LIHEAP — Help with Utility Bills

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

For many of the poorest households in the nation, the choice of whether to “heat or eat” is a real one. LIHEAP helps low-income households — including many elderly and single parents, with their utility bills.

Millions of families with low incomes will have a tough time choosing between paying high heating bills and providing food for their families during winter months.

This is particularly acute for lower income single mother families who spend a much larger percentage of their income on utility bills than the average family. When the water, gas, and electric bills start piling up, the financial burden can become really overwhelming.

What is LIHEAP? #

The federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, provides by far the largest source of funding in the nation to help the poor with heating and cooling bills, most of that going to home heating costs.

In 2022, the government had a block grant amount of $3.8 billion for LIHEAP where States, Indian tribes, and territories use to provide heating and cooling assistance to roughly 6.7 million households.

The formula for fund distribution is dependent on the state’s low-income population and weather. Both heating and cooling costs for residential dwellings are included.

LIHEAP covers just a fraction of the poor families eligible for assistance and is distributed by local officials on the basis of greatest need. In almost all cases, LIHEAP pays only part of the monthly utility bill, and the family pays the rest.

How much does LIHEAP pay in 2023? #

The LIHEAP program is offered in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, 140 Indian Tribes, and five U.S. territories to families with qualifying incomes — including many elderly.

LIHEAP benefits vary by each state and are calculated based on income, household size, the fuel type and the region where you live. 1

STATE Cooling Cooling Heating Heating Crisis
Alabama $580 $820 $580 $820 $1,110
Alaska — — $400 $7,000 $7,000
Arizona $480 $1,200 $480 $1,200 $1,000
Arkansas $48 $475 $100 $950 —
California $268 $781 $94 $1,500 $3,000
Colorado — — $250 $1,000 $4,000
Connecticut — — $180 $530 —
Delaware $1 $1,000 $100 $1,926 $10,000
District of Columbia $250 $1,800 $250 $1,800 $750
Florida $400 $1,000 $400 $1,000 $5,000
Georgia $350 $500 $350 $500 —
Hawaii $375 $1,400 $375 $1,400 $650
Idaho — — $75 $1,218 $3,500
Illinois — — $175 $2,020 —
Indiana — — $250 $800 —
Iowa — — $80 $800 $8,300
Kansas — — $133 $5,565 —
Kentucky $100 $400 $34 $263 —
Louisiana $200 $800 $200 $800 $1,000
Maine — — $152 $2,116 —
Maryland $500 $2,213 $500 $2,213 $2,213
Massachusetts — — $462 $1,600 —
Michigan — — $1 $1,708 —
Minnesota — — $200 $1,400 —
Mississippi $1 $1,500 $1 $1,500 $1,500
Missouri $306 $990 $306 $990 $1,600
Montana — — $135 $5,279 $9,999
Nebraska $276 $700 $154 $1,050 $500
Nevada — — $240 $3,136 $3,136
New Hampshire — — $304 $3,024 —
New Jersey $118 $1,278 $118 $1,278 —
New Mexico $70 $490 $70 $490 $490
New York $10 $1,000 $21 $976 —
North Carolina $300 $500 $300 $500 $600
North Dakota $1 $1,000 $3 $1,161 $1,000
Ohio — — $50 $930 —
Oklahoma $150 $650 $40 $500 $750
Oregon $250 $750 $250 $750 $750
Pennsylvania — — $300 $1,000 —
Puerto Rico $50 $275 $50 $275 $900
Rhode Island — — $75 $1,285 —
South Carolina $200 $775 $200 $850 $1,000
South Dakota — — $668 $2,291 $2,400
Tennessee $250 $1,500 $250 $1,500 $1,500
Texas $1 $12,300 $1 $12,300 $2,400
Utah $190 $850 $190 $850 $2,000
Vermont — — $21 $2,785 —
Virginia $50 $700 $397 $1,282 —
Washington — — $200 $1,000 $2,500
West Virginia $430 $709 $430 $709 $2,500
Wisconsin — — $30 $1,518 $1,200
Wyoming — — $49 $1,811 —

LIHEAP Cooling Assistance #

Cooling assistance through LIHEAP is available in 28 states and the District of Columbia, with each jurisdiction offering different amounts of money. Families who struggle to keep their homes cool during the hot summer months may apply for Summer LIHEAP.

Applications open at varying dates depending on the state. Most cooling applications open as early as March 1 and close as late as September 30.

Here are the states that have cooling applications open year-round:

How do I know if I’m qualified for LIHEAP? #

Each state can create its own LIHEAP income guidelines, but they must fall within certain limits set by the government.

In general, to be eligible for LIHEAP, the household income must not exceed the greater of 60% of the median income in the state or 150% of the poverty level AND no less than 110% of the poverty level.

Priority is given to households with the highest needs or home energy costs in relation to income, particularly households with elderly members, disabled members, and households with young children.

In most states, LIHEAP has a priority system in place for:

  1. Senior and disabled households
  2. Single parent households with children under the age of 6
  3. General public

How do I apply for LIHEAP? #

If you need help with utility bills, you can contact the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) at 1-866-674-6327 or email at energy@ncat.org to find out where and how to apply for LIHEAP.

Alternatively, you can also contact the state LIHEAP agency in which you reside to get more information about how to apply for this program.

In addition to getting bill paying assistance, you may also receive weatherization, energy-related home repairs, and energy crisis assistance, when funding is available.

For a list of local intake agencies in each county,
LIHEAP Local Providers

For a list of grantees at the state/tribe/territory level,
State and Territory; Tribal

References

  1. LIHEAP Clearing House, Benefit Levels for Heating, Cooling and Crisis
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