Help with utilities and home energy
Help with a utility bill comes from four different places: LIHEAP pays part of your heating or cooling bill, the Weatherization Assistance Program fixes the house so the bill goes down for good, your utility's own hardship fund and medical protections can stop a shut-off, and separate local programs help with water and sewer. LIHEAP money is limited each year and often runs out, so the date you apply matters.
Written and checked by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Checked August 25, 2026
LIHEAP: apply the day the window opens
LIHEAP stands for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It is federal money handed to each state, which then sets its own rules, income limits and application window. Most states open for heating help in the fall. The money is a fixed pot, not an entitlement, so when it is gone it is gone until the next program year. Households with someone 60 or older, a young child, or a person with a disability are usually given priority.
Weatherization fixes the cause, not the symptom
The Weatherization Assistance Program sends crews to insulate the attic, seal air leaks, and repair or replace an unsafe heating system, at no cost to a qualifying household. Renters can qualify with the owner's permission. The waiting list is often long, so get on it now rather than during a cold snap.
Protection if you rely on medical equipment
Every state utility commission has rules that delay or prevent a shut-off when someone in the home depends on electricity for medical equipment, such as an oxygen concentrator, a home dialysis machine, or a power wheelchair. The protection is almost never automatic. You have to file a medical certificate signed by your doctor with the utility, and you usually have to renew it.
Water and sewer are separate
Water bills are not covered by LIHEAP in most places. Some states run their own water assistance program, and many local water utilities have hardship funds. Calling 211 is the fastest way to find what exists where you live.
Questions people ask
What is LIHEAP and when do I apply?
LIHEAP is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which pays part of your heating or cooling bill through your state, and you should apply the week your state's window opens, usually in the fall for heating help, because the money is a fixed yearly pot that runs out rather than an entitlement everyone can claim.
Can my utility shut off my power if I am on oxygen?
Not usually, but only if you file the paperwork: nearly every state restricts winter disconnection, and medical-certification protections are close to universal — but the details are set state by state, so check yours. The protection normally starts only after your doctor signs a medical certificate and the utility has it on file, and it usually delays disconnection and requires a payment plan rather than erasing what you owe.
What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?
The Weatherization Assistance Program is a federally funded program that sends a crew to your home at no cost to insulate, seal air leaks, and repair or replace unsafe heating equipment, so that a qualifying household's energy bill goes down permanently instead of being paid once.
Is there help with my water bill?
Yes — help with a water or sewer bill exists but it is local rather than national, coming from your own water utility's hardship fund or discount rate, from state or county assistance programs, and from local charities that 211 can connect you with the same day.
Can't afford my electric bill — what help is there for seniors?
If you are over 60 and cannot pay your electric bill, the fastest help is your state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) crisis payment, which can pay part of an overdue bill directly to your power company, often within 48 hours when your service is about to be shut off.
What happens if I can't pay my gas bill?
If you miss a gas payment, the company must send you a written shut-off notice before turning off service, and in most states you can stop the shut-off by calling to set up a payment plan or by applying for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which can pay the overdue amount directly to the gas company.
Is there a senior discount on my utility bill?
There is no national senior discount on utility bills, but many states require regulated gas and electric companies to offer a low-income rate or a percentage-of-income plan that many older adults qualify for, and the federal Lifeline program takes about $9.25 a month off a phone or internet bill.
Programs covered in this guide
- LIHEAP Home Energy AssistanceHelps pay heating and cooling bills, and can stop a shut-off in an emergency.
- Lifeline Phone and Internet DiscountTakes at least $9.25 a month off a phone or internet bill, more on tribal lands.
- Weatherization Assistance ProgramFree insulation, sealing, and heating repairs that permanently lower your energy bill.
- Help With Water and Sewer BillsThe federal water assistance program ended in 2024. Help now comes from your own water utility and local funds.
- Utility Hardship Funds and Senior Shut-Off ProtectionsMedical baseline rates, winter shut-off protection, hardship grants, and budget billing your utility rarely mentions.
Sources
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program · Administration for Children and Families
- Weatherization Assistance Program · U.S. Department of Energy
Need help today?
- Shut-off notice in hand: call the number on the bill and ask for a medical hold and a payment plan, then call 211.
- No food today: call 211 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for a same-week food bank or meal.
- In danger: call 911, or reach Adult Protective Services through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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Checked August 25, 2026. Licensed under the Citation License 1.0. © 2026 Adolicious LLC.