Montana LIEAP 2026: Income Limits, Benefits and Apply

Montana LIEAP 2026-27 at a Glance: 5 Kinds of Help

Montana's energy program offers 5 kinds of help in 2026-27, and only the regular heating benefit is tied to the October-to-April window. Here's the lineup from the DPHHS manual and application.

Sources: DPHHS 2026-2027 LIHEAP Policy Manual, sections 3.25, 3.28 and 4.1; DPHHS energy assistance page; application form DPHHS-EAP-088.

LIEAP is one payment for the season, not a monthly check. The manual says payments go mainly to your fuel vendor by check or electronic transfer, and the vendor applies them to your unpaid balance first and then to future heating costs this season. A check goes to you only when there's no participating vendor.

Montana LIEAP Income and Resource Limits for 2026-27

Montana's income limit for one to nine people is 60% of state median income (SMI), and for ten or more it switches to 150% of the federal poverty line, according to DPHHS's 2026-2027 table. The four-person limit of $69,463 matches ACF's FY2027 SMI table, which became mandatory for LIHEAP on October 1, 2026.

Source: DPHHS energy assistance page (opens in a new tab), "2026-2027 Program Year Income Limits," checked November 3, 2026. The 1-to-9 figures match ACF's FY2027 60% SMI table. Effective for the October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 program year.

Notice the oddity in the middle rows. Under 60% of SMI, Montana's limit rises only about $2,083 per person from seven people up, so a big family's LIEAP limit ($95,858 for eight) ends up below its weatherization limit ($111,440). That's the federal SMI formula, not a typo.

How Montana counts income. The manual bases eligibility on gross income of everyone 18 or older for the month before the month you apply, then annualizes it. Apply in November and you send October's pay stubs and benefit letters. That makes a short month of work help you, and a month with overtime or a bonus hurt you.

The resource limit most people miss. Montana is one of the few states that also caps savings. The 2026-2027 limits are below; DPHHS counts cash, checking and savings, CDs, stocks and rental property, and adds $1,502 for each extra member up to the $31,524 maximum.

Categorical eligibility. The manual says a household whose members all receive or were approved for SNAP in the month of application, or that gets SSI or TANF, can be found categorically eligible. You still need to file the LIEAP application, and the SSI or TANF amount still sets the benefit size. Montana has no Grantsights SNAP guide yet, but health coverage limits are in our Montana Medicaid income limits guide.

When the figures change next. DPHHS posts new limits for each program year. Expect 2027-2028 figures by October 1, 2027, built on ACF's FY2028 SMI table and the 2027 poverty guidelines.

How Much Montana LIEAP Pays: 3 Numbers That Set Your Benefit

Three numbers set a Montana LIEAP award: the base benefit for your home, your income as a percent of poverty, and your HRDC district's climate. DPHHS multiplies the base benefit by an income and heating degree day (HDD) multiplier, and the manual caps the bedroom count at four.

Base benefit for a single-family home (2026-2027):

Base benefit for apartments, duplexes and mobile homes:

Non-traditional dwellings, such as an RV or camper used as a primary home, get a flat $150 base for any fuel. Three-bedroom apartment and mobile home rows are on the DPHHS page.

Income and climate multipliers (2026-2027):

Source: DPHHS energy assistance page, "LIHEAP Benefit Award Matrix" and "Income/HDD Multipliers," 2026-2027. District names follow DPHHS's local eligibility office list.

Worked example. For example, a family of three in Billings earning $2,500 a month with a gas heat bill, renting a two-bedroom house, has an annualized income of $30,000. That's 110% of the $27,320 poverty figure for three, which falls in the 101-125 row. The Billings (District VII) multiplier there is 0.65, and the single-family, two-bedroom, natural gas base is $772, so the award would be about $502 for the season. If NorthWestern Energy were threatening to cut the gas, the HRDC could add the crisis benefit of up to $250.

A propane household in the colder east does far better. A widow, 72, living alone near Glendive on $1,600 a month in Social Security heats a two-bedroom mobile home with propane. Her $19,200 a year is 120% of the $15,960 poverty figure for one, so the Action for Eastern Montana multiplier is 0.76. Her award would be $1,561 x 0.76, about $1,186.

The range. By Grantsights math on DPHHS's tables, the largest possible matrix award is about $3,765 (a four-bedroom single-family home on fuel oil in the Butte district, under 26% of poverty), and the smallest is about $69 (a one-bedroom apartment heated with coal in the Billings district, over 200% of poverty). The LIHEAP Clearinghouse, an ACF-funded resource, listed Montana's FY2026 heating benefit as $180 minimum and $3,228 maximum; the 2026-27 tables above are the current ones.

Season Dates and Deadlines for 2026-27

Montana's heating season is 212 days long, October 1 through April 30, according to the LIHEAP manual. These are the dates that matter in 2026-27.

Moving or new to Montana. If you move into the state or take on a heating bill partway through the season, the manual prorates the award by the days left out of 212. Apply as soon as you move; every week costs you money.

Federal funding status. Montana's piece of the first FY2027 release is $20,750,279, per the ACF state allotment table dated October 9, 2026. According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, that nationwide release of about $3.6 billion covers 90% of what the stopgap Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (signed September 2, 2026) makes available. For comparison, the Clearinghouse lists Montana's full FY2026 funding as $23,583,999. The rest of FY2027 depends on what Congress passes after the stopgap, so DPHHS's final 2026-27 budget isn't known yet. Montana's tribes receive their own LIHEAP grants directly from ACF.

How to Apply for Montana Energy Assistance in 3 Steps

Montana offers 3 ways to apply, and every path ends at the eligibility office for your county. There's one combined application for LIEAP and weatherization.

1. Online at apply.mt.gov. You'll need to create an account. This is the same portal used for SNAP and Medicaid.
2. On paper. Download form DPHHS-EAP-088 from the DPHHS page, fill it out, sign it and mail or deliver it to the office listed for your county. If you were approved last season and DPHHS has your mailing address, a pre-printed application should arrive in the fall.
3. With help. If someone in the home is 60 or older or has a disability, DPHHS lists 1-800-551-3191 for help with the form.

Eligibility offices by county, from DPHHS's local eligibility office list (opens in a new tab), checked November 3, 2026:

Tribal applicants. The 2026-27 application says Native American households living on a reservation other than the Crow Reservation should apply through their Tribal LIHEAP office: Blackfeet (Browning), Fort Peck (Poplar), Rocky Boy's (Box Elder), Fort Belknap (Harlem), Northern Cheyenne (Lame Deer) or CSKT (Pablo). Crow Reservation households apply to District VII HRDC in Billings. If you move off the reservation mid-season, the manual lets you apply for a prorated state benefit.

Documents the DPHHS checklist asks for:

• Photo ID for every household member 18 or older, and photo ID or a birth certificate for younger members
• Social Security numbers for everyone, or proof of citizenship or lawful entry for anyone without one
• Your most recent heating and electric bills
• Proof of all gross income for adults in the home for the month before you apply
• A full month of statements for every open bank account, including online banks, Reliacard, Direct Express and payroll cards
• Proof of health, dental or vision premiums you pay, which can lower countable income
• A VA award letter if a veteran in the home gets VA compensation

How long it takes. The application promises a decision letter within 45 days of a complete application, and you get 30 days to send anything the office asks for. If 45 days pass with no letter, call the office.

Shutoff Notices and PSC Winter Rules: November 1 to April 1

From November 1 to April 1, a PSC-regulated utility can't shut off residential gas, underground propane or electric service for nonpayment without the Commission's prior approval, according to the PSC's deposit and shutoff rules (opens in a new tab). That covers NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, Energy West and other regulated companies.

The PSC says it won't approve a winter shutoff if:

• the account holder receives a public assistance program, or has income at or below the federal poverty guidelines, or
• someone in the household is at least 62 years old or has a disability.

This isn't a blanket ban. The PSC's Winter Moratorium Explained (opens in a new tab) handout calls it a common misconception that utilities can't disconnect in winter, and says having children at home of any age doesn't protect you. It's your job to tell the utility before the shutoff that one of the protected conditions applies, and you'll likely be asked for proof. A LIEAP approval letter is the simplest proof of public assistance.

Who isn't covered. The PSC says companies it doesn't regulate, including electric cooperatives and propane distributors, don't need its approval and follow their own winter procedures. That's a big gap in a state where much of the rural east is served by co-ops and bulk propane.

Other PSC rules for regulated utilities:

The PSC's consumer line is 1-800-646-6150, or pschelp@mt.gov, if a regulated utility won't work with you.

LIEAP emergency help. The LIHEAP manual requires the local office to provide some help within 48 hours of an emergency request, or within 18 hours if it's life-threatening. A life-threatening crisis means you're without electric or gas heat, or under 10% of your propane, wood, coal or fuel oil, with no backup heat, when it's below 32 degrees outside, and someone in the home is 60 or older, under 6, on disability, or medically fragile. Offices must have heating emergency help available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, sometimes by leaving space heaters with the sheriff's office or a local business.

Montana's FY2027 LIHEAP Money Per Resident

Montana's first FY2027 release is $20,750,279, according to ACF's October 9, 2026 state table. Grantsights analysis of that ACF table and Census Bureau July 1, 2025 population estimates found Montana received $18.13 per resident, about 1.7 times the $10.44 average across the 50 states and D.C., and 10th highest of 51.

Sources: ACF FY2027 first-release state table (opens in a new tab); Census Bureau Vintage 2025 state population estimates (opens in a new tab). Rank excludes territories. Montana's state figure excludes direct tribal grants.

Specifically, Montana's $18.13 per resident is $7.84 below North Dakota's $25.97 and $8.08 above Idaho's $10.05. The federal formula weights cold climates, which is why Montana and Idaho get nearly the same dollars even though Idaho has about 885,000 more residents. In practice, Montana's money stretches further per household than Idaho's. Idaho residents can compare with our Idaho LIHEAP guide. According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, Montana served 14,675 households with heating help in FY2024, 344 with year-round crisis help and 414 with weatherization.

What DPHHS's Energy Assistance Page Doesn't Tell You

DPHHS's page has the tables, but 6 things that change the outcome are buried in the manual or left out.

1. Your savings can disqualify you. Most states ignore assets. Montana caps them at $14,717 for one person, and bank statements are required. A retiree with a modest savings cushion should check the resource table before assuming the answer is yes.
2. The month you apply matters. Montana annualizes one month of income. If December includes holiday overtime, applying in January with December stubs can push you over; applying with a lighter month can keep you under. Don't game it, but don't ignore it.
3. Winter protection depends on you speaking up. The PSC rule protects only if you tell the utility you qualify before the shutoff. A common mistake is assuming the HRDC already told NorthWestern.
4. Co-op and propane customers have no PSC shield. If your power comes from a co-op or your heat from a propane dealer, the LIEAP crisis benefit and Energy Share are your safety net, not the PSC. Your best bet is to apply in October, not when the tank hits 10%.
5. Fuel buyers can apply early. Propane, fuel oil, wood and coal users can use the Early Fuel option, with benefits covering deliveries from July 1, when prices are often lower. Ask your HRDC whether it's open.
6. Spring brings the bill due. The PSC warns that households relying only on energy assistance often find a large balance waiting in April. Paying something each month makes it easier to get a payment plan when protection ends.

Utility Discounts and Funds That Stack With LIEAP

At least 5 Montana utility and charity programs add to a LIEAP award, and several key off LIEAP approval. These are from the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's Montana profile (opens in a new tab) (utility section updated April 20, 2026).

The Clearinghouse doesn't list NorthWestern's current discount percentage, so confirm it on your bill or with the company. Energy Share is worth knowing because it's situational: a household slightly over the LIEAP income line after a job loss or medical bill can still be considered. The LIEAP manual also says crisis emergency help can kick in when you have a shutoff notice and Energy Share money has already been spent.

Weatherization. Every LIEAP application doubles as a weatherization application, and the weatherization income line is 200% of poverty ($66,000 for four). A sealed attic and tuned furnace lower the bill every winter. If the house needs a roof or wiring as well, our home repair grants guide covers USDA and other options.

Renters with a dead furnace. The manual says the landlord is responsible for repairing the furnace under the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and that emergencies must be addressed within three working days. Give the landlord written notice; the HRDC must still make sure you have backup heat in the meantime.

Common Mistakes and Scam Red Flags

These 5 mistakes cost Montana applicants the most, based on DPHHS's checklist and the PSC rules:

• Leaving out a bank account. The checklist wants a full month of statements for every account, including Direct Express and payroll cards. A missing statement is the most common reason a file stalls.
• Listing only family. The form says to include everyone living in the home, related or not. Leaving a roommate off can be treated as an error later.
• Waiting for the tank to run dry. The $250 crisis benefit is only offered during the heating season, and bulk fuel delivery takes days in rural counties.
• Moving without reapplying. The application says a move before or after approval means a new application at the new address.
• Hiring a furnace contractor first. Emergency repair money goes through the HRDC's procurement rules; don't expect reimbursement for a job you arranged yourself.

Scam red flags. The FTC's guide to utility impostor scams (opens in a new tab) says a real utility won't demand immediate payment by gift card, wire, crypto or payment app. In Montana, be wary of:

• A "NorthWestern" caller threatening a same-day shutoff in January, when the PSC's approval process makes that unlikely for protected households
• Anyone charging a fee to file your LIEAP form; DPHHS and the HRDCs don't charge
• Sites offering a "Montana energy grant" that aren't apply.mt.gov or a DPHHS or HRDC page
• A promise that LIEAP money will be wired to you; the manual says payments go to the fuel vendor

When in doubt, hang up and dial the customer service number printed on your Montana utility bill. Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab) and to the Montana Office of Consumer Protection.

Denied or Out of LIEAP Money in Montana: 4 Next Steps

Montana gives you up to 90 days to request a fair hearing, according to the LIHEAP manual, and the Department must hold the hearing and notify you within 90 days of the request.

1. Ask for a fair hearing. Use the Energy Assistance Request for Fair Hearing form (EAP 002) at your eligibility office, or mail a request to the Office of Administrative Hearings, Box 202922, Helena, MT 59620-2922. The local office must help you fill it out. A friend, relative or lawyer can represent you with your written OK.
2. Ask for an administrative review. A DPHHS reviewer can explain the decision and look at new information, which can settle the issue before the hearing.
3. Call Energy Share and your utility. Energy Share helps on need, and NorthWestern and the co-ops can set payment plans. Dial 211 for local churches and county funds.
4. Look past energy help. If rent is also behind, our rental assistance guide covers the main routes, and our emergency cash assistance guide lists one-time help. Older Montanans can see our help for seniors guide, and anyone wanting a cheaper phone bill can check our Lifeline guide.

For how LIHEAP works nationally, including the funding timeline, see our national LIHEAP guide, and for the poverty figures behind Montana's multipliers, our federal poverty guidelines guide.

If you're not sure which programs fit your Montana household, the free eligibility checker on Grantsights takes a couple of minutes: pick "Individual," then "Personal financial help," and it points to official routes for bills, rent, food and benefits screening. It doesn't award money itself, and for a Montana heating bill, the route ends at your county's LIEAP office listed above.

Sources

1. DPHHS: Montana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - Montana 2026-2027 income, resource and benefit matrix tables, season dates
2. DPHHS: Montana 2026-2027 LIHEAP and Weatherization Application (DPHHS-EAP-088) (opens in a new tab) - Montana checklist, 45-day decision, county and tribal offices
3. DPHHS: Montana LIHEAP Policy Manual 2026-2027 (opens in a new tab) - Montana emergency rules, crisis benefit, benefit calculation, fair hearings
4. DPHHS: Montana Local Eligibility Offices and Tribal LIHEAP Offices (opens in a new tab)
5. Montana PSC: Deposit and Shutoff Rules (opens in a new tab) - Montana November 1 to April 1 winter rules
6. Montana PSC: Winter Moratorium Explained (opens in a new tab)
7. LIHEAP Clearinghouse (ACF-funded): Montana profile (opens in a new tab) - Montana FY2026 funding, households served, utility discounts, Energy Share
8. LIHEAP Clearinghouse: Montana entry in state disconnect policies (opens in a new tab)
9. ACF: LIHEAP State Median Income table, FY2027 (opens in a new tab) - Montana 60% SMI by household size
10. ACF: FY2027 first release, state allotments (opens in a new tab) - Montana $20,750,279
11. ACF FY2027 first release notice, used for Montana's funding status (opens in a new tab)
12. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 state population estimates (opens in a new tab) - Montana and neighbor populations
13. FTC utility impostor warning, used for Montana scam red flags (opens in a new tab)