Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
Program Overview
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) help Connecticut residents pay their drinking water and wastewater bills. You can also qualify for shut-off protection or get help reconnecting your water service.
Read More About LIHWAP
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides water assistance benefits. Covered services include restoration of household water services to eligible disconnected homes, reduction of overdue water bills, and prevention of service disconnection. Help is available for both household water and wastewater bills from participating water suppliers and wastewater service providers.
Eligible households can receive up to $1,000 in household water and wastewater benefits if they are behind on paying their bills.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must must live in Connecticut. Applications consider your current income.
If you get benefits from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), Social Security Income (SSI), State Supplement, State Administered General Assistance (SAGA), or Refugee Cash Assistance, then you will likely meet income requirements.
Income limits:
- Your annual income must fall at or below the income levels in the table (i.e. 60% of the state’s median income).
|
Household Size |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
Annual Income |
$39,761 |
$51,996 |
$64,230 |
$76,465 |
$88,699 |
$100,933 |
$103,227 |
$105,521 |
Documents and Information You Need to Apply
Before you apply, here’s what you’ll need to gather:
Water Documents
- If you are applying for water assistance you will need a copy of either your water bill or a copy or photo of your rental lease showing that your utilities are included in your rent.
Income Documents (as needed)
If you or anyone in your household currently receives benefits like food stamps or cash assistance, you automatically meet the income requirements. That means you don't need to gather any income documents. If you don’t get one of those benefits, you need to submit proof of income from one of the following documents.
- If you or anyone in your household is employed, you must provide a copy or photo of paystubs that show income from the previous 30 days or four consecutive weeks any time in the last three months. You can also provide a signed letter from the payroll department or employer stating your income during this time period.
- If you or anyone in your household is self-employed (freelancer, contractor, small business owner), you must provide a copy or photo of a completed self-employment worksheet and your most recently-filed IRS Form 1040, including all schedules
- If you or anyone in your household receives additional income, you must provide award letter(s), a bank statement showing direct deposit, and/or signed statements.
Additional Documents (as needed)
Depending on your situation, you may need to provide additional documents. If any of the below apply, download and complete the form(s) before you start your online application. You will be asked to upload a photo or copy of the completed form as part of your application.
- Zero Income Form: Complete this form if your household has had no income for the last four weeks or longer.
- Affidavit Certifying Non-Receipt of Child Support Payments: Complete this form if your household includes children who have one or more non-custodial parents (i.e. parents who do not have custody of their children) who are not paying child support.
- Certification of Disability: Complete this form if you or a household member have a disability but do not receive disability benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or the State Supplement for Aged, Blind, or Disabled.
How to Apply
- Apply online
- Apply by phone: Call your local Community Action Agency and request assistance applying for LIHWAP over the phone.
- Apply by email: Download and complete the LIHWAP application. Email your complete application and required documents to your local Community Action Agency.
- Apply by mail: Download and complete the LIHWAP application. Mail your complete application and required documents to your local Community Action Agency.
- Apply in person: Call your local Community Action Agency and schedule an in-person appointment. Remember to review the LIHWAP application before your appointment and bring all of your required documents to your appointment.
Need Help?
If you need urgent assistance, call your local Community Action Agency. If you prefer to apply over the phone or in person, they can help you schedule an appointment.
Learn more about applying for LIHWAP