How to apply for LIHEAP energy help
LIHEAP is a federal grant that states and local agencies run, so the way to apply depends on where you live. This page says what we could verify and where the 51 programs differ.
Six steps
- Find your state's office. Use the state page for the public line and website, or call the national line 1-866-674-6327 (HHS asks for your city, county and state).
- Check the dates. Heating, cooling, crisis and weatherization often have different windows; the table below prints them.
- Check the income line. Use the eligibility check on your state page: it compares your income with the printed limit and is not a determination.
- Ask what to bring. The office or the local agency sets the document list; we did not verify a national list, so ask.
- Say if you are in crisis. Many states run crisis help for people facing shutoff or without heat or cooling; the program dates show which types run in your state.
- Keep records. Note dates, names and any confirmation number, and tell your utility you applied.
What counts as eligible
LIHEAP money is granted to states, which pick who gets it and how. The HHS federal ceiling in FY2022 was the greater of 150% of the poverty guideline or 60% of state median income (HHS report), and 90% of the 51 grantees used at least 150% of the guideline for heating. The Clearinghouse says eligibility depends on household size, income and other benefits received.
Program dates, lines and limits by state
| Alabama | Heating: October 1 - April 30 Cooling: May 1 - September 30 Winter Crisis: October 1 - April 30 Summer Crisis: May 1- September 30 Weatherization: year-round | 1-800-392-8098 | 150% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Heating: October 1 - April 30 Winter Crisis: October 1 - June 30 Weatherization: year-round | 800-478-7778 | 148% |
| Arizona | For counties: Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, Apache, Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, and Santa Cruz Heating: November 1 - March 31: Cooling: April 1 - October 31 For counties... | 866-494-1981 | 209% |
| Arkansas | no data | 888-233-0326 | 162% |
| California | Heating: Year Round Cooling: Year Round Crisis: Year Round Weatherization: Year Round | 1-866-675-6623 | 223% |
| Colorado | Heating: November 1 - April 30 Winter Crisis: November 1 - April 30 Weatherization: Year-round | 1-866-432-8435 | 240% |
| Connecticut | Heating: November 1 - June 17 Winter Crisis: November 1 - June 17 Weatherization: November 1 - September 30 | 1-855-626-6632 | 283% |
| Delaware | Heating: October 1 - April 30 Cooling: May 1 - August 31 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 302-397-8408 | 200% |
| District of Columbia | Heating: Year round Cooling: Year Round Crisis: Year Round Weatherization: Year Round | 202-737-4404 or 311 | 311% |
| Florida | Heating: October 1 - March 31 Cooling: April 1 - September 30 Crisis: Year-round | 866-762-2237 | 189% |
| Georgia | Heating: December 1 - July 31 Cooling: April 1 - July 31 Winter Crisis: December 1 - July 31 Summer Crisis: April 1 - July 31 Weatherization: Year-round | 1-877-423-4746 | 192% |
| Hawaii | Heating and Cooling: March 1 - September 30 Crisis: year-round Weatherization: year-round | 855-643-1643 | 149% |
| Idaho | Heating: October 1 - March 31 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 800-926-2588 | 181% |
| Illinois | Heating: October 1 - August 15 Crisis: October 1 - August 15 Weatherization: Year-round | 833-711-0374 | 200% |
| Indiana | Heating: October 1 - April 20 Crisis: October 1 - April 20 Weatherization: Year-round | 317-232-7777 | 196% |
| Iowa | Heating: October 1 - April 30 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 1-800-972-2017 | 200% |
| Kansas | Heating and Crisis: January 20 - March 31 Weatherization: April 1 - September 30 | 888-369-4777 | 150% |
| Kentucky | Heating: November 3 - December 12 Cooling April 14 - May 22 Crisis: January 6 - March 27 Weatherization: Year-round | 1-800-456-3452 | 157% |
| Louisiana | Heating: November 15 - March 15 Cooling: April 1 - September 30 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round (July-start) | 225-763-8700 | 185% |
| Maine | Heating: Year-round Winter Crisis: November 1 - April 30 Weatherization: October 1 - March 31 | 877-544-3271 | 212% |
| Maryland | Heating: year-round Winter Crisis: November 1- March 31 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: year-round | 1-800-332-6347 | 200% |
| Massachusetts | Heating: November 1 - September 30 Weatherization: November 1 - September 30 Winter Crisis: November 1 - September 30 | 1-800-632-8175 | 297% |
| Michigan | Heating: January 1 - September 30 Crisis: year-round Weatherization: Year-round | Click here | 110% |
| Minnesota | Heating: October 1 - May 31 Crisis: October 1 - July 1 Weatherization: year-round | 1-800-657-3710 | 256% |
| Mississippi | Heating: October 1 - April 30 Cooling: May 1 - September 30 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 1-800-421-0762 | 156% |
| Missouri | Heating: October 1 - May 31 Winter Crisis: November 1 - May 31 Summer Crisis: June 1 - September 30 Weatherization: Year-round | no data | 200% |
| Montana | Heating: Year-round Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 406-444-1788 | 198% |
| Nebraska | Heating: October 1 - March 31 Cooling: June 1 - August 31 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | (402) 471-3121 | 157% |
| Nevada | Heating and cooling: Year-round Crisis and Weatherization: Year-round | 800-992-0900 | 157% |
| New Hampshire | Heating: Year-round Winter Crisis: December 1 - April 30 Weatherization: Year-round | 603-271-3670 | 283% |
| New Jersey | Heating and Cooling: October 1 - June 30 Winter Crisis: October 1 - June 30 Weatherization: October 1- June 30 | 800-510-3102 | 292% |
| New Mexico | Year-round | 1-800-283-4465 | 157% |
| New York | Heating: November 3 - April 7 Cooling: April 15 - June 22 Winter Crisis: January 2 - April 7 Weatherization: Year-round* (*If funds are available.) | 1-800-342-3009 | 238% |
| North Carolina | Heating: December 1 - March 31 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 1-800-662-7030 | 136% |
| North Dakota | Year-round | 866-614-6005 | 236% |
| Ohio | Heating: October 1 - May 31 Winter Crisis: November 1 - March 31 Summer Crisis: July 1 - September 30 Weatherization: October 1 - June 30 | 614-466-6282 | 206% |
| Oklahoma | Heating: December 16 - December 26 Cooling: July 14 - September 30 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 1-866-411-1877 or 405-522-5050 | 130% |
| Oregon | Year-round | 503-986-2000 | 213% |
| Pennsylvania | Heating: November 3 - April 10 Crisis: November 3 - April 10 Weatherization: Year-round | 1-866-857-7095 | 150% |
| Rhode Island | Heating: October 1 - April 15 Winter Crisis: October 1 - April 15 Weatherization: Year-round | 855-697-4347 | 244% |
| South Carolina | Heating: October 1 - April 30 Cooling: April 1 - September 30 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: April 1 - September 30 | 803-734-0662 | 150% |
| South Dakota | Heating: Year-round Crisis: Year-round | 605-773-3165 | 200% |
| Tennessee | Heating: October 1 - April 30 Cooling: May 1 - September 30 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 1-800-228-8432 | 183% |
| Texas | Year-round | 877-399-8939 or 877-541-7905 | 157% |
| Utah | Year-round | 866-205-4357 | 150% |
| Vermont | Heating: Year-round Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 1-800-775-0516 | 225% |
| Virginia | Heating: October 14 - November 14 Cooling: June 15 - August 15 Winter Crisis: November 1 - March 16 Weatherization: Year-round | 855-635-4370 | 150% |
| Washington | Year-round | no data | 150% |
| West Virginia | Heating: November 1 - September 30 Cooling: December 1- September 30 Winter Crisis: January 1 - August 30 Weatherization: Year-Round | 304-205-6357 | 175% |
| Wisconsin | Heating: October 1 - May 15 Crisis: October 1 - May 15 Weatherization: July 1 - June 30 | 1-866-432-8947 | 226% |
| Wyoming | Heating: Year-round Winter Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | 307-777-7564 | 217% |
Dates and lines from the Clearinghouse snapshots; limits from the FY2022 HHS report.
CSVWhat LIHEAP can cover
The Clearinghouse home page lists energy bill assistance, weatherization support, crisis assistance, equipment repair and replacement, energy education and disaster assistance. A state may fund only some of them. Other help: 211 lists local bill-payment help.
Sources and dates
- HHS ACF LIHEAP Clearinghouse: find help
- HHS ACF FY2022 LIHEAP Report to Congress, supplemental tables
- HHS ACF state contact listing
- HHS ACF LIHEAP Clearinghouse state snapshots
Last verified: 2 October 2026. This guide is not legal advice and does not promise help.
Questions
Who runs LIHEAP?
States and territories run it with federal money from HHS; local agencies usually take the applications.
Is there one national application?
We found none; the national line 1-866-674-6327 refers you to your state's office.
What income is too high?
The limit is set by each state. Use your state page: it prints the rule, and the eligibility check turns it into a figure where the rule is a percent of the poverty guideline.
When can I apply?
Dates differ by state and by type of help; the table lists them as printed.
Does 211 help?
211 connects people to local services, including paying bills, per 211.org.
Do I get the same amount everywhere?
No. Benefit sizes differ; the state pages print them.
What if I am denied?
Ask the agency why and whether you can appeal or reapply; we did not verify appeal rules by state.
What if I rent and the electric bill is in my landlord's name?
We did not verify this by state; ask the state office whether the household, not the account holder, is what counts.