Information checked: 2026-09-09 · Maintenance label: State/local variable
LIHEAP is the federal program that helps households pay energy bills, and its application windows open in the autumn in most places. If a winter heating bill is going to be a problem, this is the thing to sort out in September and October rather than in January.
The part that trips people up is that there is no national application and no national income limit. LIHEAP is federally funded and administered by states, territories and tribes, each of which sets its own rules.
This guide covers what the program does and does not cover, how eligibility is decided, and how to reach the office that actually makes the decision.
Key takeaway
LIHEAP helps with heating bills, cooling bills and energy crises. It is administered by your state or territory, which sets its own income thresholds using federal poverty levels and state median income estimates. Apply through your own state office, and apply early, because funding is limited and windows open on a state schedule.
Table of contents
- What LIHEAP covers, and what it does not
- How eligibility is decided
- Applying, in three steps
- What to have ready
- Timing and funding
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
Related guides
- Medicare Savings Program 2026: Income Limits, Covered Costs, and How to Apply — Other cost help worth applying for at the same time
What LIHEAP covers, and what it does not
| Covered | Not covered by LIHEAP |
|---|---|
| Heating bills | Weatherization and home improvements, which fall under the Weatherization Assistance Program instead |
| Cooling bills | |
| Emergency services during an energy crisis |
Depending on where you live, you may also qualify for help with electric bills. That is a state-level variation rather than a national rule.
The weatherization distinction matters because people frequently apply to the wrong programme. If your problem is insulation or an inefficient furnace rather than an unpayable bill, the Weatherization Assistance Program is the right door.
Check eligibility before applyingUSAGov help with energy bills ›Answers eligibility questions, then points you to your state or territory office. Free, and it is the government's own front door.How eligibility is decided
USAGov states plainly that eligibility for LIHEAP is based on your income, and that “every state and territory has its own requirements.”
The Office of Community Services describes two criteria used to determine eligibility: federal poverty levels and state median income estimates. The specific income thresholds vary by state and are set out in each programme's own service eligibility guidelines.
This is why a figure you read for one state tells you nothing reliable about another. There is no single national income cut-off to compare yourself against, so the useful step is finding your own state's published threshold rather than estimating.
Applying, in three steps
- Answer the eligibility questions on the USAGov energy bill help page.
- Find your state or territory's LIHEAP office through the official search tool.
- Submit the application. Some offices accept applications online; others require them in person.
That third point is worth planning around. If your office requires an in-person application, the practical constraint is opening hours and travel rather than the form itself.
Find your own state officeLIHEAP state and territory search tool ›LIHEAP is administered by states and territories, each with its own income rules, opening date and application method. This is the official route to yours.What to have ready
Requirements are set by each programme, so confirm the list with your own office. Applications commonly ask for:
- Proof of identity for the applicant
- Proof of income for everyone in the household
- A recent energy bill, or a shut-off or disconnection notice if there is one
- Proof of address
- Household size and the names of everyone living there
If you have received a disconnection notice, say so when you make contact. Crisis assistance is a distinct part of the programme, and it is generally handled on a different timeline from a routine bill-payment application.
Timing and funding
Two practical realities shape when you should act.
First, opening dates are set by each state or territory rather than nationally, so the window in one state may open weeks before another's. Second, LIHEAP funding is limited, and programmes may close applications when funds are committed for the season even if the published window has not ended.
Those two together produce the same advice every year: contact your own office as soon as its window opens rather than waiting for the bill that makes it urgent.
Find your own state officeLIHEAP state and territory search tool ›LIHEAP is administered by states and territories, each with its own income rules, opening date and application method. This is the official route to yours.Frequently asked questions
Is there a national LIHEAP income limit?
No. Eligibility is based on income, but every state and territory sets its own requirements, using federal poverty levels and state median income estimates.
Does LIHEAP pay for insulation or a new furnace?
No. Weatherization and home improvements fall under the Weatherization Assistance Program, not LIHEAP.
Can LIHEAP help with cooling as well as heating?
Yes. The programme covers heating bills, cooling bills, and emergency services during an energy crisis.
What if I have already received a shut-off notice?
Say so when you contact your office. Crisis assistance is a separate part of the programme and is generally handled on a faster timeline.
Where do I apply?
Through your own state or territory's LIHEAP office, reached through the official search tool. There is no single national application.
Summary
LIHEAP is a federal programme with fifty-odd sets of rules. The number you need is your own state's, and the office that decides is your own state's.
Apply as early in the season as your window allows. Funding is limited, and the households that miss out are usually the ones that waited for the bill rather than the opening date.
- USAGov, Help with energy bills — What LIHEAP covers, what it does not cover, and the three-step application route
- Office of Community Services, LIHEAP — That LIHEAP eligibility uses federal poverty levels and state median income estimates, with thresholds set by state