LIHEAP Florida 2026: Income Limits and How to Apply

Florida also gets less federal LIHEAP money per resident than almost any state. Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) FY2025 obligations found Florida received $4.95 per resident, against a national figure of $11.94. That's why county providers often run out of money and pause applications.

There's no free Florida "energy grant" that arrives by text, call or social media. ACF's LIHEAP page (opens in a new tab) says LIHEAP doesn't give direct grants to individuals and doesn't charge a fee for a benefit.

For how LIHEAP works nationally, including federal funding releases for the 2026-27 season, read our national LIHEAP guide. This page covers what's specific to Florida.

Florida LIHEAP at a Glance: Three Components, 67 County Providers

Florida runs 3 LIHEAP components, and the season dates in its plans split the year in two. Here's what each one does under the FY2026 approved plan and the FY2027 draft plan FloridaCommerce has posted.

Sources: LIHEAP Clearinghouse FY2026 benefit table (opens in a new tab), Florida's FY2026 LIHEAP plan (opens in a new tab), and FloridaCommerce's posted FY2027 draft plan.

According to FloridaCommerce's FY2027 draft plan, the state expects to split its LIHEAP money roughly 27% heating, 21% cooling, 32% year-round crisis, 10% carryover to the next year and 10% administration. In plain terms, crisis help is the biggest single pot, and summer cooling help matters almost as much as winter heating in Florida.

Four rules from FloridaCommerce's LIHEAP page (opens in a new tab) shape what you can get:

• Payments go to the utility. Your local provider pays the utility company on your behalf. You won't receive a check.
• Gas and propane are winter-only. LIHEAP can pay a natural gas or propane bill only in winter, and only if gas or propane is your primary heat. If you use gas only for cooking or hot water, the program can't pay that bill.
• No water, sewer or phone. Those bills aren't covered. For phone help, see our Lifeline guide.
• More than once a year, but not monthly. Depending on the money left in your county, you may be able to apply several times a year, but not every month.

Florida LIHEAP Income Limits

Florida's limit is 60% of state median income, and both the FY2026 approved plan and the FY2027 draft plan use that line for heating, cooling and crisis help. FloridaCommerce's LIHEAP page lists these maximum annual household incomes. The page doesn't label which federal fiscal year the table applies to, so confirm the current figure with your provider.

Source: FloridaCommerce LIHEAP program page (opens in a new tab), checked October 28, 2026. Monthly figures are the annual limit divided by 12, rounded.

Florida's limit is more generous than the federal 150% of poverty line for most families. For comparison, 150% of the 2025 poverty guideline for a family of four is $48,225, per the LIHEAP Clearinghouse income eligibility page (opens in a new tab), while Florida's posted limit is $61,837.

Other eligibility rules on the FloridaCommerce page: you must be responsible for paying your home heating or cooling bill, live in Florida, and be a U.S. citizen, qualified alien or permanent resident.

Categorical eligibility. Florida's FY2027 draft plan says a household is categorically eligible if any one member receives TANF, SNAP or SSI, and that this removes the need for income verification. Bring the award letter. The same plan says households in those programs that can be matched to a Florida utility account can receive LIHEAP without an application. Don't count on that happening automatically; apply anyway. Our guides to SNAP and SSI explain those programs.

Renters and subsidized housing. If your utilities are fully included in your rent and you pay nothing toward them, Florida's plan says you aren't eligible. If you live in subsidized housing but pay all or part of the energy cost, you can qualify, and the provider will ask for your lease or energy allowance letter. For crisis help, any utility subsidy from Section 8 or a housing authority is subtracted from the crisis benefit. See our Section 8 guide for how utility allowances work.

How to Apply for LIHEAP in Florida, County by County

FloridaCommerce lists a provider for all 67 counties on its local provider page (opens in a new tab), with a phone number and, for most, a link to an online application. The state's FY2027 draft plan also names a statewide online application at floridaliheap.com/relief_program. Start from the FloridaCommerce provider page so you know you're on a link the state lists.

Here are the providers FloridaCommerce lists for the most populous counties, as of October 28, 2026:

Many rural counties share a regional agency. For example, one agency that serves seven counties is the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency (Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns), and Suwannee River Economic Council covers 10 north Florida counties from Bradford to Union. Tri-County Community Council's offices in Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties are listed as closed on Fridays, so call Monday through Thursday.

What to bring. FloridaCommerce's page lists:

1. Your most recent home energy bill
2. A final utility termination notice, if you have one
3. Proof of current gross income for every household member (pay stubs, benefit letters, dividends)
4. Photo ID for the applicant
5. Social Security cards or numbers for all household members
6. Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence

Expect busy phones. FloridaCommerce's own page warns that local agencies are getting very high call volume, that many take calls only during set hours, and that you should keep trying. If your provider has an online application, use it and call to confirm it was received.

If you're denied. Ask the local provider how to appeal. If you qualified but the provider hasn't paid your bill, FloridaCommerce says complaints go first to the provider's supervisor or executive director. You can also email the state program at FloridaLIHEAP@Commerce.fl.gov.

Homebound applicants. The FY2027 draft plan says Florida accepts applications online, by phone and in person, and that caseworkers can make home visits for Floridians without transportation.

Florida LIHEAP Crisis Help and Shutoff Rules

Florida's plan sets two response deadlines that match federal law: a provider must offer help that resolves the crisis within 48 hours of an eligible household's application, or within 18 hours if someone's life or health is at risk from hot or cold weather. Those come from 42 U.S.C. 8623(c) (opens in a new tab) and are written into both Florida plans.

What counts as a crisis in Florida, per the FY2026 and FY2027 plans: you've received a delinquency notice, your power has been shut off, you need to pay a deposit, or you're within seven days of using up the energy you prepaid. Florida runs crisis help year-round rather than only in winter or summer, and you can receive more than one crisis payment in a year up to the annual cap.

The thing most Floridians underestimate: there's no statewide weather-based shutoff ban. According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, whose disconnection policies page (opens in a new tab) tracks state rules, Florida has no date-based or temperature-based cold or hot weather protections and no statewide protections for vulnerable populations. Florida's FY2027 draft plan also answers "No" when asked whether any of its utility vendors enforce a shutoff moratorium. In practice, a summer heat wave doesn't add any shutoff protection, unlike New York, where utilities must take special care before cutting heat-related service from November 1 to April 15.

What that means for you:

• Apply when the past-due notice arrives, not on the shutoff date. A delinquency notice already counts as a crisis in Florida's plan.
• If someone in the home is elderly, disabled or medically fragile, say so at intake. That's what triggers the 18-hour rule.
• For a life-threatening emergency, call 911. FloridaCommerce's page says so directly, and points people to 211 for other agencies that may help.
• Disputes with an investor-owned utility can go to the Florida Public Service Commission at 850-413-6100, the number the Clearinghouse lists.

Older Floridians: EHEAP and Extra Benefits

Florida gives three kinds of extra help to older residents. First, regular heating and cooling benefits add $100 if anyone in the household is elderly, as the table above shows. Second, the FY2027 draft plan says FloridaCommerce has set aside $6.4 million for the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP), which can pay up to $1,000 in crisis help for low-income households facing an energy emergency.

The Department of Elder Affairs EHEAP page (opens in a new tab) describes EHEAP as help for low-income households with at least one person age 60 or older that are having a home energy emergency, and it says to contact FloridaCommerce at FloridaLIHEAP@Commerce.fl.gov for information or an application. The FloridaCommerce LIHEAP page lists the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 as a related resource. Our help for seniors guide covers other programs for older adults.

Hurricanes, Outages and Disaster Help

Florida's LIHEAP plans include a weather-related crisis program that FloridaCommerce can switch on after a declaration by the Governor or the President. The FY2026 plan says that during a declared emergency, FloridaCommerce provides flexibilities for:

The FY2027 draft plan keeps the same list and adds that limits are set at the time of the incident, in coordination with the Florida Division of Emergency Management. So the honest answer is: after a declared hurricane, LIHEAP disaster help may exist, but the dollar limits and dates won't be known in advance. Call your county provider after the storm and ask whether the weather-related crisis program is active.

LIHEAP isn't FEMA aid. For damage to your home after a declared disaster, apply through DisasterAssistance.gov (opens in a new tab). For longer-term home repairs, our home repair grants guide covers USDA and weatherization routes.

Florida's LIHEAP Funding Per Resident

Florida's LIHEAP agency was obligated $116,080,353 in federal LIHEAP funds (Assistance Listing 93.568) for FY2025, according to USAspending award records (search them here (opens in a new tab)). Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov FY2025 obligations found that equals $4.95 per Florida resident, using the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate of 23,462,518 residents.

Source: USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) FY2025 obligations for 93.568 by recipient state; Census Bureau Vintage 2025 state population estimates. Per-resident rank includes the 50 states and D.C.

Specifically, Florida's $4.95 per resident is 41% of the national $11.94, and only Arizona ($4.43) received less per resident. If Florida had received the national per-resident rate, its FY2025 obligation would have been about $280 million rather than $116 million. Neighboring Georgia received $8.12 per resident and Alabama $11.42. New York, covered in our New York HEAP guide, received $20.00.

Federal law, not Florida, sets each state's share through the LIHEAP allotment formula. The low per-resident figure is the main reason Florida county providers run out of money during the year and pause intake. It isn't a sign that you're less likely to qualify; it means applying early in each season matters more in Florida than in most states.

Funding has also stopped before. In 2023, local programs stopped taking applications for weeks to months after the state agency ran out of spending authority in April, with money flowing again in July, the Miami Herald reported in August 2023. If your county is paused, ask whether a waiting list exists and call back when the next season opens.

What FloridaCommerce's LIHEAP Page Doesn't Tell You

The state page is accurate but leaves out several things that change what you should do.

1. This year's checks may be smaller. The posted FY2027 draft plan lowers the regular benefit range from $400 to $1,350 down to $200 to $700 and the crisis cap from $2,000 to $1,000. It's a draft, and final numbers depend on HHS approval and federal funding, but don't count on last year's amount.
2. Summer matters as much as winter. Cooling help runs April 1 to September 30 in Florida's plans, and the state budgets nearly as much for cooling as for heating. If you missed the winter window, apply in April.
3. There's no heat-wave shutoff protection. Unlike many northern states, Florida has no weather-based disconnection moratorium. Your protection is the crisis program's 48-hour and 18-hour response rules, so apply as soon as a past-due notice arrives.
4. The termination notice helps. FloridaCommerce lists a final termination notice among the documents to bring. If you have one, bring it; it moves you into the crisis track.
5. Gas for cooking doesn't count. LIHEAP pays a gas or propane bill only when gas is your main heat, and only in winter. A gas stove alone won't qualify that bill.
6. Federal per-resident money doesn't predict your benefit. Florida's $4.95 per resident is near the bottom, but its FY2026 regular benefit range ($400 to $1,350) was higher than Ohio's ($24 to $441) or Kentucky's ($15 to $250). Your benefit depends on Florida's formula and your county's remaining money, not on the national rank.

Florida Utility Programs That Stack With LIHEAP

LIHEAP rarely covers a whole bill, so pair it with your utility's own help. These are programs we confirmed on official pages on October 28, 2026:

Source for FPL programs: FPL payment assistance page (opens in a new tab).

Other Florida utilities, including Duke Energy Florida, run their own customer-funded assistance or payment plans. Call the number on your bill and ask what they offer for income-qualified customers before the due date passes. A payment arrangement plus a LIHEAP credit often clears a past-due balance faster than either one alone.

The DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) serves households up to 200% of poverty or receiving SSI. A sealed home with a working air conditioner lowers every summer bill, which in Florida is where most energy costs fall.

Avoid Florida LIHEAP and Utility Scams

Scammers follow storms and shutoff notices, and Florida gets both. 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.

Florida-specific warning signs:

• Someone offers to "fast-track" your LIHEAP application or get you to the top of a county waiting list for a fee
• A caller says your power will be cut "within the hour" after a hurricane unless you pay by gift card or a payment app
• A post promising a "Florida energy grant" paid to you in cash. Florida's program pays the utility, not you.
• A website that asks for your Social Security number before naming the county agency it represents

What to do: hang up and call your utility at the number on your bill, or your county provider at the number on FloridaCommerce's list. Report LIHEAP impersonation to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477 and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab).

Other Help If LIHEAP Isn't Enough

• 211. Dial 211 for local emergency utility, rent and food help. FloridaCommerce's own page points people to 211.
• Rent help. If the power bill is one of several bills you're behind on, see our rental assistance programs guide.
• Benefits screening. USA.gov's benefit finder (opens in a new tab) (Benefits.gov now redirects there) screens for SNAP, Medicaid and other programs that free up money for bills. The FloridaCommerce LIHEAP page lists the Access Florida information line at 1-866-762-2237 for SNAP and other state benefits.
• Other states. Moving or helping family elsewhere? Our guides cover LIHEAP in California, LIHEAP in Illinois and Texas CEAP.

Before you call around, Grantsights' free eligibility checker can sort the routes for you. It starts by asking who you are; pick "Individual" and then "Personal financial help" (or "Student"), and it won't show you grants. It shows the official routes instead: the USA.gov benefit finder, rental help, help with bills, food help and studentaid.gov, plus the 211 line. In Florida, "help with bills" means the county LIHEAP provider above. For why help for individuals comes through programs like LIHEAP rather than personal grants, read how to apply for grants as an individual.

FAQ: Florida LIHEAP Questions

Who runs LIHEAP in Florida?

FloridaCommerce (the Florida Department of Commerce) runs it and funds local providers, which are community action agencies, nonprofits and county governments. You apply to your county's provider, which pays your utility directly.

What is the income limit for LIHEAP in Florida?

60% of state median income. FloridaCommerce's posted table lists $32,155 for one person, $61,837 for four and $85,335 for eight. SNAP, SSI and TANF households skip income verification.

How much does Florida LIHEAP pay?

The approved FY2026 plan paid $400 to $1,350 per regular benefit plus add-ons of $100 to $150 for vulnerable households, and up to $2,000 a year in crisis help. The FY2027 draft plan lists $200 to $700 and a $1,000 crisis cap.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Florida?

Use FloridaCommerce's local provider page (opens in a new tab) to find your county's agency and its online application or phone number. Seminole County residents call FloridaCommerce at 850-717-8450.

Can Florida LIHEAP stop my power from being shut off?

Crisis help must resolve an eligible household's crisis within 48 hours, or 18 hours if life is at risk. Florida has no statewide weather-based shutoff ban, so apply when the delinquency notice arrives.

Is there LIHEAP help after a hurricane in Florida?

After a governor or presidential declaration, FloridaCommerce can activate a weather-related crisis program covering costs like reconnection, deposits, generators, temporary housing and air conditioner repair. Limits are set at the time of the disaster.

Is a Florida LIHEAP grant offered by text or social media real?

No. LIHEAP doesn't give direct grants to individuals or charge fees, and Florida pays your utility, not you. Report offers to 1-800-447-8477 and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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Sources

1. FloridaCommerce: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - eligibility, income table, documents, appeals, contacts
2. FloridaCommerce: Find Your Local LIHEAP Provider (opens in a new tab) - providers for all 67 counties
3. Florida LIHEAP Plan, FY2026 (opens in a new tab) - season dates, benefit range, crisis cap, disaster flexibilities
4. FloridaCommerce LIHEAP draft State Plan FFY 2027, linked from the FloridaCommerce LIHEAP page - draft season dates, benefit range, crisis cap, EHEAP set-aside, categorical eligibility
5. LIHEAP Clearinghouse benefit levels (opens in a new tab) - FY2026 Florida heating, cooling and crisis figures
6. LIHEAP Clearinghouse disconnect policies (opens in a new tab) - Florida shutoff protections and PSC contact
7. LIHEAP Clearinghouse income eligibility (opens in a new tab) - federal poverty comparison
8. ACF Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - fraud notice
9. 42 U.S.C. 8623 (opens in a new tab) - crisis response deadlines
10. Florida Department of Elder Affairs: EHEAP (opens in a new tab) - elder emergency energy help
11. FPL payment assistance (opens in a new tab) - Care To Share, payment extension, budget billing
12. DOE: How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance (opens in a new tab)
13. FTC: Scammers Pretend To Be Your Utility Company (opens in a new tab) and FTC: Government Grant Scams (opens in a new tab)
14. USAspending.gov award search (opens in a new tab) - FY2025 obligations for Assistance Listing 93.568
15. Alex Harris, "Florida froze program to help with power bills," Miami Herald, August 23, 2023