DC LIHEAP 2026: Income Limits, Benefits and UDP

To see how the District's limit compares with every state's, use our LIHEAP income limits guide. Below is DC only.

LIHEAP pays Pepco, Washington Gas or your oil company, not you. DOEE warns that it's the only entity allowed to take LIHEAP applications, and that handing yours to anyone else can expose your personal information.

DC LIHEAP 2026-27 at a Glance: 5 Kinds of Help

DOEE runs 5 kinds of energy help for FY2027, and every LIHEAP component in the approved plan runs the full year, October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. The plan budgets 50% of the District's LIHEAP money for heating, 10% for cooling, 13% for year-round crisis, 15% for weatherization, 10% for administration and 2% for services that cut home energy needs.

Sources: DOEE LIHEAP and UDP pages; DC FY2027 LIHEAP plan, sections 1.2, 2.6, 2.7, 4.2, 4.9 and 4.13. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse, an ACF-funded resource, says weatherization eligibility is decided after you apply for LIHEAP.

DC LIHEAP Income Limits for FY2027 (60% of State Median Income)

The District's limit is $121,200 for a family of four, or 60% of DC's $202,000 four-person median income, according to ACF's FY2027 table. DC's median is the highest in ACF's table, so its 60% line is the highest of any state's on that measure, well above Maryland's or Virginia's.

Sources: sizes 1 to 6 from DOEE's FY2027 LIHEAP Benefit Matrix (which prints the five-person figure as "$140.592"); sizes 7 and 8 from ACF's FY2027 state median income table (opens in a new tab). DOEE's rule for larger households: add 3 percentage points to 132% for each person over six and multiply by the four-person limit, which works out to $3,636 per person. Monthly figures are Grantsights arithmetic. Effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

When the figures change next. DOEE's limits follow ACF's state median income table, which updates each federal fiscal year. Expect FY2028 figures on October 1, 2027.

Other eligibility rules. The FY2027 plan has no asset test. If utilities are included in your rent, you must show a bill or account statement proving you or someone in your home pays a separate energy charge; if you can't, DOEE can't give LIHEAP help, because there's no energy cost to measure. For food help, see our DC SNAP guide, and for health coverage, our DC Medicaid income limits guide.

How Much DC LIHEAP Pays: Reading DOEE's FY2027 Matrix

DOEE's FY2027 matrix pays $250 to $1,800 based on 4 things: your home type, your income, your household size and your heating fuel. Apartments and other multifamily buildings ("MF") get smaller awards than single-family homes and rowhouses ("SF") at the same income, and households above four people use the four-person line.

Gas heat, selected lines from the FY2027 matrix:

Electric heat drops faster. In an apartment, a one-person household gets $1,302 with no income, $927 at $5,000, $477 at $10,000 and $250 from $15,000 up. A four-person single-family household gets $1,800 up to $9,999, then $1,532, $1,082 and $632 as income rises, and $250 from $25,000.

Oil heat is a flat $1,500 at every income line, or you can tell DOEE to send a smaller amount to your gas or electric company instead. Heat included in rent pays $250 to your electric or gas account.

Source: DOEE FY2027 LIHEAP Benefit Matrix (opens in a new tab), September 29, 2026. DOEE's instructions: use the income line just below your household's combined income.

Worked example. For example, a family of three in a Ward 8 apartment earning $18,000 a year ($1,500 a month) heats with gas. They use the "MF $15,000, 3 people" line, which pays $1,177 to Washington Gas. If the same family heated with electricity, the line pays $584 to Pepco. A four-person family in a Ward 7 rowhouse earning $22,000 with gas heat uses the "SF $20,000, 4 people" line and gets $1,674. All three households are far below the income limit, which shows how the matrix works: the limit decides whether you qualify, and the lower income lines decide how much you get.

Specifically, any household earning $30,000 or more gets $250 for electric heat no matter its size or home type. Above that point, LIHEAP is mostly about the crisis benefit and UDP, not the regular award.

FY2027 Dates and Deadlines

DC's LIHEAP runs 12 months a year, so there's no single deadline. These are the dates DOEE has posted for FY2027:

Federal funding status. The District's first FY2027 LIHEAP payment is $11,134,903, according to ACF's state allotment table (opens in a new tab), released October 9, 2026 under the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (Public Law 119-103). ACF says the national $3,631,860,000 release is 90% of what that stopgap law makes available. ACF restricts funds for grantees without an approved FY2027 plan; DC's FY2027 plan is marked "Submission Accepted by CO (Revision #2)." The full-year amount depends on what Congress passes next. For scale, the LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists DC's full FY2026 funding at $12,655,521.

How to Apply for DC LIHEAP: 3 Ways

DOEE takes applications 3 ways, and every one goes to DOEE itself. Appointments are required for in-person help, and DOEE says emergency walk-ins won't be accepted.

1. Online. Since October 20, 2026, DOEE's online portal (linked from its LIHEAP page (opens in a new tab)) takes FY2027 applications. Complete every section and upload every document before you submit, then log back in to check status.
2. In person, by appointment. Call 311 or (202) 737-4404 to book.

3. By mail. Print the combined LIHEAP-UDP application (DOEE posts it in English, Amharic, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, French and Vietnamese) and mail it with copies of your documents to: Department of Energy & Environment, Attn: Utility Affordability Administration, 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002.

Homebound or disabled applicants can ask 311 for a home visit, according to the FY2027 plan, and DOEE will arrange one if online, fax and mail won't work.

Documents DOEE requires:

• An unexpired government-issued photo ID for the applicant
• Recent Washington Gas, Pepco and DC Water bills
• Proof of current income for everyone in the household
• Social Security cards for all household members
• For emergency help: the disconnection notice, or a letter from Pepco or Washington Gas confirming service was cut

DOEE also posts a self-employment income form and a zero-income form for households that need them.

Crisis Help and Shutoff Protection: DC's 32-Degree Rule

DC's FY2027 plan commits to an intervention within 48 hours of a crisis and within 18 hours when it's life-threatening. DOEE's crisis definition is narrow, so read it closely.

You're in crisis when you still owe $250 or more after the regular LIHEAP benefit is applied, and either:

• Your gas or electric service has been disconnected, or
• Your heating oil is at 5% or less of the tank

A life-threatening crisis adds a household member who relies on medical life-support equipment that needs continuous power, plus disconnection, oil at 5% or less, or a disconnection notice of 48 hours or less. Bring proof of the equipment.

How much. The FY2027 plan pays the amount needed to resolve the crisis, up to $750. If you're approved for the regular benefit and still in crisis, DOEE can process the crisis application at the same appointment. Households that already used their regular benefit can still get crisis help if they're disconnected or nearly out of oil. Subject to funding, DOEE may also hand out space heaters, fans and blankets.

DC's shutoff rules. The FY2027 plan states plainly that District utilities don't enforce a winter moratorium. What protects you instead:

The statute text covers electric companies. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists the same 32-degree and 95-degree thresholds for the District. If you think a shutoff broke the rules, contact the DC Public Service Commission (opens in a new tab) at 202-626-5100.

UDP, Weatherization and Utility Funds That Stack With LIHEAP

The District has at least 5 programs that stack with a LIHEAP award, and the combined LIHEAP-UDP application covers the first one.

Utility Discount Program. DOEE's UDP page (opens in a new tab) says eligible households can get:

The bills must be in the applicant's name. UDP's online application also opened October 20, 2026. DOEE's UDP page points to the District's Solar for All program for a possible extra Pepco discount, and to Lifeline for a discounted phone line; see our Lifeline guide.

Weatherization. DOEE's Weatherization Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) decides eligibility after you apply for LIHEAP, according to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse. The FY2027 plan puts 15% of LIHEAP money into weatherization. Homeowners with bigger repair needs can also look at our home repair grants guide.

Utility and charity funds DOEE lists on its LIHEAP page:

• Pepco Customer Relief Fund, a one-time relief fund run with the Salvation Army
• Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF), created by Washington Gas to help families pay heating bills
• DC Water SPLASH, run with the Greater Washington Urban League, for water and sewer bills

DC's FY2027 LIHEAP Money: $16.05 Per Resident

DC's first FY2027 release is $11,134,903. Grantsights analysis of ACF's October 9, 2026 allotment table and Census Bureau July 1, 2025 population estimates found the District received $16.05 per resident, 16th of 51 and about 54% above the $10.44 national figure.

DC's per-resident figures come from ACF's FY2027 first-release table and the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 population file (opens in a new tab). Rank excludes territories.

According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse data, DC served 6,891 heating households, 1,403 cooling households and 4,184 crisis households in FY2024. The first FY2027 release equals about $1,616 per FY2024 heating household. Applying the FY2027 plan's split, about $5.57 million of this release is for heating and about $1.45 million for crisis. Commuters' families in the suburbs can compare with our Maryland energy assistance guide and Virginia guide.

What DOEE's LIHEAP Page Doesn't Tell You

DOEE's page covers documents and locations, but 6 points matter more than it lets on.

1. The income limit isn't the number that sets your award. A family of four can qualify at $121,200, but the matrix's highest income line is $30,000. Above that, electric-heat households get $250.
2. The crisis rule needs a balance left over. You must still owe at least $250 after the regular benefit posts. Apply for the regular benefit first, at the same appointment if you can.
3. A disconnection notice alone isn't a crisis. DOEE's definition requires service already cut, unless someone in the home uses life-support equipment. Use the time before the cutoff to book the regular appointment.
4. Oil is flat, and that's the best bet in the matrix. Oil households get $1,500 at every income line, which makes LIHEAP far more valuable for an oil-heated rowhouse than for a gas-heated apartment above $20,000.
5. Apply directly to DOEE. DOEE warns that third parties have been collecting applications. A utility, a landlord or another agency can't process yours.
6. There's no winter moratorium. The protection is forecast-based. A mild January week is when disconnections happen, so pay something toward the bill even while you wait for LIHEAP.

Common Mistakes and Scam Red Flags

Here are 5 mistakes that cost District households the most, based on DOEE's rules:

• Showing up without an appointment. DOEE says walk-ins, including emergencies, won't be accepted. Call 311 first.
• Missing the Pepco or Washington Gas letter. A common mistake is booking an emergency slot without it; emergency applications need written proof of disconnection from the utility.
• Bills in someone else's name. UDP requires the utility bills to be in the applicant's name; fix the account name before you apply.
• Submitting online without every upload. DOEE's portal asks you to finish each section and upload every document before you submit.
• Underestimating the oil option. Oil customers can choose where the $1,500 goes, or send a smaller amount to Pepco or Washington Gas instead; pick the account that's closest to a cutoff.

Scam red flags. The FTC's page on scammers posing as utilities (opens in a new tab) warns against anyone demanding payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or payment app. In the District, watch for:

• Anyone other than DOEE offering to "submit" your LIHEAP application, which DOEE itself flags
• A caller claiming Pepco will cut you off today during a forecast freeze, when § 34-1506.01 bars electric disconnections
• A fee to get on a LIHEAP or UDP list; both are free
• Texts promising LIHEAP cash; DOEE pays the utility or fuel vendor

Hang up and call the customer service line printed on your Pepco or Washington Gas bill. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab) and to the DC Office of the Attorney General.

If You're Denied or Funds Run Out: 4 Next Steps

DC funds LIHEAP for a single fiscal year at a time, and the FY2027 plan calls it a non-entitlement program, so money can run short before September.

1. Use your appeal rights. DOEE's LIHEAP page links an appeal rights letter for anyone who disagrees with a decision. Follow the steps and deadline on your notice, and call 311 for help.
2. Fix the file and reapply. A missing Social Security card or utility bill is the most common reason to start over; DC's program runs all year.
3. Ask the utility funds. Try the Pepco Customer Relief Fund, the Washington Area Fuel Fund and DC Water's SPLASH, and ask Pepco or Washington Gas for a payment plan.
4. Look past energy help. Our rental assistance guide covers back rent, our emergency cash assistance guide covers one-time help, and older residents can use our help for seniors guide.

Want the federal background? Our national LIHEAP guide explains block grant timing and why the District's award arrives in pieces.

Not sure which programs fit your household? The Grantsights free eligibility checker asks a few quick questions: choose "Individual," then "Personal financial help," and it returns official routes for bills, rent, food and benefits screening, not grants. For a Pepco or Washington Gas bill, it points you back to DOEE.

Sources

1. DOEE: Receive Assistance With Your Utility Bills (LIHEAP) (opens in a new tab) - FY2027 opening dates, benefit range, crisis definition, documents, service centers, utility funds
2. DOEE: FY2027 LIHEAP Benefit Matrix, September 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - DC income limits and benefit amounts
3. DOEE: FY2027 LIHEAP Detailed Model Plan (opens in a new tab) - fund split, $750 crisis cap, response times, no-moratorium statement
4. DOEE: Utility Discount Program (opens in a new tab) - Pepco, Washington Gas and DC Water discounts
5. DOEE: Weatherization Assistance Program (opens in a new tab)
6. D.C. Code § 34-1506.01, extreme-temperature disconnection ban in the District (opens in a new tab)
7. LIHEAP Clearinghouse: District of Columbia profile (opens in a new tab) - FY2026 funding, households served, weatherization link
8. LIHEAP Clearinghouse: disconnect policies by state, including D.C. (opens in a new tab)
9. DC Public Service Commission (opens in a new tab)
10. ACF: LIHEAP State Median Income table, FY2027 (opens in a new tab) - D.C. 60% SMI
11. ACF: FY2027 first LIHEAP release notice, as it applies to DC's grant (opens in a new tab)
12. ACF: FY2027 first release allotments, including the District's $11,134,903 (opens in a new tab)
13. Census Bureau population estimates behind DC's per-resident figure (opens in a new tab)
14. FTC: utility impostor scams, as they apply to Pepco and Washington Gas customers (opens in a new tab)