Arizona LIHEAP 2026-27: Income Limits, Benefits, Apply

If you're checking how Arizona compares, our LIHEAP income limits guide lists each state's line. The rest of this guide is Arizona only.

DES pays your utility, in the order of priority you choose. A call or text offering cash from "Arizona LIHEAP" isn't the program.

Arizona LIHEAP 2026-27 at a Glance: 4 Benefit Levels and Year-Round Help

Arizona pays its regular LIHEAP benefit at just 4 levels, from $160 to $640, and runs the program all 12 months. The FY2026 plan DES posted shows where the money goes: 38.12% to cooling, 16.80% to heating, 5% to year-round crisis help, 15% to weatherization, 10% to carryover, 10% to administration and 5% to services that reduce energy needs. Arizona is one of the few states that spends more on cooling than heating.

Sources: DES LIHEAP page and LIHEAP Policy Rev. 16A; Arizona FY2026 LIHEAP state plan, section 1.2.

Heating and cooling months by county. Arizona's plan assigns each county a heating and cooling window, according to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse summary of the FY2026 plan. DES budgets money month by month to keep the program open all year.

Arizona LIHEAP Income Limits for 2026-27

Arizona's LIHEAP line is 60% of state median income (SMI) for households of 1 to 9 people. For 10 or more, it switches to 150% of the federal poverty level, which is higher at that size. DES counts gross monthly income.

Sources: monthly limits from the DES LIHEAP page, checked November 3, 2026; annual figures for 1 to 9 people from ACF's FY2027 SMI table, mandatory for LIHEAP from October 1, 2026. Annual figures for 10 and 12 are DES's monthly limits times 12.

When the figures change next. ACF posts new state median income figures for each federal fiscal year. Expect DES to update for FY2028 around October 1, 2027.

Shortcut for SNAP and cash assistance households. If anyone in your home gets DES Nutrition Assistance or Cash Assistance, you're categorically eligible and DES uses the income already on file. For food help, see our Arizona SNAP guide, and for health coverage, our Arizona Medicaid income limits guide.

Subsidized housing. DES's policy says an applicant in subsidized housing who gets a utility allowance equal to or higher than their monthly utility cost isn't eligible.

How Much Arizona LIHEAP Pays: The Points Chart

DES scores every household on 3 things: income need (up to 5 points), energy burden (up to 6 points, plus 2 for delivered fuel) and vulnerable members (up to 4 points). The total sets the benefit.

1. Income need. Divide your monthly gross income by the limit for your household size.

2. Energy burden. Divide your monthly utility cost by your monthly gross income.

3. Energy need. One point each for an elderly member, a disabled member, a child 6 or younger, and a veteran (one point per category).

Source: DES LIHEAP page, Benefits section. DES says the amounts are effective for applications received on or after October 12, 2024 and can change each year with federal funding. Arizona's FY2026 plan lists the same $160 minimum and $640 maximum.

Worked example. For example, a family of three in Phoenix earning $2,500 a month, with a $400 APS bill in July and a 4-year-old at home: $2,500 is 53% of the $4,743 limit (3 points); $400 is 16% of income (3 points); the child adds 1 point. That's 7 points, or $320, paid to APS. With a $550 bill instead, the burden is 22% (4 points), for 8 points and still $320; one more point would move them to $480.

Specifically, a single retiree in Tucson on $1,600 a month in Social Security with a $300 TEP bill gets 3 income points (55% of $2,936), 3 burden points (19%) and 1 elderly point: 7 points and $320. If she later recertifies through SUAP, DES's policy says she'd get the maximum regular benefit of $640.

Paying more than one utility. You rank up to 5 utility accounts from Priority 1 to Priority 5. DES pays Priority 1 first; anything left goes down the list, and any final leftover becomes a credit on your Priority 1 account.

Year-Round Calendar, Funding and the End of Power AZ

Arizona's LIHEAP runs 12 months a year, and DES's policy lets households recertify 11 months after approval, with benefits for a new 12-month period starting at month 12.

Where Arizona's federal money stands. Arizona's first FY2027 LIHEAP payment is $29,927,143, per the ACF state allotment table (opens in a new tab) for October 9, 2026. ACF's release notice (opens in a new tab) says the national release is 90% of what Public Law 119-103, the stopgap Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 signed September 2, 2026, makes available, and that money is restricted for any grantee without an approved FY2027 plan. DES's site still showed the FY2026 plan on November 3, 2026. Full-year funding depends on Congress, and DES warns that LIHEAP help isn't guaranteed.

Power AZ is over. DES says Power AZ, a combined program that served households up to 100% of SMI ($9,412 a month for four as of July 1, 2026), has run out of money. Applications submitted by September 21, 2026 are still being reviewed. If you were turned down for Power AZ, check the LIHEAP chart above: if your income is under the 60% line, regular LIHEAP is still open to you.

How to Apply for Arizona LIHEAP in 3 Steps

DES offers 2 ways to apply, online or on paper, and Community Action Agencies help with both.

1. Online. Use the A-to-Z Arizona Portal (opens in a new tab). DES verifies your identity through ID.me, which needs a Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number. If you'd rather skip that step, you can file a guest application online or a paper application, and send identity documents for manual review; DES says that may take longer.
2. Paper. Paper applications go in by mail or fax, with a government-issued ID.
3. Get help. Call the LIHEAP service line at 1-866-494-1981 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday) or your Community Action Agency.

Community Action Agencies for the largest counties, as listed by DES on November 3, 2026:

DES warns that agency phone lines get very busy. Try early in the day.

Documents DES asks for:

• A current utility bill, dated within 30 days of the application
• Photo ID
• Citizenship or immigration documents
• Any disconnection notice
• Proof of income for the 30 days before you apply (not needed if you're categorically eligible)
• A lease, power of attorney or similar proof if the utility account isn't in your name

How long it takes. DES's policy sets 45 calendar days for a standard application, not counting time an incomplete application spends back with you.

Crisis Help and Arizona's Summer Shutoff Moratorium

Arizona's crisis benefit pays up to $500, once per 12-month period, and DES's policy says crisis payments must be issued within 48 hours, or 18 hours when the crisis is life-threatening. You qualify for crisis help after your regular benefit is used up and you have one of these, per the DES LIHEAP page:

• A shut-off or delinquency notice from your energy utility
• An eviction notice, if utilities are included in your rent
• Less than 7 days of energy left for portable or prepaid service

The ACC summer moratorium. The Arizona Corporation Commission says regulated electric utilities choose between 2 protections: a June 1 to October 15 moratorium, or suspending disconnections when the National Weather Service predicts temperatures over 95°F. For 2026, the ACC says APS, Tucson Electric Power and UNS Electric opted to not disconnect residential customers from June 1 through October 15, and APS separately agreed with the Attorney General's office not to disconnect on days over 95°F. Electric cooperatives follow their own tariffs.

The moratorium doesn't pause or forgive bills. The ACC says charges keep building and customers stay responsible for them. That makes the weeks after October 15 a risky stretch for anyone who fell behind over the summer. Salt River Project isn't among the utilities the ACC names as opting into the moratorium, so SRP customers should ask SRP directly about its rules.

Winter cold. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse summary of Arizona's rules lists the weather-based option as forecasts above 95°F or below 32°F. If your utility uses the summer moratorium instead, ask it what protection applies on freezing nights. For a complaint about a regulated utility, call the ACC at 602-542-4251 (Phoenix) or 520-628-6550 (Tucson).

Utility Discounts That Stack With LIHEAP: 6 to Ask About

At least 6 Arizona utility programs lower bills for income-qualified customers, according to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's Arizona profile. Apply for these alongside LIHEAP; for APS customers, Energy Support is the one worth chasing first because it lowers every bill, not just one.

Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (ACF-funded) Arizona profile (opens in a new tab), last updated June 25, 2026. Confirm current amounts with the utility.

Charity funds come after that: APS's Project SHARE with The Salvation Army (up to $500), SRP's SHARE and Southwest Gas Energy Share. Weatherization through the Arizona Department of Housing and local agencies cuts the cooling load every summer after. Arizona homeowners who also need a new roof or swamp cooler repair can check our home repair grants guide.

Arizona's FY2027 LIHEAP Money Per Resident

Arizona's first FY2027 LIHEAP allotment is $29,927,143, according to ACF's October 9, 2026 table. Grantsights analysis of that table and Census Bureau July 1, 2025 population estimates found Arizona received $3.93 per resident, the lowest of all 50 states and D.C., against a $10.44 average.

Arizona comparison uses ACF's first-release table and the Census Bureau Vintage 2025 state population estimates (opens in a new tab); territories excluded from the rank.

With the thinnest federal share per person in the country, first-come first-served really does mean early wins. This first release is also 84% of the $35,474,431 the LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists for Arizona's full FY2026 award. Per the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, Arizona served 24,978 cooling households and 11,248 heating households in FY2024. Neighbors can compare with our Nevada energy assistance guide, our New Mexico LIHEAP guide and our Utah HEAT guide, or our California LIHEAP guide.

What DES's LIHEAP Page Doesn't Tell You

DES's page is thorough, but 6 things are easy to miss.

1. The "percent of poverty" label is wrong. The income-points table calls the column "Percent of Poverty," but DES's own example divides income by the LIHEAP income limit, not the poverty line. Use the limit for your household size.
2. DES's worked example uses an old limit. It divides by $4,535 for a household of three; the current chart says $4,743. Your points come from the current chart.
3. Timing your bill matters. The energy-burden points use your monthly utility cost. A household that applies with its July APS bill can score higher than one applying with an April bill.
4. Crisis help comes second. You can't get the $500 crisis benefit until your regular benefit is used up. Apply for regular LIHEAP as soon as a bill falls behind, not after the shut-off notice.
5. Seniors can lock in the top benefit. SUAP gives the maximum regular benefit at recertification when every adult in the home is 60 or older (others must be 17 or younger) and the household meets SUAP's benefit or Medicare-expense test.
6. October is a cliff. The summer moratorium ends October 15 and charges kept building all summer. Call APS or TEP about a payment plan in September.

Common Mistakes and Scam Red Flags

These 5 mistakes cost Arizona households the most, based on DES's policy and the ACC's rules:

• Leaving out the disconnection notice. It's one of DES's required documents when you have one, and it's what moves you into crisis handling.
• Sending an old bill. DES counts documents as current only if they're dated within 30 days of the application.
• Getting stuck at the identity check. If online identity verification fails, switch to a guest or paper application with ID instead of starting over. A common mistake is giving up on the application entirely.
• Missing the 10-day review window. An Administrative Review must be requested within 10 calendar days of the decision.
• Assuming the moratorium erased the bill. The ACC is explicit that summer charges are still owed.

Scam red flags in Arizona. A fake APS or SRP "disconnection" call lands hardest during a 115°F week. The FTC's utility impostor warning (opens in a new tab) says a real utility won't demand payment on the spot or ask for gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or payment apps. In Arizona, also watch for:

• A call threatening a shutoff between June 1 and October 15 from someone claiming to be APS or TEP, which opted into the moratorium
• Anyone offering to "move your LIHEAP application up" for a fee; the program is first-come, first-served and free
• A link to a LIHEAP "portal" that isn't desportal.az.gov
• Anyone asking for the login you use for DES identity verification

If you think your identity was used for a fake LIHEAP application, DES's fraud hotline is 1-800-251-2436 or 602-542-9449. Report utility impostors at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab) and to the Arizona Attorney General.

Denied by Arizona LIHEAP or Out of Funds: 4 Next Steps

DES gives you 2 grievance routes, with 10- and 20-day deadlines, according to its LIHEAP page.

1. Administrative Review (the best bet for a quick fix). Submit the Decision Review form within 10 calendar days of the decision. If you disagree with the result, appeal within 20 calendar days of that decision.
2. Straight to appeal. Or file an Appeal Request form within 20 calendar days to have the administrative court review it. If you choose this route, you can't also request an Administrative Review.
3. Reapply when your situation changes. A drop in income or a bigger bill can change your points.
4. Look past LIHEAP. Arizona 211 lists local bill, rent and food help. An Arizona family behind on both rent and power can start with our rental assistance guide or our emergency cash assistance guide. Arizonans 60 and older have more choices in our help for seniors guide, and a cheaper phone line is in our Lifeline guide.

The bigger federal picture, including how the rest of the year's LIHEAP money usually arrives, is in our national LIHEAP guide.

If the power bill is only part of the squeeze, the Grantsights free eligibility checker can map the rest. Select "Individual," then "Personal financial help," and it shows official routes for bills, rent, food and benefits screening. It's not a grant program, and for an Arizona utility bill it will point you back to DES LIHEAP.

Sources

1. Arizona DES: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program page (opens in a new tab) - Arizona income chart, points, benefits, crisis rules, grievances, Power AZ status
2. Arizona DES: Community Action Agencies by county (opens in a new tab) - Arizona local agency phone numbers
3. Arizona DES: A-to-Z Arizona Portal (opens in a new tab) - Arizona online LIHEAP application
4. Arizona DES LIHEAP Policy, Revision 16A, effective July 1, 2026 (linked from the Arizona DES LIHEAP page) - processing times, SUAP, recertification
5. Arizona LIHEAP Detailed Model Plan, October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (linked from the Arizona DES LIHEAP page) - Arizona fund split and benefit range
6. Arizona Corporation Commission: June 2, 2026 summer moratorium notice (opens in a new tab)
7. ACF: LIHEAP State Median Income table, FY2027 (opens in a new tab) - Arizona 60% SMI by household size
8. ACF notice of the first FY2027 LIHEAP release that funds Arizona LIHEAP (opens in a new tab) - October 9, 2026, 90% under Public Law 119-103
9. ACF: FY2027 first release, state allotments (opens in a new tab) - Arizona $29,927,143
10. LIHEAP Clearinghouse (ACF-funded): Arizona state profile (opens in a new tab) - Arizona county seasons, households served, utility discounts
11. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 state population estimates (opens in a new tab)
12. FTC warning on utility impostors, relevant to Arizona utility customers (opens in a new tab)