Benefits · Emergency Aid
How to apply for Capital Area Community Action Agency LIHEAP (Jackson County)
Capital Area Community Action Agency, Inc. (CACAA) — designated Community Action Agency for the Capital Area region of North Florida; administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) including crisis-response for shutoffs and weather emergencies; funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Florida Department of Commerce
Who it's for
Capital Area Community Action Agency, Inc. (CACAA) is the designated Community Action Agency administering the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Jackson County. CACAA's LIHEAP provides assistance to low-income households to help pay energy expenses, including crisis relief for emergency situations such as running out of fuel or the impending or actual termination of electric or gas service. The Florida LIHEAP income gate is set at 60 percent of the State Median Income. Notable: applicants are automatically qualified for LIHEAP if they participate in SNAP (food stamps), TANF, or SSI through Social Security — this auto-qualification pathway is unusually generous and streamlines applications for many low-income seniors. Applicants who do not auto-qualify must complete an online or mail-in application; processing typically takes up to 45 days. Senior-headed households receive priority under federal LIHEAP rules. Note: in Jackson County, JCSCO (Jackson County Senior Citizens Organization) also serves as a senior-pathway LIHEAP intake site at 850-263-4650 for seniors specifically — providing an alternative single-intake point that consolidates with Meals on Wheels and Emergency Alert System enrollment. Apply via the CACAA online crisis application portal or call CACAA directly.
CACAA administers Jackson County LIHEAP with a distinctive SNAP/TANF/SSI auto-qualification pathway — seniors already enrolled in any of these federal programs are automatically qualified for LIHEAP. This auto-qualification is more generous than peer CAA programs which require separate income verification regardless of other benefits. The full application processing can take up to 45 days. Apply EARLY in the cooling season (typically February-March) and heating season (typically November-December) for the strongest chance of award — first-come-first-served funding can exhaust mid-year. Florida LIHEAP uses 60% of State Median Income as the income gate (the modeled $35,000 figure approximates 60% SMI for a single-person Florida household 2026; scaled up by household size). Senior-headed households receive priority. For seniors who prefer a senior-specific intake pathway, JCSCO at 850-263-4650 also serves as a LIHEAP intake site and consolidates with Meals on Wheels enrollment.
What you'll need
- Proof of all household income (Social Security award letter, pension statement, pay stubs, SSI award letter)
- Current energy bill (electric or gas) and any past-due notices
- Photo identification
- Proof of Jackson County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- Documentation of household members and ages
- For deposit assistance: lease showing required deposit; for crisis assistance: shutoff notice
- AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION pathway: documentation of current SNAP, TANF, or SSI participation
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 850-222-2043
Renewals
annual regular benefit + crisis benefits per program year
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.