LIHEAP 2026: Who Qualifies and How to Apply by State

There's no such thing as a free LIHEAP grant that arrives by text, call or social media message. ACF's LIHEAP page (opens in a new tab) says plainly that LIHEAP doesn't provide direct grants to individuals and doesn't charge a fee for a benefit.

LIHEAP at a Glance: What It Pays For and Where to Start

LIHEAP is a $4 billion-a-year block grant, and the FY2026 regular block grant releases added up to $4,035,400,000 according to the two ACF funding notices for that year. That money is split by formula among states, Washington D.C., territories and tribes, and each one designs its own program inside federal rules. That's why a neighbor in another state may have gotten a different amount, a different deadline or a different answer.

The common mistake: waiting for a shutoff before applying. Heating programs in many states open in the fall and close when money runs out, and crisis help still requires you to qualify. Applying for regular heating help as soon as your state opens is usually the best route.

Who Qualifies for LIHEAP: The Federal Ceiling and Your State's Limit

The federal limit is the greater of 150% of the poverty guidelines or 60% of state median income, set in 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2) (opens in a new tab). The same section bars a state from excluding a household with income above 110% of poverty just because of income, so state limits fall between those two lines.

According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse income eligibility page (opens in a new tab), the 2025 poverty guidelines are mandatory for LIHEAP in FY2026. For a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and D.C., those guidelines put 100% of poverty at $32,150 and 150% at $48,225. Alaska's 150% figure is $60,285 and Hawaii's is $55,470.

What the states actually chose for FY2026 heating help, per the Clearinghouse table built from FY2026 state plans:

• 60% of state median income: the most common choice, used by California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia and many others
• 150% of poverty: Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Kentucky, Alabama, Kansas and others
• Lower than the ceiling: Michigan uses 110% of poverty for heating, North Carolina and Oklahoma 130%, Minnesota 50% of state median income, and Maryland a sliding 39% to 60% of state median income depending on household size
• Different limits by component: many states use a higher limit, often 200% of poverty, for weatherization than for bill help

Categorical eligibility. The statute lets states treat a household as eligible if someone in it receives TANF, SSI, SNAP, or certain needs-based veterans payments. The Clearinghouse notes that states can't treat these households differently from income-eligible ones. If you already get SNAP, say so on the application; it may cut the paperwork. Our guide to TANF cash assistance explains that program.

Renters can apply too. LIHEAP isn't limited to homeowners. If heat is included in your rent or you live in subsidized housing, state rules vary, so ask the office directly instead of assuming you're out.

How to Apply for LIHEAP, Step by Step

Applications go to state, D.C., territory and tribal programs, never to HHS. Here's the route that works everywhere:

1. Find your office. Use the LIHEAP Clearinghouse office search (opens in a new tab) (energyhelp.us redirects there), the ACF state and territory contact listing (opens in a new tab), or the tribal contact listing (opens in a new tab). You can also call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327.
2. Check your state's opening date. Dates and components differ by state; the Clearinghouse keeps a program dates table (opens in a new tab) built from state plans. Federal law requires states to reserve a share of crisis money until March 15 of each program year.
3. Gather documents. Expect to show ID, proof of income for everyone in the home (the period counted varies by state), and a recent utility or fuel bill with your account number. Your office's application lists exactly what it needs.
4. Apply the way your state allows. Some states take online applications, some use paper forms at community action agencies or county offices, and some do phone interviews. Homebound applicants can ask for an alternative; federal law requires crisis programs to let physically infirm people apply without leaving home or help them get to the site.
5. Watch for the decision. Many states pay the utility or fuel dealer directly rather than you, so ask how your state pays. If you're denied, ask for the reason in writing and whether you can appeal.

A red flag in this process: anyone who charges a fee to file your LIHEAP application or promises approval. ACF says LIHEAP doesn't charge a fee for receiving a benefit.

LIHEAP Benefits and Funding by State

According to USAspending.gov FY2025 data, the federal government obligated $4,099,656,365 in LIHEAP funds (Assistance Listing 93.568) to state recipients, territories and D.C. Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov FY2025 obligations found the 50 states and D.C. received $4.08 billion, or $11.94 per resident using Census Bureau 2025 population estimates.

The spread between states is large. North Dakota received $39.10 per resident and Vermont $35.73, while Arizona received $4.43 and Florida $4.95. Specifically, North Dakota's $39.10 per resident was 8.8 times Arizona's $4.43. The five largest state recipients (New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Texas) took 31.1% of the total.

The table below pairs those obligations with each state's FY2026 heating income limit and heating benefit range from the LIHEAP Clearinghouse benefit levels table (opens in a new tab), which is compiled from FY2026 state plans. A benefit range of "$1 to $X" means the state pays by formula and the smallest calculated benefits can be tiny. Some states use a lower income limit for very large households; check your state's plan.

Sources: USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) FY2025 obligations for 93.568 by recipient state; Census Bureau Vintage 2025 state population estimates (July 1, 2025); LIHEAP Clearinghouse FY2026 income eligibility and benefit level tables. Puerto Rico has no 2025 estimate in the Census file used, so no per-resident figure is shown. Territories other than Puerto Rico are left out.

How to read this: a high federal amount per resident doesn't mean your household gets more. Your benefit depends on your income, household size, fuel type and bill under your state's formula. The table is useful for one honest comparison: what your state's program pays at the low and high end, so you know whether a benefit will cover a month or most of a winter.

FY2026 and FY2027 LIHEAP Funding: What Happened and What's Still Open

LIHEAP money arrives in pieces, and the timing affects when states can open and how much they pay. Here's the record from the ACF LIHEAP funding releases page (opens in a new tab):

According to the FY2026 final release notice (opens in a new tab), the last 10% of FY2026 regular funds reached grantees on April 17, 2026, more than four and a half months after the first release. For FY2027, the October 9, 2026 notice (opens in a new tab) split the $3,631,860,000 into $3,587,894,233 for states, D.C. and territories and $43,965,767 for tribes. It also says funds are restricted for any grantee without an approved FY2027 LIHEAP plan.

What this means for you: the money for this winter is mostly out, but the last 10% depends on what Congress does after the stopgap law. Don't wait for it: apply when your state opens, and ask the office whether any later payment is planned.

Utility Shutoff Protections and LIHEAP Crisis Help

Federal law sets two deadlines most people never hear about. Under 42 U.S.C. 8623(c) (opens in a new tab), once an eligible household applies for crisis benefits, the program must provide some form of assistance that resolves the crisis within 48 hours, or within 18 hours if the household is in a life-threatening situation. If you have a disconnection notice or no heat, say it's an energy crisis when you call.

State shutoff rules are separate from LIHEAP. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse disconnection policies page (opens in a new tab), last updated in 2026, counts:

Three cautions from the same page that people underestimate:

• These rules generally cover regulated utilities only. Municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives and delivered-fuel dealers (propane, oil, wood) usually aren't regulated by the state utility commission, though some follow the rules voluntarily.
• Protection isn't forgiveness. The utility keeps billing during a moratorium, and you can be disconnected once the protection period ends if a past-due balance remains.
• Complain in the right order. Try to resolve a dispute with the utility first, then go to your state public utility commission.

Ask your utility about payment arrangements before a shutoff date; the FTC's utility scam page also points people who are truly behind to the payment options their utility offers. A payment plan combined with a LIHEAP credit can bring an account current faster than either alone.

What the LIHEAP Pages Don't Tell You

Federal LIHEAP pages explain the program but skip several facts that change what you should do.

1. "Up to" amounts are rare. Texas lists a heating benefit range of $1 to $12,600 and West Virginia $1 to $10,000, but those top figures come from formulas and special cases. Ohio's heating range is $24 to $441 and Kentucky's $15 to $250. Plan as if you'll get a partial credit, not a paid-off bill.
2. Money can run out. States budget a fixed allocation, and many stop taking heating applications when it's spent. Applying in the first weeks matters more than having every document perfect; most offices will tell you what's missing.
3. Crisis help has a clock, and you can use it. The 48-hour and 18-hour rules in the statute are federal requirements. If an office treats a no-heat situation as routine, ask for crisis intake by name.
4. Shutoff moratoriums usually don't cover propane and oil customers. Delivered-fuel dealers generally aren't regulated by state utility commissions, so if you heat with delivered fuel, apply before the tank is low.
5. Weatherization may help more than a bill payment. Federal law lets states spend up to 15% of LIHEAP funds (25% with an HHS waiver) on low-cost weatherization and energy-related home repair, and DOE's separate Weatherization Assistance Program serves households up to 200% of poverty. A sealed, insulated home lowers every future bill.
6. Federal per-resident funding doesn't predict your benefit. Arizona gets less federal LIHEAP money per resident than almost any state, but its cooling program pays up to $640. Look at your state's own benefit table.

Avoid LIHEAP and Utility Scams

Scammers target people who are behind on bills, and the warnings are consistent. The FTC's page on scammers who pretend to be your utility company (opens in a new tab) says real utilities don't demand same-day payment to avoid disconnection, and that demands for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps are red flags. The FTC's government grant scams page (opens in a new tab) says offers of free government grant money for personal bills are scams.

Warning signs specific to energy help:

• A text, call or social media post offering a "LIHEAP grant" or "federal energy grant" you didn't apply for
• A fee to apply, to "speed up" approval, or to "release" a benefit
• A caller threatening shutoff within the hour unless you pay by gift card, cryptocurrency, or a barcode at a store (opens in a new tab)
• A website that asks for your Social Security number before telling you which state agency it is

What to do: hang up, then call your utility at the number on your bill. Report LIHEAP impersonation to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477, and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Other Help With Utility Bills If LIHEAP Isn't Enough

For many households LIHEAP covers part of one season's bill, so plan to combine it with other help:

• DOE Weatherization Assistance Program. Households at or below 200% of poverty, or receiving SSI, qualify under DOE guidelines, and states may use the LIHEAP limit of 60% of state median income. DOE says weatherized households save an average of $372 or more a year. See how to apply on energy.gov (opens in a new tab) and our home repair and weatherization guide.
• Utility hardship and payment programs. Many utilities run their own hardship funds, budget billing and arrearage plans. Call the number on your bill and ask what they offer for income-qualified customers.
• Community action agencies. These local agencies often run LIHEAP intake and may have other emergency funds through the Community Services Block Grant.
• 211. Dial 211 or visit 211.org (opens in a new tab) to find local emergency utility, rent and food help.
• Other benefits. USA.gov's benefit finder (opens in a new tab) (Benefits.gov now redirects there) screens for SNAP, Medicaid and other programs that can free up money for bills. For rent, see our rental assistance programs guide; for single parents, our grants for single mothers guide separates real programs from myths.

Grantsights' free eligibility checker asks who you are. If you choose "Individual" and then "Personal financial help" (or "Student"), it doesn't list grants: it points you to the official routes, including the USA.gov benefit finder, rental help, help with bills, food help and studentaid.gov, plus the 211 line. For more on why most money for individuals comes through programs like LIHEAP rather than personal grants, read how to apply for grants as an individual.

FAQ: Common LIHEAP Questions

What is LIHEAP?

LIHEAP is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal block grant run by HHS's Administration for Children and Families. States, territories and tribes run the programs people apply to. It can help pay heating or cooling bills, stop a shutoff, fix heating equipment, or weatherize a home, and many states pay your utility directly.

Who qualifies for LIHEAP in 2026?

The federal limit is the greater of 150% of poverty or 60% of state median income, and states can't go below 110% of poverty. For a family of four in the 48 contiguous states, 150% of the 2025 guideline is $48,225. Your state's limit may be lower: Michigan uses 110% of poverty for heating and Minnesota 50% of state median income.

How do I apply for LIHEAP?

Apply through your state, territory or tribal LIHEAP office. Find it with the LIHEAP Clearinghouse search tool (opens in a new tab) or call 1-866-674-6327. Bring ID, proof of household income and a recent energy bill. Applying is free.

How much money do you get from LIHEAP?

It depends on your state's formula. FY2026 heating ranges include $21 to $996 in New York, $200 to $1,000 in Pennsylvania and $94 to $1,500 in California, per the Clearinghouse benefit table. Many states make one heating payment per season.

Is LIHEAP funded for the 2026-27 winter?

HHS released $3,631,860,000 on October 9, 2026, which is 90% of the amount available under the current continuing resolution. The rest depends on Congress. Apply when your state opens rather than waiting.

Can LIHEAP stop my power from being shut off?

Crisis help must resolve an eligible household's crisis within 48 hours of application, or 18 hours if life-threatening, under federal law. State shutoff protections are separate and generally cover regulated utilities only.

Is a LIHEAP grant offer by text, call or social media real?

No. LIHEAP doesn't provide direct grants to individuals and doesn't charge fees. Report offers to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477 and to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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Sources

1. ACF Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - program description, fraud notice, referral line
2. ACF LIHEAP funding releases (opens in a new tab) - FY2026 and FY2027 release notices
3. First Block Grant Funding Release FFY 2027 (opens in a new tab) - October 9, 2026 release
4. Final Block Grant Funding Release FFY 2026 (opens in a new tab) - April 17, 2026 release
5. First Block Grant Funding Release FFY 2026 (opens in a new tab) - November 28, 2025 release
6. 42 U.S.C. 8624 (opens in a new tab) and 42 U.S.C. 8623 (opens in a new tab) - income ceiling, categorical eligibility, weatherization share, crisis deadlines
7. LIHEAP Clearinghouse income eligibility (opens in a new tab) - FY2026 state income limits and poverty guideline figures
8. LIHEAP Clearinghouse benefit levels (opens in a new tab) - FY2026 heating, cooling and crisis benefit ranges
9. LIHEAP Clearinghouse disconnect policies (opens in a new tab) - state shutoff protections
10. DOE: How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance (opens in a new tab) - WAP eligibility and process
11. FTC: Scammers Pretend To Be Your Utility Company (opens in a new tab) and FTC: Government Grant Scams (opens in a new tab)
12. USAspending.gov award search (opens in a new tab) - FY2025 obligations for Assistance Listing 93.568