If you live within Missouri and need help on your heating costs this winter, there may be some programs for you. This guide shows you ways to get Home Heating Help in Missouri.

• Answer every question on all forms to reduce delays.

• Continue to pay utility bill until assistance kicks in, disconnects can cause complications.

• Ensure you're applying to the correct agency as they work by regions.

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has a budget of 5.1 billion in 2009http://www.liheap.org/

• LIHEAP is issued through grants and may run out in certain areas. File early to improve chances for assistance.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Please contact your financial adviser before using the information presented here.

The Federal Government, Missouri, and even your local community offer a few approaches for getting assistance for heating costs. Heating assistance programs are generally means tested. This means that the amount of help offered and who can qualify depends on the finances within the household. As such you'll need to copy some documentation needed for the applying processhttp://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/eassist/eabrochure.htm.

Your last utility bill. Depending on how your home is heated, the bill needed can vary. The agencies are looking for the utility on how your home gets its fuel for heating (natural gas, electricity, etc). If your home uses two fuels, for example, gas to run the furnace but electricity for the operation then you'll need both utility bills. Do include disconnect notices, if any. Agencies need the actual bill for the account number and name on the account.

Social Security cards for each member within the household.

Proof of last month's income for each member (where applicable) within the household. This includes other assistance and Social Security awards, if any.

LIHEAP is a Federal Government program that helps pay heating/cooling costs for low-income or elderly people. While funded at the Federal level, the dispersement of the funds is done at the local level through Community Action Programs (CAPS). The program covers heating costs from October through March.

To be eligible for LIHEAP you have to fall within four basic criteriahttp://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/eassist/eabrochure.htm. You:

• have to be responsible for the heating costs.
• have to be a United States citizen
• don't have over $3,000 in excess resources
• have a household income under the following limits

Should you qualify you should contact your local Community Action Agency to set up an appointment to file your paperwork. If you would like a headstart and have a printer you can download and print the application here.

To find your local agency you can look under Social Services in the blue pages of your phone book. However, you can also go to this map and select your location.

HeatShare is a program ran by the Salvation Army in a few areas within Missouri, namely St. Louis.

The Salvation Army also carries a toll-free number where you may find out more information and possibly other sources of assistance: 1-800-842-7279.

It never hurts to contact your utility provider and talk to someone in Accounts/Community Relations to see if there are resources local to your area that don't happen to be on this guide. Quite a few utility companies have charitable partnerships, or agreements that may not be advertised to a large extent.