Government Grants for Windows and Doors: Real Programs, Who Qualifies, and How to Apply

How government grants for windows and doors work

Most people searching for this help have a real problem: a cracked pane, a rotted frame, a door that will not lock, or drafts that push the heating bill up every winter. The good news is that public money does pay for this kind of work every year. The catch is that it is almost never labeled "window grant."

Instead, windows and doors are one item on a longer list inside programs that make homes safer and cheaper to heat. A trained inspector or energy auditor visits, looks at the whole house, and decides what work comes first. Sometimes that is new windows. More often it is sealing air leaks, adding insulation, or fixing the furnace, because those save more energy for each dollar spent. If a broken door is a safety risk or lets in rain, it moves up the list.

That means two things for you. First, apply for the program, not for a specific window. Second, describe every problem with your windows and doors on the application and during the visit, including safety concerns like a door that will not lock or a window that will not open in a fire.

Programs compared side by side

Use this table to see which program fits your situation. You can apply to more than one, and agencies sometimes combine them on the same house.

Weatherization: the main source of free window work

The Weatherization Assistance Program is run by the U.S. Department of Energy and delivered by local agencies in every state. It makes homes more energy efficient at no cost to the household. Our full Weatherization Assistance Program guide covers the whole process; this section focuses on windows and doors.

Who qualifies

According to DOE's how to apply page, households at or below 200% of the poverty income guidelines qualify, and households receiving SSI are also eligible. States may instead use the LIHEAP rule of 60% of state median income. Using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, 200% works out to roughly:

Your state may use slightly different figures, especially in Alaska and Hawaii, and some states switch to the newer guidelines on a different date. The local agency has the exact chart. DOE gives priority to older adults, people with disabilities, families with children, and households that spend a large share of income on energy.

What the visit looks like

After your income is approved, you are usually placed on a waiting list. When your turn comes, an energy auditor visits. The audit typically includes a blower door test, which uses a fan to find where air leaks in and out, plus a look at your heating system, your energy bills, and each room. The auditor then writes up the measures that save the most energy for the cost.

Window and door measures DOE lists

DOE's whole-house weatherization page lists these building-shell measures, among others:

• Repairing or replacing primary windows and doors.
• Installing storm windows and storm doors.
• Adding window film, solar screens, louvers, or awnings.
• Air sealing, including weatherstripping around doors and windows.

Does weatherization replace windows?

Sometimes, but less often than people expect. DOE program rules require each energy measure to save at least as much money over its life as it costs. DOE calls this a savings-to-investment ratio of 1 or more. New windows are expensive and save less energy per dollar than sealing leaks or adding attic insulation, so a full window replacement often does not pass that test on its own.

Windows and doors are more likely to be repaired or replaced when:

• A window is broken, missing, or so damaged that repair would cost more than replacement.
• A door or window creates a health or safety problem, such as letting in water or not closing at all.
• The fix protects other work, for example closing a gap so new insulation is not wasted.
• The audit shows the measure is cost-effective for your climate and house.

If your windows are old but whole, expect the agency to seal and weatherstrip them, or add storm windows, rather than swap them out. That still cuts drafts. If you mainly want new windows for looks or resale value, weatherization is not the right program.

USDA repair grants for rural homeowners 62 and older

If you own your home in a rural area, USDA Rural Development's Section 504 Home Repair program may help. Grants of up to $10,000 (a lifetime limit) go to homeowners who are 62 or older, have very low income (about 50% of area median income), and cannot afford a repair loan. The grant must be used to remove health and safety hazards. A window that will not close, a rotted exterior door, or a door that blocks a wheelchair can qualify.

Owners of any adult age can get a 504 loan of up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest for 20 years, and people 62 and older can combine a loan and a grant. If you sell the home within three years of getting a grant, you may have to pay it back. Check whether your address is rural on USDA's eligibility map, then call your local office. Our Section 504 home repair program guide walks through the application and the papers USDA asks for.

City and county repair programs funded by HUD

Many cities, counties, and states receive yearly money from HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the HOME Investment Partnerships program. Local governments choose how to spend it, and a common choice is an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program. These programs often fix roofs, windows, doors, plumbing, and wiring in one project.

The details are local, but common features include:

• Income: usually at or below 80% of area median income, sometimes lower.
• Form of help: a grant, or a deferred or forgivable loan that is erased if you stay in the home for a set number of years.
• Priority: older adults, people with disabilities, and urgent safety repairs.
• Waitlists: many programs open once a year or keep a list, so apply early.

To find yours, call your city or county housing or community development department and ask, "Do you have an owner-occupied repair or rehab program?" You can also dial 211. Nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity affiliates and Rebuilding Together chapters sometimes do window and door work for older or disabled homeowners. See our list of charities that help with home repairs.

What happened to the federal window tax credit

For several years, the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (often called 25C) let homeowners take 30% of the cost of qualifying windows, skylights, and exterior doors off their federal taxes. The IRS page lists the limits as $600 a year for windows and skylights, and $250 per door up to $500 a year for exterior doors, inside a $1,200 yearly cap.

The 2025 budget law (Public Law 119-21) ended the credit for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. In plain terms:

If you installed qualifying windows or doors in 2025 and have not filed that return yet, ask a tax preparer about it. Free tax help is available through IRS VITA and Tax Counseling for the Elderly sites. A salesperson who promises a federal window credit for a 2026 installation is giving you outdated information.

State energy rebates and utility programs

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act gave states money for two home energy rebate programs, run by each State Energy Office:

• HOMES (whole-home rebates): pays based on the energy savings of a whole-house project. DOE's Home Energy Rebates page says rebates can be higher for households under 80% of area median income.
• HEAR (also called HEEHR): pays for heat pumps, electric appliances, wiring and panel upgrades, and building envelope work such as insulation, air sealing, and ventilation. DOE's list does not name windows or doors.

So these rebates rarely pay for a simple window swap. In a HOMES project, new windows may count toward the modeled savings in some states, but insulation and sealing usually do more. Rollout has been uneven. Some states launched in 2024 and 2025, others had not opened by 2026, and DOE issued updated guidance on May 29, 2026. North Carolina's Energy Saver program, for example, explains that from September 1, 2026, HEAR no longer pays to replace gas or other fossil fuel equipment. Check your State Energy Office for what is open where you live.

Your electric or gas utility may also run a low-income efficiency program that does free sealing and weatherstripping, and a few offer window or storm-window rebates. Call the number on your bill and ask.

Options for renters and mobile home owners

Renters can get weatherization too. DOE says both homeowners and renters may apply, but the landlord must agree before work starts. Some states also ask landlords to keep rents steady for a period after the work. If your landlord will not fix a broken window or a door that will not lock, that may be a habitability issue under your state's tenant law. Local legal aid or your city's code enforcement office can explain your rights.

Manufactured and mobile homes are eligible for weatherization, and auditors are trained for them. Window and door work on these homes is common because the original units are often thin. USDA 504 can also help if you own the home and, in most cases, the land it sits on, though rules on mobile homes are strict, so ask your USDA office.

Low-cost fixes while you wait

Waitlists for repair programs can run months. These small steps cost little and can cut drafts now:

• Weatherstripping and a door sweep on exterior doors.
• Caulk around window trim where you feel air moving.
• Plastic window insulation kits for the winter.
• Heavy curtains at night, opened on sunny days.
• Rope caulk or foam tape for loose sashes.

If high bills are the bigger problem, apply for LIHEAP heating or cooling help at the same time. Our LIHEAP guide explains how. In many states, the same agency runs LIHEAP and weatherization, so one visit can start both.

Spotting free window scams

Window and door replacement is a big ticket, which makes it a favorite for misleading sales pitches. Watch for these signs:

• A caller or door-to-door seller says you were "selected" for a government window program.
• Someone asks for a fee, a deposit, or your Social Security number to "release" a grant.
• A company claims to be the weatherization program but has no link to your state or county agency.
• A salesperson promises a federal tax credit for windows installed in 2026.
• Pressure to sign a high-interest financing contract the same day.

The FTC warns that real government grants do not charge fees to apply. Read its advice on government grant scams, and report problems at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. To check whether an agency is real, find it yourself through your state weatherization office or by calling 211, not through a number the caller gives you.

Getting window or door help, step by step

1. Write down the problem. List each window and door, what is wrong, and any safety risk. Take photos.
2. Check your income. Compare your yearly household income with 200% of poverty for weatherization, and 50% or 80% of area median income for USDA or city programs.
3. Apply for weatherization. Find your local agency through DOE's state map or by calling 211, and bring proof of income.
4. If you are 62 or older in a rural area, call your USDA Rural Development office about a 504 grant.
5. Call your city or county housing office about owner-occupied repair programs.
6. Ask your utility about free efficiency services and rebates.
7. Keep copies of every application and the date you applied, and check in if months pass with no word.

Related guides

• Federal home repair grants
• Government assistance for home repairs for seniors
• Government assistance for HVAC replacement
• Government home repair assistance programs

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Income limits, waitlists, and covered repairs are set by each program and local agency. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government agency.