South Carolina LIHEAP 2026: Income Limits and Benefits

If you want the federal rules and other states' numbers, start with our LIHEAP income limits guide. The sections below deal only with South Carolina.

LIHEAP money in South Carolina goes straight to the power company or fuel dealer. Nobody legitimate will offer to send a "South Carolina energy grant" to your bank account.

South Carolina LIHEAP 2026-27: 3 Kinds of Help, 1 Benefit Per Household

South Carolina's FY2027 plan funds 3 kinds of bill help plus weatherization, and the plan budgets 25% of LIHEAP money for heating, 15% for cooling, 25% for year-round crisis help, 15% for weatherization, 10% for carryover into FY2028 and 10% for administration. A household can receive only one of these bill benefits in the 2026-27 program year.

Source: South Carolina FY2027 LIHEAP plan, sections 1.1, 1.2, 2.5, 3.5, 4.12 and 11.5.

The one-benefit rule is new in the way South Carolina describes it. The plan's public-participation section says the state will offer one LIHEAP assistance, emergency or regular, during the 2027 program year "to extend LIHEAP services to new households." Plan around that: a household that takes a modest heating benefit in October can't count on a second payment if a crisis hits in July.

South Carolina LIHEAP Income Limits for 2026-27 (60% of State Median Income)

South Carolina's FY2027 plan sets the income line at 60% of state median income for all household sizes, for heating, cooling and crisis help alike. ACF's FY2027 table, mandatory for every state's LIHEAP program from October 1, 2026, puts South Carolina's median income for a family of four at $106,470, so the limit for four is $63,882.

South Carolina's annual limits come from ACF's FY2027 state median income table (opens in a new tab) and apply from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Monthly figures are the annual limit divided by 12, rounded to the dollar. The added-person amount follows ACF's method of 3% of the four-person limit.

Watch for the older chart. On November 3, 2026, OEO's LIHEAP page still showed a lower table that tops out at $61,525 for a family of four and $31,993 for one person. Those match ACF's FY2026 figures. If your income sits between the two charts, apply anyway and ask the agency to use the FY2027 table, which ACF made mandatory this year.

When the figures change next. ACF publishes new median income numbers each spring, and they take effect for LIHEAP on October 1. Expect FY2028 limits on October 1, 2027.

How South Carolina counts income. OEO's page says CAAs look at gross income for the last 30 days for every household member 18 or older. You'll also need proof of U.S. citizenship or qualified immigrant status for everyone in the home, a government-issued ID showing South Carolina residency, and a current need, such as an energy bill due, in an adult household member's name.

If your household also needs food help, our South Carolina SNAP guide uses much of the same income paperwork, and our South Carolina Medicaid income limits guide covers health coverage.

How Much South Carolina LIHEAP Pays: The $300 Base Plus 7 Add-Ons

South Carolina's FY2027 benefit starts at $300 for every eligible household and grows with up to 7 add-ons, according to section 2.5 of the accepted plan. The base went up from $200 in the draft plan OEO posted in May 2026, and the heating cap rose from $800 to $1,000.

The cooling season uses the same list minus the fuel add-on, so the most a household can get for cooling is $850 ($300 + $200 for 4 vulnerable-member add-ons + $150 + $200). The crisis cap is $1,000 per the plan's section 4.12, and the crisis amount is what it takes to resolve the emergency.

Where the 30% line falls. Half of the 60% limit is the 30% line. For a family of three that's about $26,830 a year, or $2,236 a month; for one person, about $16,609 a year, or $1,384 a month.

Worked example. For example, a family of three in Columbia earning $3,000 a month with a gas heat bill from Dominion Energy South Carolina, with a 4-year-old at home, is under the $4,472 monthly limit but above the 30% line. They'd get the $300 base plus $50 for the young child, or $350. If their combined gas and power bills ran $650 a month, that's 21.7% of income, which adds the $200 energy-burden amount for $550.

A retiree living alone in rural Oconee County on $1,300 a month in Social Security, heating with propane, stacks more add-ons: $300 base, $50 for age, $150 for income under the 30% line, $150 for fuel, and $200 if her propane and electric costs take at least $260 a month (20% of income). That's $850. Her CAA may set a lower cap, though. OEO's page says agencies can limit how often they serve a household or pay less than the state maximum to stretch their money.

Season Dates, Deadlines and FY2027 Funding

South Carolina's 2026-27 program year has 4 dates to know, all from the FY2027 plan. Agencies open and close intake on their own schedules within these windows, and the money can run out first.

The plan also notes that South Carolina's crisis program follows the calendar year, so some benefits can be paid from October 1 through December 31, 2027 as well.

Where federal funding stands. South Carolina's first FY2027 payment is $44,762,562, according to ACF's state allotment table (opens in a new tab). It came out of a $3,631,860,000 national release on October 9, 2026, which ACF's release page describes as 90% of what the stopgap Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (Public Law 119-103, signed September 2, 2026) makes available. Money is held back from states whose FY2027 plan isn't approved, and South Carolina's plan is marked "Submission Accepted." How much more arrives this year depends on Congress. A year earlier, the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, an ACF-funded resource, put South Carolina's full FY2026 award at $49,367,067, so the first release is already about 91% of that total.

How to Apply for LIHEAP in South Carolina in 3 Steps

South Carolina has 13 Community Action Agencies taking LIHEAP applications for its 46 counties, and OEO itself doesn't take them. OEO's page is blunt about it: don't mail your application to OEO.

1. Find your county's agency. Open OEO's Help for Communities and Families page (opens in a new tab) and pick your county.
2. Call before you go. Each CAA sets its own intake method and dates. Some take appointments, some walk-ins, and OEO's page says agencies may prioritize energy emergencies when money is short. Homebound applicants can ask for a home visit; the FY2027 plan says intake staff travel to the customer when needed.
3. Bring complete papers. Crisis help moves on the 18-to-48-hour clock only once the agency has all required documents.

Agencies for the largest counties, as OEO listed them on November 3, 2026:

Documents to bring, per OEO's eligibility list:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualified immigrant status for every household member
• A government-issued ID that shows you live in South Carolina
• Gross income for the last 30 days for everyone 18 and older (pay stubs, Social Security or SSI letters, unemployment statements)
• The energy bill you need help with, in an adult household member's name
• Any disconnect notice, and your CAA may ask for more

Renters who pay for energy through their rent can still qualify. The FY2027 plan says payments can't go to landlords or to households, so the agency uses South Carolina's LIHEAP Renter's Affidavit to document a rent reduction instead.

Shutoff Notices and Crisis Help: 18 to 48 Hours

South Carolina's FY2027 plan requires CAAs to act within 48 hours on an energy crisis and within 18 hours when it's life-threatening, once they have your documents. The plan defines a crisis as having no active energy source for heat or cooling, a scheduled disconnection, or an extremely low or empty fuel tank because of an unexpected money problem. It's life-threatening when someone in the home needs utility service to run medical equipment.

No blanket winter moratorium. South Carolina doesn't stop all winter shutoffs. What it does have, under Public Service Commission rules 103-352 (electric) and 103-452 (gas) (opens in a new tab), is a medical protection for December through March:

Source: S.C. Code of Regulations, Chapter 103 (opens in a new tab), R.103-352 and R.103-452, checked November 3, 2026.

State law adds two more protections for electric customers. Under S.C. Code section 58-27-2510 and following (opens in a new tab), a "special needs account" customer, someone with a provider's certificate that a shutoff would endanger health, or someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, can only be cut off under the utility's special written procedures. The same law requires every electric utility to have written rules for shutoffs during extremely hot or cold weather, so ask your utility for its weather standard.

If you can't settle a dispute with an investor-owned electric or gas utility, contact the SC Office of Regulatory Staff's consumer services (opens in a new tab) at 1-800-922-1531. The ORS says it can't open an investigation for electric cooperatives (with limited exceptions), city-owned utilities or propane dealers.

What OEO's LIHEAP Page Doesn't Tell You

OEO's page explains who runs the program, but 6 points that affect your money are missing from it.

1. The benefit went up a lot. The draft plan OEO posted in May listed $200 to $800. The plan ACF accepted pays $300 to $1,000 for heating and crisis and $300 to $850 for cooling. If an agency quotes the old range, ask which plan it's using.
2. The income chart is a year old. As covered above, OEO's page shows FY2026 limits ($61,525 for four) instead of ACF's FY2027 numbers ($63,882).
3. One benefit means timing matters. Because each household gets one LIHEAP payment in 2026-27, a household that expects a summer crisis may do better waiting, if it isn't behind now. A household with a disconnect notice today shouldn't wait.
4. Your agency can pay less than the state maximum. OEO lets CAAs set tighter limits or lower benefits to stretch funds. Two neighbors in different counties can get different amounts.
5. The medical protection needs your signature, too. The December-through-March certificate only works if you also sign that you can't pay in installments, and it doesn't erase the bill.
6. Fair hearings rarely change decisions. The FY2027 plan reports 2 fair hearings statewide in the prior federal fiscal year, and neither reversed the original decision. Your best bet after a denial is to bring better documents, not to argue the rules.

South Carolina's FY2027 LIHEAP Money Per Resident

South Carolina's first FY2027 LIHEAP release is $44,762,562, according to ACF's October 9, 2026 state table. Grantsights analysis of that ACF table and Census Bureau July 1, 2025 population estimates found South Carolina received $8.04 per resident, well under the $10.44 average across the 50 states and D.C.

South Carolina comparison built from ACF's FY2027 first release state table (opens in a new tab) and the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 state population file (opens in a new tab); territories aren't ranked.

The federal formula leans toward cold-weather states, and South Carolina sits in the bottom 10. Specifically, South Carolina's $8.04 per resident is $0.78 less than North Carolina's $8.82 but $0.73 more than Georgia's $7.31. Applying the FY2027 plan's split to this first release, roughly $11.2 million (25%) is for heating help, about $11.2 million (25%) for year-round crisis help and about $6.7 million (15%) for cooling. Those figures cover only the first release. Neighbors can compare with our North Carolina LIHEAP guide and Georgia LIHEAP guide.

Utility Funds and Weatherization That Stack With LIHEAP

At least 3 large South Carolina utilities fund their own bill help, and many electric co-ops run Operation Round Up programs, according to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's South Carolina profile. These are charity funds, so amounts and open dates vary.

Ask your CAA whether it also handles the utility fund for your area; many funds are distributed through the same local agencies.

Weatherization. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists South Carolina's weatherization income line at 200% of the federal poverty level, higher than LIHEAP's own limit for smaller households. OEO's Help page notes which agencies offer weatherization in which counties. If your roof or floors need more than weatherization covers, our home repair grants guide lists USDA and other options.

Common Mistakes and Scam Red Flags

These 5 problems cost South Carolina households a benefit or a delay, based on the FY2027 plan and OEO's rules:

• Sending the application to OEO. OEO doesn't process applications. A common mistake is mailing papers to Columbia and losing weeks.
• Applying without a bill due. OEO requires a current need, such as an energy bill due. Bring the newest bill, not last month's.
• Using a bill in a teenager's or absent person's name. The bill must be in an adult household member's name.
• Taking a small fall benefit when a bigger crisis is coming. With one benefit per year, think through which season hurts most.
• Waiting until the shutoff date. Crisis help needs complete documents to start the 18-to-48-hour clock. Go as soon as the notice arrives.

Scam red flags. The FTC's guidance on scammers who pretend to be your utility company (opens in a new tab) says utilities don't demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or payment app. In South Carolina, be wary of:

• A caller threatening a Dominion, Duke or Santee Cooper shutoff "within the hour" unless you pay by gift card
• Anyone charging a fee to file your LIHEAP application or to "guarantee" approval
• A website or text claiming to be "SC LIHEAP" that asks for your Social Security number; applications go through your county CAA
• A promise that LIHEAP money will be deposited to you; South Carolina pays the energy vendor

In South Carolina, the safe move is to hang up and dial the customer service number on your Dominion, Duke or co-op bill, then report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab).

Denied or Out of Funds in South Carolina: 4 Next Steps

South Carolina gives 2 levels of appeal, according to OEO's LIHEAP page: first the CAA, then OEO.

1. Ask your CAA for a fair hearing. Tell the agency in your county that you want to appeal. OEO says your application will be reviewed against the required documents, so bring anything that was missing.
2. Appeal in writing to OEO. If the CAA denies the appeal, write to the Office of Economic Opportunity, Attention: Legal Counsel, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 355, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The FY2027 plan says you can also appeal at both levels if your application wasn't acted on in time (10 business days, or 18 to 48 hours for a crisis).
3. Check the next season. If funds ran out, OEO's page says no more benefits can be paid until Congress makes more available. Ask the CAA when it expects to reopen.
4. Look past LIHEAP. In South Carolina, 211 connects you to local charities and church funds. Ask your utility for a deferred payment plan, which regulated electric and gas companies must offer. South Carolina renters who are behind can start with our rental assistance guide, and our emergency cash assistance guide covers one-time grants. Older South Carolinians can use our help for seniors guide, and our Lifeline guide covers a cheaper phone bill.

For how LIHEAP works nationally, including the federal funding timeline, see our national LIHEAP guide.

If you're not sure which bill program fits your household, the free eligibility checker on Grantsights can help sort that out. Pick the individual path and personal financial help, and it points you to official routes for utility bills, rent, food and benefits screening rather than grants. For a South Carolina power or gas bill, the route ends at your county's Community Action Agency.

Sources

1. SC Office of Economic Opportunity: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina eligibility rules, documents, appeals, posted income chart
2. SC OEO: Help for Communities and Families (Community Action Agencies by county) (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina CAA names, counties and phone numbers
3. South Carolina FY2027 LIHEAP plan, accepted by ACF (LIHEAP Clearinghouse copy) (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina dates, benefit add-ons, caps, one-benefit rule, crisis timelines
4. SC OEO: Draft 2027 LIHEAP State Plan (May 2026) (opens in a new tab) - the earlier South Carolina $200 to $800 draft
5. ACF: LIHEAP State Median Income table, FY2027 (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina 60% SMI by household size
6. ACF: First Block Grant Funding Release FFY 2027 (opens in a new tab) - October 9, 2026 release under Public Law 119-103
7. ACF: FY2027 first release, state allotments (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina $44,762,562
8. S.C. Code of Regulations, Chapter 103 (Public Service Commission) (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina R.103-352 and R.103-452 termination rules
9. S.C. Code Title 58, Chapter 27 (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina special needs accounts and extreme-weather procedures
10. SC Office of Regulatory Staff: Consumers (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina utility complaints and which utilities ORS covers
11. LIHEAP Clearinghouse (ACF-funded): South Carolina profile (opens in a new tab) - South Carolina FY2026 funding, weatherization line, utility funds
12. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 population estimates, used for South Carolina's per-resident figure (opens in a new tab)
13. FTC: Scammers Pretend To Be Your Utility Company (opens in a new tab) - payment red flags that apply to South Carolina utility calls