Low-income Los Angeles City residents who have been financially impacted through the loss of their job or who have otherwise experienced income loss in their household due to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply for a one-time $500 grant to help pay their utility bills, under a program championed by LA City Council President Nury Martinez, Chair of the Ad-Hoc COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment Committee and approved by the City Council last week. In a related action, the LA Board of Water and Power Commissioners approved allocating resources to support the grant program which will provide assistance to up to 100,000 low-income Angelenos impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications for the $500 grant will be accepted online through LADWP’s MyAccount customer portal between November 2 – 15th, and will be distributed via check mailed to the eligible customer in late December. If the number of eligible applicants exceed the available funding, awardees will be selected randomly, with priority given to existing LADWP assistance program participants. The City of LA – LADWP CARES Utility Grant Program was made possible through federal CARES Act funding received by the City to assist struggling low-income Angelenos with utility costs.
“Our low-wage workers continue to suffer in silence,” said Council President Martinez. “They are the first to put themselves and their families at risk through their essential work. I am unapologetically dedicated during this pandemic to help them get whatever resources they need to hang on and stay in their homes. While this utility relief program helps us meet that goal, we absolutely need additional federal assistance and relief moving forward.”
“Our COVID-19 response has focused on two core tenets — saving lives and protecting livelihoods — and we will continue to do everything in our power to help our hardest-hit Angelenos get back on their feet,” said Mayor Garcetti. “With leadership from the City Council and DWP, we are investing in a fairer, stronger city by directing vital funds where they can do the most good: helping struggling households cover their bills, make ends meet, and endure this moment of unprecedented challenge.”
“COVID-19 has not only resulted in an unprecedented global health crisis, but it has also led to an extraordinary economic crisis as well for many families,” We look forward to providing these $500 grants to Angelenos to assist our most vulnerable residents during this crisis. said Board of Water and Power Commission President Cynthia McClain-Hill.
To be eligible for the grant, residents must meet the household income eligibility requirements and be able to provide documentation to demonstrate they were financially impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Eligible COVID-19 financial impacts include, but are not limited to:
- Workplace closure or reduced hours due to COVID-19, including layoff, termination, loss of working hours.
- Business closure or other economic impacts of COVID-19.
- Sickness with COVID-19 or caring for a household or family member who is sick with COVID-19.
- Medical costs for you or a household member who is ill with COVID-19.
- Extraordinary out-of-pocket childcare expenses due to school closures.
“As a department, we stopped all shutoffs of water and power service at the very beginning of the pandemic so that no customer goes without vital services. We also stretched out our payment plans so that customers have much longer to pay their account balance without penalties,” said Martin L. Adams, LADWP General Manager and Chief Engineer. “Providing assistance through the CARES grant on behalf of the City is another way we hope to give our customers some relief as they face unprecedented challenges.”
Applicants must be an LADWP residential customer with an online account in order to complete an online application during the program enrollment period of November 2 – 15, 2020.
While grants will be allocated via lottery, priority will be given to customers currently enrolled (as of November 1) in one of four LADWP assistance programs: The Low-Income Discount Program; Lifeline Rate; Life Support Equipment Discount; or Physicians Certified Allowance Discount. Currently, 224,000 LA households are enrolled in one or more LADWP assistance programs.
Grant Program Income Limits
Applicants who are not currently enrolled in LADWP’s assistance programs but who meet the income requirement and the City of LA – LADWP CARES Utility Grant Program guidelines are encouraged to visit www.ladwp.com//UtilityCARES and review all program and eligibility requirements.
| Household Income Requirements | |
| Members in Household | Maximum Annual Gross Income* |
| 1 | $34,480 |
| 2 | $34,480 |
| 3 | $43,440 |
| 4 | $52,400 |
| 5 | $61,360 |
| 6 | $70,320 |
| 7 | $79,280 |
| 8 | $88,240 |
| Each additional member: | Add $8,960 to income |
| *Effective July 1, 2020 | |
Grant award checks will be mailed by December 30, 2020. The utility assistance grant is meant to help residents with costs associated with their gas service; cellular phone; wi-fi; and internet and cable television service.
Recipients are encouraged to cash or deposit the grant check immediately because replacement checks cannot be replaced or reissued under the grant funding guidelines.
