How to get help with winter heating bills, and what is different this year
The first cold snap of the year is when heating bills stop being abstract. For a lot of households the gap between what the bill says and what is in the account is real, and the main federal program that closes part of that gap has had an unsettled couple of years.
It is called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, almost always shortened to LIHEAP. Here is how it works, who it is for, and what is different this winter.
What the program actually is
LIHEAP is a federal block grant. Washington sends the money to states, tribes and territories, and they decide most of the rules. In most places the day-to-day work is done by local agencies, very often the county’s community action agency.
The help usually takes one of three forms. A payment toward your heating bill, typically sent straight to the utility or fuel dealer. Crisis assistance when you have a shutoff notice or an empty propane or oil tank. And in some states, help with weatherization or repairing a broken furnace.
It does not usually cover the whole winter. It is meant to take a meaningful chunk out of the bill, and in many states the money is handed out first come, first served until it runs out.
Who qualifies
Federal law sets a ceiling. A household can qualify if its income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or 60 percent of the state median income, whichever is higher. States can set their limits lower than that, so the number where you live may be different.
Households that already receive SNAP, SSI or TANF are often treated as eligible automatically, which can make the application much shorter. You do not have to own your home. Renters can qualify, including in some states where heat is included in the rent.
What is different this year
Last winter the money arrived late. The long government shutdown in the fall of 2025 held up the funding, and the first large release to states did not come until the end of November, after the heating season had started.
This year the timing is better so far. The new federal fiscal year began on October 1, and Congress is funding the government through a continuing resolution rather than a full-year budget. In mid-October the Department of Health and Human Services released about $3.6 billion, roughly 90 percent of the year’s expected amount, so states could start paying out.
The longer-term picture is less settled. The administration’s budget request proposed eliminating LIHEAP entirely, as it did the year before. Congress rejected that proposal for the last fiscal year, and lawmakers from both parties have pushed to keep the program, but the remaining money and next year’s funding still depend on budget negotiations.
The practical takeaway is simple. If you think you qualify, apply now rather than in January.
How to apply
If you do not know where to start, the National Energy Assistance Referral line will tell you where to apply in your area. Call 1-866-674-6327 toll free, or email [email protected] with your city, county and state.
Before you call, gather what most offices ask for:
- A photo ID for the person applying
- Proof of income for everyone in the household, usually covering the last month or so
- A recent heating bill, or the name and account details of your fuel dealer
- Social Security numbers or other identification for household members, if your state requires them
Requirements vary by state, so ask what they need when you book the appointment. A missing pay stub is the most common reason an application stalls.
If you already have a shutoff notice
Say so as soon as you contact the agency. Federal rules require programs to respond to an energy crisis within 48 hours, and within 18 hours if the situation is life threatening.
Call the utility as well. Most will offer a payment plan if you ask before the shutoff date, and many states restrict disconnections during the coldest months or for households with medical needs. The protections differ a great deal from state to state, so ask the utility directly what applies to you.
Staying warm safely in the meantime
Do not heat the house with the oven or a grill. Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn and plug them straight into the wall rather than into an extension cord. Make sure there is a working carbon monoxide alarm near the bedrooms.
And if a neighbor is older or lives alone, it is worth asking whether they have applied. A lot of the people who qualify for this program never hear about it.
