LIHEAP: How the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Works and How to Apply

What LIHEAP is

LIHEAP was created by Congress in 1981. Its goal is to help keep families safe and healthy by easing the cost of home energy, especially for households that spend a large share of their income on it. Older adults, people with disabilities, and families with young children are often given priority.

The Administration for Children and Families at HHS sends LIHEAP money to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and many tribes as a block grant. The federal government does not pay individuals directly. Instead, your state, tribe, or territory decides the details: when it opens applications, how much each household gets, and which local agencies take applications.

Funding is set by Congress every year. For example, the LIHEAP Clearinghouse reported that HHS released about $421.5 million in April 2026, the final 10 percent of regular fiscal year 2026 block grant funds. Because each state’s share is limited, some programs close early in the season when money runs out.

Kinds of help the program offers

States choose which parts of LIHEAP to run, but most offer some mix of these:

• Heating assistance: a payment toward winter heating costs, whether you use gas, electricity, oil, propane, wood, or another fuel.
• Cooling assistance: help with summer electric bills, more common in hot-weather states.
• Crisis assistance: faster help when you have a shutoff notice, service already off, or are almost out of fuel. Federal rules require help within 48 hours of a complete application, or 18 hours if the situation is life-threatening.
• Weatherization: home upgrades such as insulation and air sealing. States may spend a limited share of LIHEAP funds on this.
• Energy-related repairs: in some states, repair or replacement of an unsafe furnace, boiler, or air conditioner.

LIHEAP income limits and eligibility

Federal law sets the outer limits, and your state sets the actual rule. According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse income eligibility table:

• The maximum is 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, or 60% of state median income if that is higher.
• States may not set their limit below 110% of poverty.
• States may use different limits for heating, cooling, crisis, and weatherization. For example, the Clearinghouse’s fiscal year 2026 table shows Alabama using 150% of poverty for heating, cooling, and crisis help, and 200% for weatherization.

Many programs also offer categorical eligibility. That means if your household already gets TANF, SNAP, SSI, or certain means-tested veterans’ benefits, the state can count you as income-eligible without a separate income test. The Clearinghouse reports that 20 states and three territories used this option in 2026, and rules differ on whether one member or every member must receive those benefits.

Other common conditions include paying for home energy yourself (directly or as part of rent), living in the state where you apply, and in some states, U.S. citizenship or qualified immigration status for at least one household member. Check your state’s rules, because they vary widely.

Federal income ceilings by household size

This table shows the poverty-based figures the LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists for fiscal year 2026, for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Alaska and Hawaii have higher figures. Your state may use a higher limit based on 60% of state median income, so treat these as a starting point, not a final answer.

Many states count income from the last 30 days or the last month and multiply it, rather than using your yearly tax return. Ask your local office which period they use.

How much LIHEAP pays

There is no single national benefit amount. Each state sets its own payment scale, usually based on household size, income, fuel type, and energy costs. Payments are typically sent directly to your utility company or fuel dealer as a credit, not to you. Crisis payments are often capped at what is needed to stop a shutoff or deliver fuel. Your state LIHEAP office can tell you its current minimum and maximum benefits.

Where to apply in your state

LIHEAP applications are taken by your state program, often through local community action agencies, county social services offices, or tribal offices. A few states take applications online. These tools help you find the right place:

When you email NEAR, the Clearinghouse asks that you include your city, county, and state so they can point you to the right office. For tips on filling out the form, see our LIHEAP application guide.

What documents do I need to apply?

Most delays come from missing papers. Having this packet ready before your first appointment usually saves a second trip, and the same documents work for almost every program on this page.

If you are missing something, apply anyway. Caseworkers can often verify information electronically or give you time to bring documents, and SNAP must process expedited applications within 7 days even while some papers are pending.

Applying for LIHEAP, step by step

1. Find your local office through NEAR, the Clearinghouse search tool, or 211.
2. Ask when applications open. Heating programs often open in the fall, and some give older adults or people with disabilities an earlier start.
3. Gather documents, including ID, Social Security numbers, recent income proof, and a recent energy bill.
4. Apply online, by mail, or in person, as your state allows. Say clearly if you have a shutoff notice.
5. Keep a copy of your application and note the date you applied.
6. Watch for a decision letter and check your utility bill for the credit.

Getting help during a shutoff or emergency

If you have a disconnection notice, your service is already off, or you are nearly out of oil or propane, ask for crisis assistance. Federal rules require the agency to give some form of help within 48 hours of a complete application, or 18 hours if life is at risk. That help might be a payment, a pledge to the utility, or a call to stop the shutoff.

At the same time, call your utility to ask for a payment plan and a hold while your application is pending, and ask about medical certificates and winter shutoff rules. Our guide to gas shut off assistance covers those steps in detail.

Weatherization and the DOE program

Lower bills last longer than a one-time payment. Many states use part of their LIHEAP money for weatherization, and the U.S. Department of Energy runs its own Weatherization Assistance Program. DOE says a national evaluation found households save on average $372 or more every year after weatherization. Work can include insulation, sealing air leaks, and fixing or replacing unsafe heating systems.

LIHEAP and DOE weatherization are often run by the same community action agency, so ask about both at once. Learn more in our weatherization assistance program guide.

Renters and heat included in rent

Renters can qualify for LIHEAP. If you pay your utility bill directly, the process is the same as for homeowners. If heat is included in your rent, some states still offer a smaller benefit, and others do not. Rules differ for people in subsidized housing. Tell the agency exactly how you pay for energy, and bring your lease.

Common reasons applications stall

• Missing income proof for someone in the household.
• The name on the utility account does not match the applicant, with no explanation.
• Applying after the state’s funds have run out for the season.
• Not mentioning a shutoff notice, so the application is not treated as a crisis.
• Missing a follow-up call or letter asking for more information.

Other help to pair with LIHEAP

• Utility hardship funds and discount rates, offered by many utilities.
• Charities such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and local churches.
• SNAP: utility costs can raise your SNAP benefit, and getting SNAP may make you automatically eligible for LIHEAP in some states.
• State shutoff protections for winter, medical needs, and older adults. The Clearinghouse keeps a list of state disconnection policies.

Related guides

• LIHEAP gas assistance
• Churches that help with utility bills
• Utility relief programs
• Catholic Charities heating assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. LIHEAP rules, dates, and benefit amounts are set by each state, territory, and tribe. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not a government agency. Applying for LIHEAP is always free.