A special one-time Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payment will be made on Sept. 28, 2009. All Michigan residents who received a 2009 (tax year 2008) Home Heating Credit (HHC) will receive a second payment. Payments will be generated automatically. No application is required.

The amount of the payment will be based on whether the household reported a direct or indirect heating obligation on the original HHC application. Those households with a direct heating obligation will receive $50. Those households with an indirect obligation (included in their rent, bill in someone else's name) will receive $25. Changes in the household's circumstances since their original HHC application will not affect this second payment.

The form of the payment will be the same as the original HHC. If the household's first payment was an energy draft, the second payment will also be a draft. If the first draft was sent directly to the energy provider, the second payment will also be sent directly to the energy provider. If the first payment was a warrant (check), the second payment will be a warrant. Warrants and individually-issued drafts will be mailed on Sept. 28 and dated Sept. 29, 2009. Drafts sent directly to the energy provider will be sent on Sept. 30. Warrants must be cashed and individually-issued drafts must be submitted to energy providers no later than Dec. 15, 2009.

Drafts and warrants will not be replaced or reissued.

Recipients are encouraged to apply this payment to their heat bill even if there is no current balance owed. Recipients should continue making regular monthly payments on their heat account in addition to this special LIHEAP payment.

Any questions received about this supplemental payment should be directed to the Heating Hotline at 1-800-292-5650.