01
LIHEAP (heating + cooling assistance)
HHS via state agency
- Benefit
- Avg $601/yr toward bill, paid to utility
- Eligibility
- Income under 150% FPL or 60% State Median Income
◢ Heat, Cool & Electric Bill Help
Programs that pay your utility bill, not just lecture you about it.
About 5.3 million households got LIHEAP help last year, and millions more were eligible but never applied. Heating bills in cold-weather states routinely run $300-$600 a month in winter, and cooling bills in the South can rival them in summer. The federal program designed to fill the gap exists. The state versions on top of it usually do too. The trick is timing: most state programs run out of money before the season ends.
◢ Program directory
What is available in 2026
LIHEAP is the headline federal program. WAP fixes the underlying inefficiency. State PIPP programs cap your monthly bill. Utility hardship funds backfill what is left.
02
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
DOE via state
- Benefit
- Insulation, sealing, furnace replacement, free
- Eligibility
- Same as LIHEAP, often automatically referred
03
Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
Available in IL, OH, NJ, a few others
- Benefit
- Caps bill at 6-10% of monthly income
- Eligibility
- State-specific income test
04
Utility Hardship Funds
Each major utility company
- Benefit
- $100-$500 grant, paid to your account
- Eligibility
- Usually some level of hardship + active customer
05
LIHEAP Crisis Assistance
Same as LIHEAP
- Benefit
- Up to $1,500 for disconnect notice or no fuel
- Eligibility
- LIHEAP-eligible + active crisis (disconnect, empty tank)
06
Lifeline (phone/internet discount)
FCC via carriers
- Benefit
- $9.25/mo phone or internet discount
- Eligibility
- SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or income under 135% FPL
◢ Action steps
When and how to apply for utility help
Most applications are free and take under an hour. The longest part is gathering documents up front.
- 1
Identify your state LIHEAP office at liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/profiles/states.htm. Each state runs its own program.
- 2
Apply on the first day of your state's heating season window (usually October or November). Funds run out before the season ends.
- 3
Gather: photo ID, SSN cards for everyone in household, recent income proof (30 days), most recent utility bills, lease.
- 4
Apply for LIHEAP and WAP at the same time. Most state offices process them together.
- 5
If you receive a disconnect notice, call your LIHEAP office same day and ask about Crisis. Crisis must process within 48 hours.
◢ Set the record straight
Myths to ignore. Pitfalls to avoid.
The most common reasons people miss benefits they qualify for. Each myth below blocks tens of thousands of valid applications every year.
Myth
LIHEAP only helps with heating.
Truth
LIHEAP funds heating, cooling, weatherization, energy crisis intervention, and bill arrearages. Cooling assistance is common in Southern states. The Crisis component can pay arrearages within 48 hours.
Myth
If I rent, I cannot get LIHEAP because the bill is in my landlord's name.
Truth
LIHEAP can pay landlord-provided utilities. The landlord must reduce your rent by the LIHEAP credit. Apply with a copy of your lease showing the utility-included clause.
Myth
Once I am behind on my utility bill, the program is closed to me.
Truth
The opposite. Most states reserve LIHEAP Crisis funds specifically for households facing disconnection. Apply the day you get the shut-off notice.
Common pitfalls.
- 01
Waiting until winter to apply.
Fix: LIHEAP opens in November in most states and runs out before the published end date. Apply in the first two weeks of the program year.
- 02
Applying without a recent bill.
Fix: You need a current utility bill (within 30 days) to apply. If your bill is older, request a duplicate from the utility company first.
- 03
Missing the Lifeline phone benefit.
Fix: If you qualify for LIHEAP, you also qualify for Lifeline (free or near-free phone service). Apply at lifelinesupport.org or through any participating carrier.
◢ Common questions
Frequently asked.
Usually no, because you have no separate energy bill to subsidize. Some states allow vendor-paid benefits to landlords. Check your state's rules.
Roughly half of states fund a cooling component. Texas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Nevada are the most active. Always ask your state office.
30-60 days for regular benefit. Crisis must process within 48 hours, 18 hours if life-threatening (no heat in winter, medical equipment without power).
Yes. They are separate funds. Apply for both.
Ask your local Community Action Agency about state and utility programs that have higher limits. Hardship funds in particular often serve households up to 200% FPL.
◢ Verified sources
Where this comes from.
Every claim above traces back to a primary government source. Click through to verify.
- 01
HHS LIHEAP Program
www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap
- 02
LIHEAP Clearinghouse State Directory
liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/profiles/states.htm
- 03
DOE Weatherization Assistance Program
www.energy.gov/scep/wap/weatherization-assistance-program
- 04
Community Action Partnership Locator
communityactionpartnership.com/find-a-cap/
- 05
FCC Lifeline Support
www.lifelinesupport.org/
Editorial promise
Every program on this page is re-verified within 30 days.
GrantsHubUSA is an independent editorial blog. We are not a government agency, and we do not administer any of these programs. Always confirm current eligibility and deadlines with the administering agency before applying. See our full disclaimer.
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