Northern Mariana Islands LIHEAP FAQ Sheet

Table of Contents 

• What Is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program?
• What Does LIHEAP Cover in the Northern Mariana Islands?
• About LIHEAP Crisis Assistance
• How Much Assistance Does LIHEAP Provide in the Northern Mariana Islands?
• How to Qualify for LIHEAP in the Northern Mariana Islands
• How to Apply for LIHEAP in the Northern Mariana Islands
• What You Will Need to Apply
• How to Check Your Application Status
• What Happens After You Apply for LIHEAP in the Northern Mariana Islands?
• How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits
• Need More Help?
• View or Download Our Free Guide

What Is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program?

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance for energy costs to low-income households. LIHEAP is a federal program that is administered by individual states, territories, and tribes. In the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, LIHEAP is administered by the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Learn more about LIHEAP by reviewing the federal program fact sheet here.

What Does LIHEAP Cover in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands?

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands oversees LIHEAP benefits and provides financial assistance for cooling expenses to qualified households. Financial assistance can include payment for:

• Past-due utility bills
• Disconnection/reconnection fees
• Repairs and replacements of worn parts on heating units
• Home weatherization

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands’ LIHEAP program does not provide financial compensation for heating expenses. However, it does assist with cooling emergencies if applicants qualify for Crisis Assistance.

About LIHEAP Crisis Assistance

LIHEAP Crisis Assistance, like standard LIHEAP benefits, is a cash grant provided to the utility companies of eligible individuals in certain situations.

If your household meets all the eligibility requirements above and has an energy-related crisis, you may qualify for LIHEAP Crisis Assistance.

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands defines “crisis situation” as one where a household:

• Is in danger of having their utilities disconnected.
• Has already had their utilities disconnected by their service provider.
• Had a weather-related emergency that constituted a health threat to a household member.

A “life-threatening crisis situation” also qualifies a household for Crisis Assistance. This occurs when:

• A member of the household is a medical or health risk because of energy loss.
• A member of the household has a condition that requires the use of a medical device/medication that requires energy.

For qualifying households, the maximum annual benefit amount for LIHEAP Crisis Assistance is a one-time payment of $1,000.

How Much Assistance Does LIHEAP Provide in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands?

To determine the amount of energy assistance for which you are eligible, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands will consider:

1. Your household size and income for the month prior to your application
2. The fuel type you need

Also, whether you are eligible for regular LIHEAP payments or Crisis Assistance payments will influence your maximum benefit amount.

As of 2022, the maximum annual benefit amount in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands is $283 and the minimum annual benefit amount is $78.

How to Qualify for LIHEAP in Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands

To qualify for LIHEAP in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
• At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident
• Have an out-of-pocket energy expense from an account opened in the name of the head of the household or their spouse
• Have an annual income that is less than the LIHEAP income limit for your household size, which is no more than 150 percent of the established Federal Poverty Level. To view the annual income limits, click here.

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands prioritizes households with elderly, disabled or young members. Elderly is considered 60 years or older, and young is considered five years old or younger.

If you or a member of your family participates in the benefit programs below, then you may automatically be eligible for LIHEAP based on your income:

How to Apply for LIHEAP in Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands

Eligible households can only apply for LIHEAP assistance from November 1****st until March 31****st each year. LIHEAP applications cannot be submitted year-round.

To apply for LIHEAP in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, complete the following three steps:

1. Gather the documentation and information you will need for the application.

2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether by phone or in person. 

Contact the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs LIHEAP office:

• By phone at (670) 287-1475
• By mail:
  Caller Box 10007 Capitol Hill
  Saipan, MP 96950
• In person at:
  Building #1339
  Ascencion Road
  Capitol Hill
  Saipan, CNMI

3. Submit the LIHEAP application and other required documents****.

Access the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands LIHEAP application through the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Note that applications for Crisis Assistance, for households that meet the definition of a crisis, can be submitted year-round.

What You Will Need to Apply

When applying for Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands LIHEAP benefits, you will need to provide:

• Personal and financial information about yourself and the members of your household
• Details about your home and its heating

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands will need the following documents and information to confirm your eligibility for LIHEAP benefits:

• Names, birth dates and Social Security Numbers for all household members
• Utility bill information (vendor name and account number)
• Residence information (landlord’s name, address and phone number, if renting)
• Income verification for the last three months (pay stubs)

How to Check Your Application Status

You can call the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs office where you applied to directly to check your application status.

LIHEAP phone line: (670) 989-2577

What Happens After You Apply for LIHEAP in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands?

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands will notify you as soon as possible if you are approved to receive benefits. All LIHEAP payments are made to the heating or energy provider directly. Benefit payments will not be sent to you.

How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits

If you are denied Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands LIHEAP benefits, you may request a hearing to appeal the decision by writing a statement to the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs where you applied.

Once the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs receives the appeal, they will set up a hearing and notify you of the date, time and location.

If you have questions about the appeal process, contact the Administrative Hearing Office at hearing@dol.gov.

Need More Help?

If you have questions about LIHEAP benefits in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands or require further assistance, contact the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs at:

• Phone: (670) 989-2577
• Fax: (670) 664-2571 
• Mail:

Department of Community and Cultural Affairs
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Capitol Hill Saipan, MP 96950

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and compiled a guide that we believe is simple to use and easy to understand. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing detailed information on the process.

Our free LIHEAP Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply for LIHEAP, program eligibility and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.

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