1 Americans are in line to receive energy credits worth up to $1,100 as the cold weather approaches Credit: GettyFall officially started on Monday, and that means cool weather is on its way. Because a significant number of Americans struggle to afford heating bills, the federal government has programs like Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, in place. In North Dakota, LIHEAP will distribute heating assistance payments from October 1 through May 31, while checks for cooling, crisis, and weatherization go out year-round. LIHEAP is typically a one-time, lump-sum payment sent annually to a utility company or fuel dealer to be applied as a credit on a household's energy bill. Those who receive payments to help with cooling costs are capped at $1,000 and can receive a minimum of $1.