Overview

The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) helps low income households pay the cost of water and sewer services. The program can assist households who have past due bills (arrears) for water and/or sewer services.

Benefits

LIHWAP is a benefit based on the actual amount of water and/or sewer arrears, up to a maximum of $2,500 per water or sewer provider, or $5,000 if water and sewer services are combined, per applicant household. Benefits are paid directly to the household's water and/or sewer vendor(s).

Eligibility

On October 1, 2022, a new program year will begin and households may be eligible for additional assistance even if they have already received a LIHWAP benefit in the past.

Eligibility and benefits are based on:

• Income
• Household size
• Amount owed to water and/or sewer provider(s)

Your household may be eligible for a benefit if:

• You or a member of your household are a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or qualified alien, and
• Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted in the table below, or
• You receive Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits, or
• You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or
• You receive Temporary Assistance (TA), or
• You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone), and
• You pay a vendor directly for your water and/or sewer usage, and
• Your water, sewer, or combined water and sewer account is twenty (20) days past the due date, you have a water lien that is levied on your local property taxes, or your water, sewer, or combined water and sewer service is terminated or otherwise facing disconnection due to unpaid arrears

Print the LIHWAP overview: English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Yiddish

2022-2023 LIHWAP Monthly Income Limits

Your total household gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following guidelines:

Apply

Applications are now being accepted.

What do I need to apply?

Applicants will need to include the following documentation along with your application:

• Proof of identity for the primary applicant
• A valid Social Security Number for the primary applicant
• Proof of residence
• A water, sewer, or combined water and sewer bill listing your permanent and primary residence
• Documentation of income for the primary applicant

Print the applicant document checklist: English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Yiddish

Ready to Apply?

Please provide copies of documentation not originals.

Online:
Apply for LIHWAP online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• If you do not have a NY.Gov ID, you need to create a NY.gov ID before you apply
• You will need to create a user ID and password
  • For both of these, you should choose something that's easy for you to remember but hard for other people to guess

In writing:
Print and mail or fax the LIHWAP Application to:

NYS LIHWAP
PO Box 1789
Albany, NY 12201

Fax: 518-486-1259

View translated LIHWAP Application: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Yiddish

Notes:

• The application should be completed by the person who has primary and direct responsibility for payment of the water, sewer, or combined water and sewer bill
• You must list your permanent, primary residence
• Please provide copies of documentation not originals
• You are encouraged not to wait until your water is shut off

Contact

For more information about LIHWAP please call the NYS LIHWAP Call Center at 1-833-690-0208 or call the toll-free OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009. You may also email LIHWAP at: NYSLIHWAP@otda.ny.gov.

If you are in an Emergency

An emergency is an urgent need or situation that has to be taken care of right away.

An example of an emergency is:

• Your water and/or sewer is shut-off or is about to be shut-off, or you have a 72-hour disconnect notice
• You are encouraged not to wait until your water is shut off

If you are experiencing a water and/or sewer emergency, you may be eligible for Temporary Assistance. You may apply online at myBenefits.ny.gov or fill out the application form and file it at your Local Department of Social Services.

You may also contact your Local Department of Social Services online, or by calling the toll-free OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.

You are encouraged to contact and make arrangements with your water and/or sewer provider to discuss payment options. Some options may be a repayment or deferred payment agreement. There may also be local water and/or sewer assistance funds available.

Consumer Protections

• Home Energy Fair Practices Act
• 16 NYCRR Chapter 5, Part 14 - Rules Governing the Provision of Service by Certain Water Corporations and Residential Customers
• Notice of Updated Department of Public Service Guidance to Municipal Water Providers Relating to Service Disconnections, Liens, and Deferred Payment Agreements – issued December 17, 2021
• DPS Details Consumer Rights, Protections and Programs to Help Pay Utility Bills and Avoid Shutoffs – Updated Guidance on Consumer Protections for Customers Unable to Pay Utility Bills – December 20, 2021 Press Release