MontgomeryCountyMD.GOV

• Renters, homeowners, and residents of public housing are all eligible for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

• Applications ( English) ( Spanish)  
• Or you may apply online at  https://mymdthink.maryland.gov/home/#/
• You may mail an application to 1301 Piccard Dr., 4 ^th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850
• You may drop off an application to 1301 Piccard Dr., 4 ^th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850
• You may email an application to  [email protected]
• You may fax an application to 240-777-4099

OHEP provides assistance to help you afford your water and/or wastewater bills. The benefit provided is based on your household income, how many people live in your household, and the arrearage amount owed on your water and/or wastewater account. Applications will be processed first come first served in each local jurisdiction until funding is depleted. To determine your benefit, OHEP needs information to prove:

● Your identity: We can accept any government-issued photo ID

● Who lives in your household: We will need social security cards or other federal government-issued documents (like a W-2 or Social Security Benefits Notice) with name and Social Security Name. Includes children living in the household.

● Your water and/or wastewater utility information: we will need a copy of your utility bill /or termination notice (if applicable) and the arrearage balance due on your account. (Arrearages are defined as balance 30 days or more past due)

● Your household’s income: We will need documentation of all income for everyone in your household. Documents can include: paystubs, social security award letters, pension statements, award letters for programs such as SNAP, TCA and TDAP

● For a full list of documents, we can accept, please visit: Acceptable Documents

● Your household may be categorically income eligible for Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) if at least one household member listed on the application is currently receiving one of the following benefits at the time of application:

○ Office of Home Energy Programs (MEAP)
○ Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
○ Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP)
○ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
○ Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
○ Means-Tested veterans’ benefits
○ Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

Households with proof of receiving one of these benefits, at the time of application, will be determined eligible for the Maryland LIHWAP. Benefits received must be verified. Only one bill account per service address is eligible to receive this water and/or wastewater benefit. LIHWAP is not an auto enrollment program, therefore, to be eligible for the LIHWAP program, an application must be submitted and must meet all LIHWAP eligibility criteria.

• Water/Wastewater Assistance can help you pay down an outstanding balance on your past due water and/or wastewater bill. We can assist with terminated or closed accounts as long as all eligibility criteria is met. We are also able to pay on arrearages to help prevent termination or re-establish water and/or wastewater services.

• No. The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) works closely with all Maryland utilities and water/wastewater companies to make sure our team is getting the most up-to-date balances on every applicant’s account. Your payment plan will not prevent you from receiving the full benefit you qualify for.

• No! Do not wait until you have a turn-off notice to apply! We can help prevent you from receiving a turn-off notice if you apply before you receive one.

LIHWAP Water and/or Wastewater Assistance grants can be used to pay for:

● Restoration of services to households that have had water and/or wastewater services disconnected due to arrearages. (arrearages are defined as balance past due 30 days or greater)

● Prevention of disconnection for households at risk of disconnection due to arrearages.

● Standard charges and fees included in the household water and/or wastewater bill. This includes standard billing and reconnection fees.

• Submitting an application without all of your documents will slow down the application process significantly. For the quickest service, please include all of your documents when you submit your application, no matter how you submit your application.

• Unfortunately, utilities do not automatically know that you are applying for water and/or wastewater assistance. Utilities are notified that you are working with the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) eligibility has been determined and there is a commitment to paying certain amounts to your utility account.

• Yes! You can receive water and/or wastewater assistance benefits if you or a member of your household is responsible for paying for your water and/or wastewater costs. Your water bill does not have to be in your name; however, you must verify you are living at the service address and LIHWAP benefits must be paid directly to a public water supplier or treatment works. Your landlord will have to be able to break out the direct water costs separate from your rent and agree to have the LIHWAP benefit paid directly to the water supplier. You may be eligible for LIHWAP assistance if all other eligibility requirements are met.

• Visit https://myohepstatus.org to see the status of your application. Since this site is updated when your local office has started working on your application, please allow 15 days for your application to show up on the site. You can also call the DHS call center at 1-800-332-6347, our office at 240-777-4450 or email [email protected] for updated information.

Every application is different because every household is different. If there are issues with the documents you provided with your application, there will be a delay as your local office tries to contact you. We are required to:

•  Review your application and documents within 14 days after we receive a complete application (this includes all supporting documents so if you do not submit all of your documents with your application, this 14-day clock will not start until we get everything from you)
• Process and make a final determination about your application within 45 days of receiving your full application packet.

• Water assistance benefits range from $100-$2,000. In order to qualify for water assistance, the service address must have a minimum arrearage balance of $100. Benefits can be paid towards arrearages (30 days or more past due) and normal billing fees including reconnection fees. These benefits can significantly reduce or eliminate old balances on your account and lower your bill moving forward. Benefits will not necessarily cover your entire bill.

• We will send you letters if we need information from you and to let you know the final status of your application. Some offices may also call you to ask for more information about your application.

• “Household” means an individual or group of individuals who are living together as one unit and for whom residential water and/or wastewater is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for water and/or wastewater in the form of rent.

• Income eligibility is based on all gross (before taxes and other deductions) income received by everyone in the household over the age of 18 during the 30 days preceding the date of application. Income for full-time students is not counted as income if the student’s full-time status is documented. If an applicant receives income monthly from SSI, SSA, wages or a pension, but the income is received within the month, but not received within 30 days, the income is still counted. Example: If the employee applies on April 1st and the last paycheck was received on March 1st, that paycheck is counted.

• You do not need a social security number to apply, but there does need to be someone living in the household who is a legal resident, with a social security number.
• Eligibility is based on the number of people living in the household with legal status.
• Income for ALL household members is used to determine the amount of the benefit.