and energy expenses, including preventing utility shutoffs, making homes more energy efficient, and replacing heating equipment.

The shutdown has forced states including New York, Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming to announce delays or disruptions to their programs as cold temperatures spread across the country.

The U.S. Senate voted on Sunday to fund the government through Jan. 30, which could lead to an end of the historic shutdown, if the House of Representatives also approves. Even so, low-income families could still face the prospect of very cold homes for a month, if not more.

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"Assuming good will on the part of the Administration, mid-December funds could be available. But there is no guarantee!" Mark Wolfe, director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, which represents state agencies that run LIHEAP programs, said in an email Monday morning.

This winter could be less harsh for many families in Washington state, and not just because of the Northwest’s temperate climate.

Washington state has $36 million in federal funding left over from last year to keep providing heating assistance this winter.

Washington Department of Commerce officials say it's enough to help low-income families keep the heat on through late January or early February.

“Our team really did plan ahead for a worst-case scenario,” Commerce spokesperson Amelia Lamb said.

RELATED: The government shutdown is delaying an assistance program families use to heat homes

The department distributes federal LIHEAP funds to local agencies and nonprofits that take applications from low-income residents seeking help with energy costs.

“We are providing services in full force,” said Byrd-Barr Place CEO Angela Griffin. The South Seattle nonprofit helps about 6,000 households keep the heat on each winter with federal LIHEAP funds.

Griffin said the number of people seeking help appears to be rising.

“This year, before we even opened our door, we had already an influx of people coming in with their applications in larger numbers than we have had historically,” she said.

“We think it's because of the cut in other benefits and possibly some fear, anxiety, around the federal shutdown,” Griffin said. “I believe that people are coming in earlier to make sure that they're able to access those services.”

Rising costs of food and energy are hitting many household budgets, as well as the potential loss of SNAP food benefits.

The price of residential electricity has increased 33% in the U.S. since 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, while natural gas has increased 47%.

In addition to distributing federal funds, Washington state has started its own home heating program. The State Home Energy Assistance Program is funded by Washington’s auctions of carbon permits to major polluters.

The state’s biggest polluters pay to emit carbon dioxide, with the money going to environmental and energy programs.

Households that earn less than 150% of the federal poverty level — or about $48,000 for a family of four — are eligible for LIHEAP assistance. Households below 80% of area median income — or about $111,000 for a family of four in King County — qualify for state energy assistance.

About 90,000 Washington households rely on federal assistance to keep the heat on.

Nationwide, about 21 million households, or one in six, are currently behind on their energy bills, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.