Help with your
Georgia utility bills.
Every Georgia LIHEAP application goes through the Community Action Agency assigned to your county. The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) oversees the program, but you cannot finish a heating application online or use an agency in another county.
Agencies serve applicants first come, first served, and DFCS urges people to apply early before funding runs out.
Eligibility
Georgia income limits
60% of Georgia State Median Income (total gross annual household income), per Georgia DFCS. Your Community Action Agency checks income for the past 30 days.
Source: Georgia LIHEAP (Home Energy Assistance). Verified October 15, 2026.
Meeting the income guideline does not guarantee assistance. Other program rules and available funding apply.
Seniors and the homebound apply a month early
Heating help typically starts the first workday of December for residents 65 and older or medically homebound. Everyone else may apply starting the first workday of January.
Cooling follows the same pattern: the first workday of April for those 65 and older or homebound, then the first workday of May for all eligible residents. A household can get one heating and one cooling benefit each program year.
Source: Georgia DFCS: LIHEAP
Inside a Georgia intake appointment
You call your local Community Action Agency to book an intake appointment, and the agency tells you afterward whether you qualify. DFCS says to keep paying your bill while the application is processed so you avoid a disconnection.
Ask the agency for its exact list. DFCS gives these examples:
- Picture identification
- Social Security cards for each household member
- Proof of income for the past 30 days
- Your current electric bill and heating bill
The federal rules behind Georgia's intake are covered in our national guide on how to apply for LIHEAP.
Eligibility rules, including the $1,000 credit test
You must be a U.S. citizen or legally admitted immigrant, have gross annual household income at or below 60% of state median income, and carry full responsibility for paying for your main heating source.
A rule that surprises people: a household whose energy bill shows a credit of $1,000 or more is not eligible. LIHEAP also cannot pay water bills, though DFCS notes that agencies may have other resources for water.
Source: Georgia DFCS: LIHEAP
Weather limits on shutoffs and crisis payments
Winter protection runs November 15 to March 15 and on days at 32°F or below, with summer protection at 98°F and above, per the federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Customers with proven medical conditions also get protections.
LIHEAP has a crisis part for life threatening heating or cooling emergencies. The clearinghouse lists FY 2026 crisis benefits of $810 in winter and $500 in summer. Utility complaints go to the Public Service Commission at 800-282-5813.
Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (HHS/ACF): State disconnect policies
Senior utility discounts and the HEAT fuel fund
Georgia Power offers an Income-Qualified Senior Citizen Discount to customers 65 or older with household income at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Atlanta Gas Light gives up to $14 a month off its base charge for qualifying customers 65 and older.
HEAT, a statewide fuel fund started in 1983, helps with any energy source, including propane, oil and wood. DFCS distributes HEAT money through the same Community Action Agencies that run LIHEAP intake.
Ways to apply for LIHEAP
- Call the Community Action Agency for your county to schedule an intake appointment (find yours at georgiacaa.org/find-your-local-agency)
- Apply only with the agency assigned to the county where you live
- Georgia has no online LIHEAP heating application; all applicants go through their local agency
- The agency tells you if you are eligible once the application is complete
Georgia county offices for LIHEAP
Local agencies in Georgia's largest counties. Confirm the current provider for your address.
Other help in Georgia
Other programs that may help your household.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Georgia LIHEAP (Home Energy Assistance)
DFCS says heating help typically begins the first workday of December for people 65 and older or medically homebound, and the first workday of January for everyone else. Your Community Action Agency confirms its own date.
Not for heating help. The DFCS heating FAQ says all applicants must contact the Community Action Agency serving their county to schedule an intake appointment.
The federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists FY 2026 heating benefits from $400 to $810 and cooling from $400 to $500. DFCS says the amount depends on household size, income and whether seniors live in the home.
Yes. Each household may apply for one heating benefit and one cooling benefit per program year, and both use the same eligibility rules.
No. LIHEAP covers home heating and cooling only. DFCS notes that Community Action Agencies may have other resources, so ask yours about water.
Official resources
Official links
Independent guide
GrantsHubUSA explains benefit programs and links to official resources. We do not approve benefits or process applications.
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