Utilities & heating · Nationwide
LIHEAP Home Energy Assistance
Helps pay heating and cooling bills, and can stop a shut-off in an emergency.
Written and checked by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Checked August 25, 2026
What it is typically worth
$200 – $1,200 a year
An estimate for a typical household. Your amount depends on your income, your state, and your situation.
What this program is, in plain English
LIHEAP stands for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It is federal money handed to each state, and each state runs it its own way with its own income limit, its own opening date, and its own local office. Most states pay a benefit once a heating season straight to your utility company. Most also keep a separate crisis fund that can move in a day or two if you have a shut-off notice or you are out of fuel. Money runs out, so applying the week the program opens matters more than almost anything else you can do.
What you actually get
A once-a-season bill credit paid directly to your utility company, plus crisis assistance for shut-off notices and fuel emergencies. Some states add furnace repair or replacement.
Who qualifies
- Income limit: Not yet verified — call to confirm
- Most states apply no asset test.
- States may set the limit at up to 150% of the federal poverty level or 60% of state median income, whichever is higher. Households receiving SNAP or SSI are often categorically eligible.
What to have ready
- Most recent heating and electric bills
- Proof of income for the last 30 days for everyone in the home
- Photo identification
- Social Security numbers for the household
- Shut-off notice if you have one
How to apply
This program is run by State, tribal, and territorial LIHEAP offices, funded by the HHS Office of Community Services. Most decisions take Regular benefits 30 to 45 days; crisis benefits within 48 hours, or 18 hours in a life-threatening situation.
Timing matters
We are not a government agency. These links go straight to the agency that runs the program. Applying is always free.
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.
Report something wrong on this page
Sources
- Program page — acf.gov
- State, tribal, and territorial LIHEAP offices, funded by the HHS Office of Community Services — acf.gov
- Legal authority: 42 U.S.C. §§ 8621–8630
Checked August 25, 2026 by Jason Burns (http fetch + browser + content check 2026-08-25). Licensed under the Citation License 1.0.
Related programs
- Lifeline Phone and Internet DiscountTakes at least $9.25 a month off a phone or internet bill, more on tribal lands.
- Arkansas LIHEAP: help paying the heating and cooling billHow Arkansas runs LIHEAP, who to call, and when applications open.
- South Carolina LIHEAP: help paying the heating and cooling billHow South Carolina runs LIHEAP, who to call, and when applications open.
- Louisiana LIHEAP: help paying the heating and cooling billHow Louisiana runs LIHEAP, who to call, and when applications open.
Not sure if this one is for you?
The free screener checks you against every program at once. It takes about two minutes and never asks for your name or phone number.
Start the free screener