Help paying your electric bill: ADSEF’s LIHEAP programme

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a federal programme for families below the poverty line who must spend a high percentage of their income on household energy needs. In Puerto Rico ADSEF administers it, and for now the service is offered once a year. It splits into two components worth keeping apart. The Energy Subsidy is automatic for those who qualify: it is aimed at TANF participants who meet LIHEAP’s federal poverty guidelines (defined as 60% of state median income), and those persons do not have to file anything. Energy Crisis is the help for arrears: the benefit called LICE1 pays the bill of an active LUMA Energy account, up to the programme’s established maximum, when the account shows a suspension or disconnection notice. The benefits are directed at paying the electric energy of the applying family’s home.

For the Energy Subsidy: TANF participants in categories A, B, C, D, G and T who meet LIHEAP’s federal poverty guidelines; they are automatically eligible. For Energy Crisis, the 2026 notice splits the process into two phases. First phase, automatic: TANF households living below the poverty line and adults over 60 participating in PAN who meet the requirements; if their resources and income have gone more than 12 months without being updated in the agency’s system, they move to phase two. Second phase, by application in ADSEF Digital: all other families below the federal poverty levels who meet the resource, gross income and family composition requirements — including households where an adult over 60 resides whose LUMA account is not in their name. There are also non-economic requirements applying to every family unit: identity, residence, citizenship or alien status, and Social Security number. The 2026 notice sets the maximum allowed resources at $2,000 in liquid assets and maximum income per the state median income table; the account must owe $20 or more but not over $5,000, and at benefit issuance you may have only one active residential LUMA account.

• For the automatic subsidy: being a TANF participant (categories A, B, C, D, G or T) and meeting LIHEAP’s federal poverty guidelines, defined as 60% of state median income.Verified against the official source
• For crisis help: an active LUMA Energy account, in the name of the applicant or a member of their family composition, showing a service suspension or disconnection notice.Verified against the official source
• That the debt fall within the current notice’s bounds: debts under $20.00 or over $5,000 are not eligible (2026 notice).Verified against the official source
• Not exceeding the maximum allowed $2,000 in liquid assets nor the state median income table’s maximum, per the 2026 notice; every member living under the same roof is considered.Verified against the official source
• Meeting the non-economic requirements: identity, residence, citizenship or alien status (verified through the federal SAVE system) and Social Security number.Verified against the official source
• Having only one active residential LUMA Energy account at the time the benefit is issued.Verified against the official source

• Copy of the most recent LUMA Energy bill (pages 1 and 3) for the place of residence, in the name of the applicant or a member of the family composition.
• The applicant’s valid photo ID issued by DTOP: driver’s license, or passport.
• If any household member is not a US citizen: a Status Declaration and evidence of their age. Immigration status is always corroborated through the federal SAVE system.
• The agency technician may require additional documentation depending on the family’s socioeconomic situation (for example, income evidence such as pay stubs or an employer letter, and the original Social Security card, which the programme page lists among the documents).

1. 1

   Step 1: First check whether you qualify automatically

   If your household participates in TANF, or you are an adult over 60 participating in PAN, you may not have to apply at all: the subsidy is automatic for TANF participants meeting the poverty guidelines, and the first phase of crisis help also runs automatically for those households. The exception: if your income and resources have gone more than 12 months without updating in the agency’s system, or the LUMA account is not in any household member’s name, you must file an application.

2. 2

   Step 2: Wait for the application period announcement

   The programme depends on federal funds that arrive once a year. When ADSEF receives them, the Department of the Family announces the filing period through press, radio and television. If you call outside the period, ask when the next one opens.

3. 3

   Step 3: Gather the bill and your ID

   You need the most recent LUMA bill (pages 1 and 3) for your residence, in your name or a household member’s, and your valid photo ID (driver’s license or passport). For crisis help, the account must show the suspension or disconnection notice — the agency verifies that directly with LUMA electronically.

4. 4

   Step 4: File in ADSEF Digital

   The application is filed in the ADSEF Digital platform, the same one as PAN and TANF: you create your account, fill out the application, upload the documents, and technical staff evaluate the case. You can also get guidance by calling 3-1-1 or visiting the local Department of the Family office. For LIHEAP-specific questions there is a programme email, coordinadorliheap@familia.pr.gov, and the ADSEF Digital services line, (787) 792-3733.

5. 5

   Step 5: If denied: appeal within 15 days

   If you disagree with the action taken on your application, you can file a written appeal before the Department of the Family’s Adjudicative Board within 15 days. You complete appeal form ADSEF-126, attach the notice of action taken (PSE-2), and send it to Junta Adjudicativa, Departamento de la Familia, PO Box 11398, San Juan, PR 00910-1398, or by email to juntaadjudicativa@familia.pr.gov.

Online, in ADSEF Digital (serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov/adsefdigital). In person, at the nearest local Department of the Family office. By phone: the 3-1-1 line, or the ADSEF Digital services line, (787) 792-3733. Programme email: coordinadorliheap@familia.pr.gov.

• Applying for the subsidy when you are a TANF participant: the notice says those participants are automatically eligible and do not have to apply for that component.
• Confusing the two components: the subsidy is annual and automatic for those who qualify; crisis is for arrears with a suspension or disconnection notice and may require an application.
• Letting the period pass: applications are announced in the press when funds arrive, and outside that period there is nowhere to file.
• Uploading an incomplete bill: the agency specifically asks for pages 1 and 3 of the most recent LUMA bill.
• Waiting for the debt to grow: debts over $5,000 are not eligible under the 2026 notice, so seeking help early matters.
• Letting the appeal term lapse: you have 15 days to file it in writing before the Adjudicative Board.

These are the government pages this guide is based on.

• Administración de Desarrollo Socioeconómico de la Familia (ADSEF)

  ADSEF

  serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov

• LIHEAP requirements published by ADSEF (PDF with the 2026 notice)

  ADSEF

  serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov

• ADSEF Digital, portal to file the application

  ADSEF

  serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov