LIHEAP winter energy assistance 2026-2027: how to apply online

Getting ready for temperatures to drop? Keep an eye out for applications to your state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) if you’re worried about paying your energy bills.

LIHEAP (also called HEAP) can help you cover heating costs during the winter (and cooling costs in summer) and prevent utility shutoffs.

Here’s what you need to know about how to qualify for LIHEAP, how and when to apply for assistance, and how to find your local energy assistance office.

What is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)?#what-is-the-low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap

LIHEAP is a program that helps pay your home energy bills, including assistance like:

• Help paying heating and cooling costs
• Emergency help if you're facing a utility shutoff
• Home weatherization to lower your energy bills

Each state runs its own version of LIHEAP, so benefit amounts, eligibility, and how to apply vary by location. You can apply once per heating season and once per cooling season.

The program goes by different names depending on where you live. It's called HEAP in New York, CEAP in Texas, and MEAP in Michigan, for example.

After approval, LIHEAP pays your utility company directly. This usually happens at the end of the season, which can be months after you apply. The payment covers past-due and future bills.

If utilities are included in your rent, you'll get a check instead. If you use deliverable fuel like oil or propane, it may take a few months after approval for your provider to deliver.

LIHEAP often fills up fast. Apply as soon as you can to increase your chances of getting help. That said, many areas have funding available throughout the season—it's worth applying even if you think it might be too late.

Who is eligible for LIHEAP 2026-2027?#who-is-eligible-for-liheap-2026-2027

To qualify for LIHEAP, you need to meet income requirements and pay your own utility bills. Most states set the limit at 60 percent of the state median income, while others use alternate income thresholds such as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

For example, in states that use 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the 2026-2027 limit for a household of four is $49,500 a year. Limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.

States can look at your total income from last year or your recent income (helpful if you recently lost a job).

You may automatically qualify if you get:

• SNAP (food stamps)
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
• TANF (cash assistance)
• Certain veterans benefits

Some states may impose additional eligibility rules (like asset limits). Check with your state's LIHEAP office for specific income guidelines where you live.

How do I apply for LIHEAP 2026-2027?#how-do-i-apply-for-liheap-2026-2027

In some states, community action agencies (CAAs) take LIHEAP applications, while in others, you apply through your local health and human services agency.

Application methods vary by state, but usually include one or more of these options:

1. Online portals: Many states now offer online applications through systems like:

• COMPASS (Pennsylvania)
• ACCESS HRA (New York City)
• MI Bridges (Michigan)

2. Local agencies: You can call in or go in person to a local CAA office. If your state doesn’t contract CAAs, you can visit or call your local health and human services office.

3. Mail: Paper applications are usually available if you can't apply online or in person.

Have these documents ready when you apply for LIHEAP—some or all of them may be required:#have-these-documents-ready-when-you-apply-for-liheapsome-or-all-of-them-may-be-required

• Photo ID for all household members
• Proof of income (e.g., pay stubs for all household members)
• Recent utility bills
• Rental agreement (if your utilities are included in rent)
• Social Security cards (some states require original cards, not copies)

Your local LIHEAP office will tell you if you need to schedule an appointment and which documents or screenshots you’ll need to show when you apply.

Don’t worry if you don’t have all of these documents—for instance, if you pay for your bills with cash or Zelle. Your office will review your information and help you prove your situation another way.

When does LIHEAP open for winter 2026–2027?#when-does-liheap-open-for-winter-20262027

LIHEAP application dates for winter 2026–2027 vary by state. Some states accept applications year-round, while others open applications in the fall or winter. Some also let older adults, people with disabilities, households with young children, and people facing a utility shutoff apply before everyone else.

LIHEAP application dates by state#liheap-application-dates-by-state

• Alabama: Dates not confirmed yet
• Alaska: Applications opened 10/1/2026, close 4/30/2027
• Arizona: Applications expected to run year-round
• Arkansas: Expected to open 1/4/2027 and close 4/30/2027
• California: Applications expected to run year-round
• Colorado: Applications open 11/1/2026, close 4/30/2027
• Connecticut: Applications opened 9/1/2026, close 5/31/2027
• Delaware: Applications opened 8/1/2026, close 3/31/2027
• District of Columbia: Applications opened 10/20/2026 online, by fax, and by mail; in-person appointments start 11/17/2026
• Florida: Expected to open 10/1/2026, close 3/31/2027
• Georgia: Expected to open December 2026 for people 65+ and medically homebound; January 2027 for everyone else
• Hawaii: Expected to open 6/1/2027, close 6/30/2027; crisis help available year-round
• Idaho: Expected to open in October 2026 for seniors, people with disabilities, and households with kids under 6; November 2026 for everyone else
• Illinois: Applications opened 10/1/2026 for seniors 60+, people with disabilities, households with kids under 6, and households facing disconnection; 11/1/2026 for everyone else, close 8/13/2027
• Indiana: Applications open 10/1/2026, close 4/30/2027
• Iowa: Applications opened 10/1/2026 for seniors 60+ and people with disabilities; 11/1/2026 for everyone else, close 4/30/2027
• Kansas: Dates not confirmed yet
• Kentucky: Fall heating subsidy opens 11/9/2026, closes 12/18/2026
• Louisiana: Expected to open 11/15/2026, close 3/15/2027
• Maine: Applications opened 8/3/2026, close 5/29/2027
• Maryland: Applications opened 7/1/2026
• Massachusetts: Applications opened 10/1/2026, close 4/30/2027
• Michigan: Crisis help through State Emergency Relief available year-round; Home Heating Credit expected to open January 2027, close 9/30/2027
• Minnesota: Applications open now, close 5/31/2027
• Mississippi: Expected to open 10/1/2026, close 4/30/2027
• Missouri: Applications open 10/1/2026 for seniors 60+ and people with disabilities; 11/1/2026 for everyone else, close 5/31/2027
• Montana: Applications open 10/1/2026, close 4/30/2027
• Nebraska: Applications opened 10/1/2026, close 3/31/2027
• Nevada: Applications open 7/1/2026, close 6/30/2027
• New Hampshire: Applications opened 7/1/2026 for seniors 60+, people with disabilities, and households with kids under 6; 9/1/2026 for everyone else, close 4/30/2027
• New Jersey: Applications open 10/1/2026, close 6/30/2027
• New Mexico: Applications accepted year-round
• New York: Regular HEAP opens 11/2/2026. Emergency HEAP opens 1/4/2027
• North Carolina: Applications open 12/1/2026 for seniors 60+ and people with disabilities; 1/1/2027 for everyone else, close 3/31/2027
• North Dakota: Applications accepted year-round
• Ohio: Applications open 7/1/2026, close 5/31/2027
• Oklahoma: Expected to open 12/15/2026
• Oregon: Applications accepted year-round
• Pennsylvania: Applications open 11/2/2026, close 4/23/2027
• Rhode Island: Applications open 10/1/2026, close 4/15/2027
• South Carolina: Dates not confirmed yet
• South Dakota: Dates not confirmed yet
• Tennessee: Applications open 10/1/2026
• Texas: Applications accepted year-round
• Utah: Applications opened 10/1/2026 for seniors 60+, people with disabilities, and households with kids under 6; 11/1/2026 for everyone else, close 9/30/2027
• Vermont: Applications accepted year-round
• Virginia: Applications opened 10/13/2026, close 11/13/2026
• Washington: Applications accepted year-round
• West Virginia: Dates not confirmed yet
• Wisconsin: Applications opened 10/1/2026, close 5/15/2027
• Wyoming: Applications opened 10/1/2026, close 4/30/2027

How to apply for LIHEAP and get help with your application#how-to-apply-for-liheap-and-get-help-with-your-application

You can apply for LIHEAP through your state’s online application portal, if available. Some states require you to apply through a local agency or submit a paper application. Find your state’s LIHEAP office for application instructions and local contact information.

Tips for a successful LIHEAP application#tips-for-a-successful-liheap-application

1. Apply early: Many states distribute funds first-come, first-served until money runs out.
2. Gather documents beforehand: Having all your required paperwork ready speeds up the process. Usually screenshots will be enough, and you don’t need to print everything.
3. Keep copies: Save copies of everything you submit.
4. Follow up: If you don't hear back within the standard processing time, contact your local office.
5. Appeal if denied: Most states offer fair hearings if you disagree with a decision.

What happens after I apply for LIHEAP?#what-happens-after-i-apply-for-liheap

Processing times vary by state and may take several weeks or longer. Check your state’s guidance for an estimated timeline and instructions for checking your application status.

If your application is approved, the way you receive assistance depends on your state and the type of benefit:

• For utility bills: Payment usually goes directly to your utility company (i.e., your LIHEAP benefit award shows up as a credit on your utility bill) and appears as a credit on your account, often in late spring, up to five or six months after the initial application.
• For deliverable fuels (like oil or propane): You may receive a voucher or the program may pay your fuel vendor directly to come by and fill up your tank
• If heat is included in your rent: Some states will send payment directly to you

Keep paying your utility bills while your LIHEAP application is being reviewed. If you have overdue bills or are low on fuel, call your utility company right away. Let them know you've applied for heating assistance and ask about:

• Deferred payment agreements
• Matching payment plans
• Other programs for low-income customers

How much is the LIHEAP winter heating discount?#how-much-is-the-liheap-winter-heating-discount

LIHEAP benefits are typically between $200 and $1,500 per season, though a few go higher, and some households get less than $100.

The exact amount depends on a few things.

LIHEAP benefit amounts vary widely based on:

• Your household income
• Household size (how many people live with you)
• Energy costs
• Type of fuel you use
• Where you live
• Whether you have "vulnerable" household members (elderly, disabled, young children)

Every state also offers crisis help, often a separate and larger payment, if you’re facing a shutoff, running out of fuel, or your heat stops working.

Some examples of typical one-time LIHEAP benefit ranges for 2026-2027:

• Connecticut: $355-$705
• Pennsylvania: $200-$1,000, plus crisis grants up to $1,000
• Minnesota: $200-$1,400
• Missouri: crisis help up to $800 if you're facing a shutoff or running low on fuel

Does getting LIHEAP still raise my SNAP benefits?#does-getting-liheap-still-raise-my-snap-benefits

It might, but fewer households qualify now. SNAP lets you subtract a standard utility allowance (SUA) from your income, and a bigger SUA can mean more SNAP each month. Getting more than $20 in LIHEAP used to qualify any SNAP household for the largest one, the heating and cooling SUA, without showing utility bills.

A federal law passed in July 2025 changed that. Now LIHEAP only gets you the heating and cooling SUA automatically if someone in your SNAP household is 60 or older or has a disability. If no one in your household is, you can still get it by showing you pay for heating or cooling, like a gas bill or an electric bill that covers your heat or AC. Let your SNAP office know about those costs when you apply, renew, or report changes.