Energy assistance: who qualifies and where to apply
LIHEAP is the federal program that helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. States run it, so rules differ. This page covers the federal income floor and the official application route.
The federal income floor
Federal law sets minimum eligibility at 150 percent of the poverty guideline. Many states set their threshold higher, so treat this as a floor rather than the rule.
| People in household | 2026 poverty guideline | 150% of guideline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960.00 | $23,940.00 |
| 2 | $21,640.00 | $32,460.00 |
| 3 | $27,320.00 | $40,980.00 |
| 4 | $33,000.00 | $49,500.00 |
| 5 | $38,680.00 | $58,020.00 |
| 6 | $44,360.00 | $66,540.00 |
| 7 | $50,040.00 | $75,060.00 |
| 8 | $55,720.00 | $83,580.00 |
Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher guidelines. Source: HHS ASPE, 2026 poverty guidelines.
State by state
Each page below carries the official application link for that state, what to bring, and the income table. Every link was fetched and confirmed working on the date shown.
- California - LIHEAP through the California Department of Community Services and Development
- Texas - Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
- New York - Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
- Florida - LIHEAP, delivered by local community action agencies
- Massachusetts - Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
- Illinois - Illinois LIHEAP
- Pennsylvania - LIHEAP through the Department of Human Services
- New Jersey - LIHEAP through the Department of Community Affairs
- Georgia - LIHEAP through the Division of Family and Children Services
- Michigan - Energy and Weatherization assistance through MDHHS
How to apply
- Applications go through your state, not the federal government. Most states accept them online, by phone, or at a local community action agency.
- Expect to provide proof of income, identification, and a recent utility bill.
- Processing commonly takes two to six weeks; crisis programs move faster.
Official program listing at benefits.gov is the federal entry point that routes to the current state application.
What this page does not do
It does not quote state-by-state benefit amounts. Those change every season and vary by household, and a wrong number would be worse than no number. The income tables above come from published federal guidelines and are exact.
Related
Electricity price by state shows what the bill looks like before assistance, and the calculator turns your own kWh into dollars.