LIHEAP 2026-27: Help With Your Heating Bill

Heating bill going up? LIHEAP helps households with limited incomes pay it. In Pennsylvania, 2026-27 cash grants reach up to $1,000. Amounts and dates vary by state.

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Important: LIHEAP funding is provided by Congress and split among the states, so income limits, benefit amounts, opening dates and deadlines differ from one state to another and from one year to the next. This page is an independent guide. It is not a government website and does not accept applications.

What LIHEAP is and what it covers

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Washington sends the funds to states, territories and tribes, and each of them operates its own program, typically through a state agency and local community action agencies. For fiscal year 2026, the federal funds released to the states totaled roughly $4 billion, according to the HHS Office of Community Services.

This help is not a loan, so it does not need to be repaid. In many states the benefit goes straight to your utility company or fuel supplier and appears as a credit on your account, rather than arriving as a check in your name.

Depending on where you live, LIHEAP may help with:

• Heating bills: electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil or wood, depending on how you heat your home.
• Energy emergencies: a service shutoff, a shutoff notice, or fuel that is about to run out. Federal law requires crisis programs to provide some form of help within 48 hours after an eligible household applies, or within 18 hours when the situation is life-threatening.
• Cooling: some states also assist with summer cooling bills.
• Heating repairs: some states help repair or replace a broken furnace or heating system.

Who may qualify

Every state sets its own rules within federal limits. By law, a state may set its income limit as high as 150% of the federal poverty guidelines or 60% of the state median income, whichever is greater, and may not set it below 110% of the poverty guidelines. Many states use one of those two maximums.

As a reference point, 150% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines equals the following yearly incomes in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. (Alaska and Hawaii have higher guidelines):

• 1 person: $23,940 a year
• 2 people: $32,460 a year
• 3 people: $40,980 a year
• 4 people: $49,500 a year

These figures are a reference, not your state’s actual limit: states that use 60% of the state median income may have higher limits, and some states apply a lower percentage. Many states also accept households that already receive SNAP, SSI or TANF. Programs are asked to prioritize households with the highest energy costs relative to their income, especially homes with older adults, people with disabilities or young children.

How much help you could get

There is no single national amount. Each state determines its benefit levels using household income, household size, the type of fuel you use, where you live and how much funding the state receives. In Pennsylvania, for the 2026-27 season, regular cash grants run from $200 to $1,000, and crisis grants can add up to $1,000 more over the season for households facing a heating emergency, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

Other states pay very different amounts. In last season’s state plans (fiscal year 2026), the maximum regular heating benefit was $441 in Ohio, $996 in New York, $1,400 in Minnesota and $2,564 in Illinois, according to the federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Most households get less than the maximum, and your final amount depends on your own circumstances.

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When applications open for 2026-27

Most states begin their LIHEAP year on October 1, yet the heating season does not open on the same date everywhere. Illinois starts accepting applications on October 1, 2026, beginning with priority groups such as adults 60 and older. Pennsylvania opens on November 2, 2026 and stays open through April 23, 2027. In some states the heating program has opened as late as January.

Many programs close early once their money runs out, and several let older adults and people with disabilities apply ahead of everyone else. For that reason, it helps to learn your state’s dates and to have your documents ready before the season begins. The document checklist and the 5 steps are on the next page.

About funding: as of late September 2026, Congress had not passed a full-year federal budget for fiscal year 2027, and the government was operating under a temporary funding law that runs through December 11, 2026. States set their 2026-27 amounts and dates based on the funding they expect to receive and may make changes during the season.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay the money back?
No. LIHEAP is assistance, not a loan.

Can I apply if I rent?
In many states, yes. If heat is included in your rent, the rules depend on your state and on the type of housing.

Is there a fee to apply?
No. Official LIHEAP applications are free. Be wary of anyone who asks for a fee or for your bank details to “release” a grant.

Where do I apply?
Through your state or local LIHEAP office. The step-by-step process, the documents to gather and the official phone lines are covered on the next page.

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This page is for information only and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, any state agency or any utility. Income limits, benefit amounts, dates and funding are set by each state and by Congress and can change at any time. Sources: HHS/ACF Office of Community Services, LIHEAP Clearinghouse, HHS 2026 poverty guidelines, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.