Last checked: November 2026. Figures are for the 2026–27 heating season (federal fiscal year 2027).
You apply for LIHEAP through your state's program, not the federal government. Depending on the state, that means a local community action agency, a county office, or a state online portal. Have ID or Social Security numbers for your household, proof of household income, and your most recent heating bill ready. If you have a shutoff notice, are almost out of fuel, or have no heat, ask for crisis assistance, which federal law requires states to act on within 48 hours (18 hours if the situation is life-threatening). Payments usually go straight to your utility or fuel company. How long a regular application takes depends on the state. Colorado, for example, says most non-emergency applications are processed within 30 days.
The short answer
LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is funded by HHS but run by each state, tribe, and territory, so the application, the income limit, and the season dates all depend on where you live. The HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF) notes that LIHEAP does not give grants directly to individuals and never charges a fee. If someone offers you a "LIHEAP grant" for a fee, ACF asks you to report it to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477.
Federal money for this winter is flowing. ACF says it released $3.6 billion in FY2027 LIHEAP block grant funds on October 9, 2026. That was 90% of the amount available under the current continuing resolution. Funds are restricted for any grant recipient that doesn't yet have an approved FY2027 plan, so if your state hasn't opened yet, check its site for an opening date.
The steps below follow the order most people go through.
Before you start: is it worth applying?
Under the LIHEAP law, 42 U.S.C. 8624, a state can serve households in either of two ways:
- Households where someone gets TANF, SSI, SNAP, or certain VA pension or compensation payments. States can make these households eligible without a separate income test. Check whether your state does.
- Households with income at or below the greater of 150% of the federal poverty guidelines or 60% of state median income. That is a ceiling. States can set a lower limit, but they can't turn a household away on income alone if its income is below 110% of the poverty guidelines.
ACF's April 2026 guidance to states says programs must use the 2026 poverty guidelines and the new state median income figures for FY2027. It also notes that the LIHEAP law doesn't define income. ACF says income generally means gross income, before taxes, though some states subtract certain costs such as high medical expenses or work-related child care.
Quick income check: LIHEAP income limit for a household of 3 (2026–27)
Hypothetical household: three people in Pennsylvania with gross monthly income of $3,400.
- Annualize the income: $3,400 × 12 = $40,800 a year.
- Find the 2026 poverty guideline: HHS's 2026 poverty guideline for a household of 3 in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. is $27,320.
- Take 150% of it: $27,320 × 1.5 = $40,980.
- Compare: $40,800 is $180 under $40,980.
This household is within the federal maximum, and in this case also within the state's limit. Pennsylvania's LIHEAP page lists $40,980 as its maximum annual income for a household of 3.
Two adjustments to know about:
- Alaska and Hawaii have higher guidelines. For a household of 3, 150% is $51,225 in Alaska ($34,150 × 1.5) and $47,130 in Hawaii ($31,420 × 1.5).
- Some states use 60% of state median income instead, which is often higher. Colorado's LEAP program uses 60% of state median income, which the state gives as $87,096 a year for a family of four. ACF's FY2027 table puts the 60% figure for a three-person Colorado household at $73,169. The same $40,800 household would be well under that, but Colorado's own income table is the one that applies there.
The takeaway: if your numbers come out close to the line, apply anyway. Your state's limit and its way of counting income make the final call.
Step 1: Find the office that takes applications in your county
- EnergyHelp.us or the national hotline. ACF points people to EnergyHelp.us or the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) line at 1-866-674-6327, weekdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern. Both route you to the right local office.
- Your state's LIHEAP page. ACF keeps a list of state and territory LIHEAP contacts on its LIHEAP program page. State programs sometimes use their own names, such as LEAP in Colorado.
- 211. Calling or texting 211 can connect you to local agencies, including ones that take LIHEAP applications for your county.
- Tribal LIHEAP. Many tribes run their own LIHEAP programs, separate from the state's. ACF lists tribal grant recipient contacts on the same page.
If this happens: if you call your state office and are told to apply through a community action agency, ask which one serves your county or ZIP code. Sending your application to the wrong county can slow it down.
Step 2: Check your state's season dates
Each state sets its own application window. Two examples for this winter:
- Pennsylvania: the 2026–27 season runs November 2, 2026 through April 23, 2027.
- Colorado: LEAP accepts applications November 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027.
Other states open earlier or later, so look up your own state's dates. Applying early in the season usually means you're not racing against a shutoff date later.
Step 3: Gather the documents
Each state publishes its own list. Colorado's checklist is a good example of what's typical. It asks for:
- information on everyone in your household, including Social Security numbers and birth dates,
- proof of household income,
- your latest heating bill or, if heat is included in your rent, your most recent rent receipt,
- proof of lawful presence for household members born outside the U.S., when required, and
- self-employment income and expenses, if anyone in the household is self-employed.
Other items that can help, depending on your state:
- photo ID for the person applying,
- your utility account number, plus the name on the account,
- for heating oil, propane, kerosene, or wood: the vendor's name and recent delivery receipts,
- a lease or other proof of address, and
- award letters for Social Security, SSI, SNAP, TANF, VA benefits, or unemployment.
Pennsylvania counts income from all household members, related or not. The state also says the quickest way to confirm your fuel type is to check with your utility or fuel company.
If you have no income or are paid in cash
Don't leave the income section blank. Ask the agency what it accepts in place of pay stubs. That might be a signed statement explaining how you're covering expenses, a letter from an employer who pays in cash, or your own log of earnings. Requirements vary, and Colorado, for one, warns that missing information slows applications down.
Step 4: Apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person
Most states offer more than one way to apply:
- Pennsylvania: online through COMPASS, or on a paper application returned to your county assistance office. Applications come in several languages, and you can check status at trackmybenefits.pa.gov.
- Colorado: online through Colorado PEAK, by phone at 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435), or on a paper form mailed, emailed, or dropped off at your county office. Colorado says no interview is needed.
If this happens: if you're asked to send a document you don't have, send what you can by the deadline and explain what's missing. Keep copies or screenshots of everything you submit, and write down the date and the name of anyone you talk to.
Step 5: If you have a shutoff notice or no heat, ask for crisis help
Crisis assistance is a separate part of LIHEAP for emergencies. Under 42 U.S.C. 8623, states must provide "some form of assistance that will resolve the energy crisis" to eligible households within 48 hours of the crisis application, or within 18 hours if the household is in a life-threatening situation.
States define what counts as a crisis. Pennsylvania's list includes broken heating equipment or leaking lines, being out of fuel or having less than a 15-day supply, a heat source that has been shut off, and a pending utility termination. State pages also describe their own processing times for crisis benefits. Pennsylvania says eligible applicants get crisis benefits within 10 business days, or sooner in a life-threatening crisis. Colorado says emergency applications can be processed in about 10 days for a pending shutoff and about 18 days if you're out of propane or have no heat.
When you call, say plainly that you have a shutoff notice, an empty tank, or no heat, and whether anyone in the home is elderly, disabled, a young child, or has a medical condition affected by cold. Have the notice or your fuel vendor's details in front of you.
If this happens: if you already got a regular LIHEAP benefit this season and then hit an emergency, Pennsylvania tells you to report it to your county assistance office rather than starting a new application. Ask your own state how it handles that. Meanwhile, call your utility about a payment plan or winter protections.
Step 6: After you apply
- Payment goes to the company. Pennsylvania and Colorado both send the benefit to your utility or fuel vendor as a credit on your account. You'll get a notice showing the amount.
- The amount varies. Pennsylvania's cash grants range from $200 to $1,000 depending on household size, income, and fuel type. Colorado gives a similar $200 to $1,000 range. These are one-time seasonal payments meant to cover part of your heating costs, not all of them.
- Keep paying what you can. Colorado specifically warns not to stop paying your heating bill while your application is processed. If you're behind, ask the utility about budget billing or a payment plan.
- Ask about weatherization and repairs next. Colorado, for one, says LEAP households may also qualify for furnace repair or replacement and for weatherization services.
If you're denied or the amount seems wrong
Federal law requires states to give you the chance for a fair administrative hearing if your application is denied or isn't acted on with reasonable promptness. Your denial or benefit notice should explain the reason and the deadline to appeal, and each state sets its own deadline. Before appealing, check whether the problem is something you can fix quickly, such as a missing pay stub or the wrong household size. Sometimes sending the missing item is faster than a hearing.
Related help to ask about at the same time
- Utility hardship programs and winter shutoff rules: many utilities and states have their own protections.
- Weatherization: improvements that can lower your bills over the long term.
- Lifeline phone or internet discount: often uses some of the same benefit letters as proof.
- Replacing a broken heating system: if your furnace has died and you're weighing a heat pump.
FAQ
Do renters whose heat is included in rent qualify for LIHEAP?
They can. Federal law requires states to treat owners and renters equitably, though state rules on heat-in-rent differ. Colorado, for example, says you may qualify if heat is included in your rent and you don't live in subsidized housing, and it asks for a recent rent receipt in place of a heating bill. Check your state's rule if you live in public or subsidized housing.
Does getting LIHEAP affect my SNAP benefits?
The LIHEAP law says energy assistance payments can't be counted as income or resources for SNAP or other federal and state programs. LIHEAP can still affect the utility allowance SNAP uses in its benefit math. Under a 2025 change described in USDA's implementation memos, receiving LIHEAP now triggers the heating and cooling utility allowance automatically only for households with a member who is 60 or older or disabled. Other households can still get that allowance if they pay heating or cooling costs.
Can I get LIHEAP more than once in the same winter?
Usually you get one regular heating benefit per season, and crisis help is a separate benefit if an emergency comes up. Colorado says LEAP heating assistance is available once each season. Pennsylvania pays a one-time cash grant and offers crisis grants on top of it. You need to apply again every year.
AidPlain builds every post from official agency pages and law text; you can read how we source and check information. Sources for this article: HHS ACF, HHS ASPE, the LIHEAP statute (42 U.S.C. 8623–8624), USDA FNS, and the Pennsylvania and Colorado LIHEAP programs.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your state or local LIHEAP agency decides eligibility and benefit amounts; check with them or a qualified professional for your situation. See our Disclaimer.
