Nebraska LIHEAP 2026: Income Limits and Payments

For federal rules and a side-by-side of every state, see our LIHEAP income limits guide. This guide sticks to Nebraska.

DHHS pays your utility or fuel provider in nearly every case. A message promising a "Nebraska energy grant" deposited to you isn't from DHHS.

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

Nebraska DHHS offers 5 kinds of LIHEAP help, and the FY2027 plan budgets 48% of the money for heating, 27% for cooling, 3% for year-round crisis help, 10% for weatherization, 9% for administration and 3% for carryover into FY2028.

Sources: DHHS Energy Assistance page and Nebraska FY2027 LIHEAP plan, sections 1.1, 1.2, 2.6, 3.6 and 4.12.

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) separately runs weatherization and Heating and Cooling Repair and Replacement Assistance (HCRRA), which can pay up to $5,000 to repair or install a heating or cooling system, according to DHHS's page.

Automatic heating payments. On November 3, 2026, DHHS's page said it "will be issuing LIHEAP automatic heating payments on behalf of eligible households when Federal funds are received," with a notice mailed to each eligible household. If you have a shutoff notice now, DHHS says to call (800) 383-4278 rather than wait.

Nebraska LIHEAP Income Limits for 2026-27 (150% of Poverty)

Nebraska's limit is 150% of the federal poverty level for every LIHEAP component, according to DHHS and the FY2027 plan. DHHS's chart for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 sets these gross income limits:

Nebraska's annual limits are from the DHHS Energy Assistance page (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027; monthly figures are the annual limit divided by 12. The 2025-26 limit for four was $48,225, per DHHS's FY2026 guidance document.

When the figures change next. DHHS ties its chart to the HHS poverty guidelines and dates each chart from October 1. Expect the next one on October 1, 2027.

How DHHS counts income. You pass or fail on gross countable income. After that, DHHS disregards 20% of earned income before setting your payment, according to the FY2027 plan, which helps working households land in a higher payment tier.

Other rules on DHHS's page: you must meet citizenship and residency requirements, be responsible for home energy costs, and not be otherwise disqualified. For subsidized housing or utilities included in rent, the plan says you must pay part of the heating cost yourself.

For food help with the same case, see our Nebraska SNAP guide; for health coverage, our Nebraska Medicaid income limits guide.

How Much Nebraska LIHEAP Pays: 4 Tiers by Income and Fuel

Nebraska's payment comes from 4 benefit tiers set by countable income as a share of the poverty level: up to 70%, 100%, 130% and 150%. The FY2027 plan lists the same minimums and maximums as DHHS's FY2026 payment tables ($154 to $1,050 for heat, $273 to $700 for cooling). DHHS's FY2027 guidance document wasn't publicly reachable on November 3, 2026, so the tier amounts below come from the FY2026 tables, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The tier income lines shift each October with the poverty guidelines.

Heating payment by tier (FY2026 table):

Cooling payment by tier (FY2026 table): single-family homes get $700, $595, $525 or $478 for tiers 1 to 4; multi-family homes get $385, $335, $300 or $273.

Source: DHHS LIHEAP Program Guidance Document, October 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab), pages 2 and 3, via the LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Single-family amounts are by main heating fuel; multi-family households get one amount for any fuel.

Worked example. For example, a family of four in rural Custer County earning $2,500 a month, heating a single-family house with propane, has gross income of $30,000, under the $49,500 limit. After the 20% earned income disregard, countable income is $24,000. On the FY2026 table that's above the 70% line for four ($22,505) and below the 100% line ($32,150), so the household falls in Tier 2, which pays $580 for propane on that table.

A retiree living alone in a Lincoln apartment on $1,500 a month in Social Security has $18,000 in countable income, between the 100% line ($15,650) and the 130% line ($20,345) for one person. That's Tier 3, and the multi-family payment is $220. If she's 70 or older, she also qualifies for cooling help: $300 at Tier 3 for an apartment.

Season Dates, Processing Times and FY2027 Funding

Nebraska's FY2027 plan sets 3 seasons, and DHHS's guidance says eligibility must be decided within 30 days of a valid application or request.

The plan says DHHS can decide heating eligibility after March 31 if you applied during the season and it wasn't decided, and it can issue supplemental payments any time in the year when extra funds, extreme weather or high prices call for it.

Federal funding status. Nebraska's first FY2027 allotment is $31,426,310, according to ACF's state allotment table (opens in a new tab). Per the ACF release notice dated October 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab), the national release of $3,631,860,000 is 90% of the money available under the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (Public Law 119-103), signed September 2, 2026, and funds are restricted for any grantee without an approved FY2027 plan. Nebraska's plan shows "Submission Accepted." The rest of the year's money depends on Congress.

How to Apply for Nebraska LIHEAP in 3 Steps

Nebraska has 3 ways to apply, all through DHHS, and households already on an economic assistance program get a shortcut.

1. Check whether you already have a case. If your household has an active or pending economic assistance case, such as SNAP or Aid to Dependent Children, DHHS says you can request LIHEAP without a new application.
2. Apply or request help. Use iServe Nebraska (opens in a new tab) online, visit a local DHHS office (opens in a new tab), or call ACCESSNebraska: (402) 323-3900 in Lincoln, (402) 595-1258 in Omaha, or (800) 383-4278 from the rest of the state.
3. Send papers by the deadline. DHHS's guidance says a missing document can get your application denied or delay the 30-day decision.

What to have ready:

• Gross income for everyone in the household, including pay stubs and benefit letters
• Your heating and electric account numbers and providers
• Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status and Nebraska residency
• A lease showing your share of heating costs, if heat is in your rent
• Form IM-55 from a licensed provider if you're claiming a heat-sensitive medical condition for cooling help
• Repair estimates if you're asking for furnace or central air help

Shutoff Rules and Crisis Help in Nebraska

Nebraska protects households through 2 sets of rules, state statutes for nearly every utility and a PSC rule for 2 gas companies, and the FY2027 plan requires DHHS to act on a crisis within 48 hours, or 18 hours when it's life-threatening.

Sources: Nebraska Revised Statutes 70-1605 to 70-1615 and the Nebraska PSC's Cold Weather Rule notice (opens in a new tab), checked November 3, 2026.

The PSC's notice says municipally owned gas utilities aren't subject to its rule. Omaha's Metropolitan Utilities District is publicly owned, so MUD customers should ask MUD directly about its winter shutoff policy. The notice must also tell you that you can arrange an installment plan, under 70-1606.

What counts as a crisis. The FY2027 plan says you must be LIHEAP-eligible, face a shutoff, a lack of energy delivery or removal from a budget plan, and have been unable to pay within the last 90 days because of an unexpected medical or household expense, a permanent and involuntary loss of work or wages, a wage earner leaving or unable to work, or a death in the household. Crisis payments can cover deposits and reconnect fees.

Bills that include water or trash. DHHS's FY2026 guidance says LIHEAP can't pay non-energy charges. If your provider bills several utilities together, you must pay 25% of the amount needed before DHHS pays the rest, or 50% if the provider is MUD.

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

DHHS's page covers eligibility well, but 6 details that change outcomes are missing.

1. The crisis cap is unclear. The FY2027 plan lists an $800 crisis maximum. DHHS's FY2026 guidance said crisis help is capped at $500 per program year under Title 476 NAC. Ask DHHS which cap applies before you count on more than $500.
2. Cooling help isn't for everyone. Unlike heating, cooling requires a member 70 or older, a child under 6 on ADC, a verified heat-sensitive condition, or a DHHS air conditioner in the past 4 years.
3. Fuel type changes the payment a lot. At Tier 1, a kerosene household gets $1,050 while any multi-family household gets $380. Make sure DHHS records your main heating fuel correctly.
4. MUD customers pay more up front in a crisis. Because MUD bills water with gas, the 50% share applies.
5. The Cold Weather Rule names only 2 gas companies. The PSC lists Black Hills Energy and NorthWestern Energy. Customers of city-owned or other public gas systems rely on the 7-day notice, medical certificate and conference rules in state law, plus their utility's own policy.
6. Fair hearings rarely reverse decisions. The FY2027 plan reports 3 fair hearings in the prior year and none reversed. Your best bet is the informal conference DHHS offers, with the documents that were missing.

Nebraska's FY2027 LIHEAP Money Per Resident

Nebraska's first FY2027 LIHEAP allotment is $31,426,310, according to ACF's October 9, 2026 state table. Grantsights analysis of that ACF table and Census Bureau July 1, 2025 population estimates found Nebraska received $15.57 per resident, 18th of 51 and about 49% above the $10.44 average for the 50 states and D.C.

Nebraska comparison built from ACF's FY2027 first release state table (opens in a new tab) and the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 population file (opens in a new tab); the national figure divides $3,569,741,735 by 341,784,857 residents, and territories aren't ranked.

Cold-weather states do better under the federal formula. Specifically, Nebraska's $15.57 per resident is $4.19 more than Kansas's $11.38 and $4.45 less than South Dakota's $20.02. Applying the FY2027 plan's split to the first allotment, about $15.1 million (48%) is for heating and about $8.5 million (27%) for cooling. Neighbors can compare with our South Dakota LIHEAP guide and Colorado LEAP guide.

Weatherization and Repairs That Stack With LIHEAP

Nebraska's FY2027 plan sets weatherization's income line at 200% of poverty, higher than LIHEAP's 150%, and puts 10% of LIHEAP money into DWEE's weatherization program.

• Weatherization: contact DWEE's Weatherization Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) or call (402) 471-2186, per DHHS's page.
• HCRRA: DWEE's repair or replacement program can pay up to $5,000 for a heating or cooling system.
• DHHS furnace or central air help: up to $750, once every 60 months, with estimates DHHS requests.

If you need more than a furnace or insulation, our home repair grants guide covers USDA and other routes.

Common Mistakes and Scam Red Flags

These 5 mistakes cost Nebraska households a payment or a delay, based on DHHS's rules and the FY2027 plan:

• Filing a new application when you already have a case. A common mistake is starting over on iServe when a SNAP case lets you simply request LIHEAP.
• Missing the medical certificate's 5-day window. Under 70-1606, the certificate must reach the utility within 5 days of the shutoff notice.
• Paying for a furnace repair first. Get DHHS's or DWEE's approval and estimates before work starts.
• Underestimating how fast crisis funds go. DHHS stops taking crisis requests once pending payments will use up the year's money.
• Skipping the IM-55 for cooling. Without it, a heat-sensitive condition doesn't count.

Scam red flags. The FTC's page on scammers who pretend to be your utility company (opens in a new tab) says gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency and payment-app demands are signs of a scam. In Nebraska, watch for:

• A caller threatening an OPPD, LES or MUD shutoff "today" with no written notice, when state law requires 7 days' notice
• A text asking you to "claim" an automatic LIHEAP heating payment by entering your bank details; DHHS mails a notice and pays the utility
• A fee to file a LIHEAP request; iServe and ACCESSNebraska are free
• A website other than iserve.nebraska.gov or dhhs.ne.gov asking for your Social Security number

In Nebraska, hang up and call the customer service number on your OPPD, LES, MUD or Black Hills bill, then report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab).

Denied or Out of Funds in Nebraska: 4 Next Steps

Nebraska gives you 2 routes to challenge a decision, according to the FY2027 plan: an informal conference or a fair hearing.

1. Ask for an informal conference. The plan says clients who aren't satisfied can request one. Bring the documents DHHS said were missing.
2. Request a fair hearing in writing. DHHS uses form DA-6, and the ACCESSNebraska Economic Assistance Guide for Client Appeals explains the steps. A hearing goes ahead unless the problem is fixed first.
3. Watch for supplemental payments. The plan lets DHHS issue extra payments late in the year if funds remain, typically to households that already got heating or cooling help.
4. Look past LIHEAP. Dial 211 for local help, and ask your utility for an installment plan. Nebraskans also behind on rent can use our rental assistance guide, and our emergency cash assistance guide for one-time help. Older Nebraskans can check our help for seniors guide, and our Lifeline guide covers a cheaper phone bill.

For federal LIHEAP rules beyond Nebraska, see our national LIHEAP guide.

Not sure which program fits a Nebraska household? Grantsights' free eligibility checker can sort it out in a few minutes. Take the individual path for personal bills and it returns official routes for utilities, rent, food and benefits screening instead of grants. For a Nebraska heating bill, it points back to ACCESSNebraska.

Sources

1. Nebraska DHHS: Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) (opens in a new tab) - Nebraska FY2027 income chart, services, how to apply, automatic payment notice
2. Nebraska FY2027 LIHEAP plan, accepted by ACF (LIHEAP Clearinghouse copy) (opens in a new tab) - Nebraska seasons, benefit ranges, crisis rules, fund split, appeals
3. Nebraska DHHS LIHEAP Program Guidance Document, October 1, 2025 (LIHEAP Clearinghouse copy) (opens in a new tab) - Nebraska FY2026 payment tiers, processing and crisis rules
4. ACF: First Block Grant Funding Release FFY 2027 (opens in a new tab) - the release Nebraska's first FY2027 allotment came from
5. ACF: FY2027 first release, state allotments (opens in a new tab) - Nebraska $31,426,310
6. Nebraska Legislature: Neb. Rev. Stat. 70-1605 (opens in a new tab) and 70-1606 (opens in a new tab) - Nebraska shutoff notice and medical certificate
7. Nebraska PSC: Cold Weather Rule notice (opens in a new tab) - Nebraska November 1 to March 31 gas protection
8. Nebraska DWEE: Weatherization Assistance Program (opens in a new tab)
9. iServe Nebraska (opens in a new tab) - Nebraska online application
10. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 population estimates, used for Nebraska's per-resident figure (opens in a new tab)
11. FTC: Scammers Pretend To Be Your Utility Company (opens in a new tab) - warning signs for Nebraska utility calls