Direct answer: LIHEAP is a federal program, run by each state, that helps pay heating and cooling bills, energy emergencies like shutoffs, and weatherization. For fiscal 2027 the federal income cap is the greater of 150% of the poverty guidelines ($49,500 for a family of four) or 60% of state median income. States may set lower limits.
By the numbers: Grant recipients may make eligible solely on the basis of household income which does not exceed the greater of 150 percent of FPG for the state or 60 percent of the SMI for the state. Source: HHS ACF, LIHEAP-IM-2026-01 (Apr. 24, 2026)
“LIHEAP does not charge a fee for receiving a benefit.” — HHS ACF, LIHEAP program page
Updated 2026-10-24
Federal law caps LIHEAP income eligibility at the greater of 150% of the HHS poverty guidelines or 60% of your state's median income. For federal fiscal year 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027), 150% of poverty is $49,500 a year for a family of four in the 48 states and D.C. Your state may use a lower limit, but it can't turn you down on income alone if your income is under 110% of poverty ($36,300 for four).
The federal maximum for Tennessee in fiscal 2027 is 60% of state median income, because it is higher than 150% of poverty for households of up to 8 people: $32,861 for 1 person, $63,196 for 4. Tennessee's program, run by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), can set a lower limit, so check with THDA or your local agency.
Federal law lets LIHEAP pay households where someone gets TANF, SSI, SNAP or certain needs-based VA pension payments, without a separate income test. Many states use this, but each state sets its own rules, so ask your local LIHEAP office.
Help with home heating and cooling bills, energy crises such as a shutoff notice or running out of fuel, low-cost weatherization, and energy-related home repairs like fixing or replacing a heating system. For a crisis, federal law says the agency must provide some help within 48 hours of an eligible household applying, or 18 hours if the situation is life-threatening.
Apply through your state, tribe or local community action agency. To find where, call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327, or use HHS's state contact list. LIHEAP never charges a fee and does not give grants directly to individuals by text or email; report offers that ask for a fee to the HHS fraud hotline, 1-800-447-8477.
Yes, partly. On Oct. 9, 2026, HHS released $3,631,860,000 in fiscal 2027 LIHEAP block grant funds, 90% of the amount available under the current continuing resolution (Pub. L. 119-103). States then open their own application periods, which differ by state.
As of Oct. 24, 2026
LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is federal money that each state, tribe and territory uses to help low-income households pay to heat and cool their homes. This page gives the federal income limits for fiscal 2027, what LIHEAP pays for, who can qualify without an income test and how to apply, from HHS's own memo, tables and the law.
Sources: 42 U.S.C. 8624 · 42 U.S.C. 8623(c) · ACF IM 2026-01 · ACF LIHEAP.
Uses ACF's fiscal 2027 tables. It runs in your browser; nothing is sent or saved. It compares your income with the federal maximum, not your state's own limit.
EXAMPLE Made-up household, not a real case: 3 people in Tennessee with $40,000 a year. 150% of poverty for 3 is $40,980 and 60% of Tennessee's median income for 3 is $53,084, so the federal maximum is $53,084 and this income is under it. THDA's own limit may be lower. Sources: ACF 150% FPG table · ACF 60% SMI table · 42 U.S.C. 8624.
How much you get and the months a state takes applications are set by your state. A household is people living together as one economic unit who buy energy together, or who pay for it through their rent, so renters can count too.
Sources: 42 U.S.C. 8624 · 42 U.S.C. 8623(c) · ACF IM 2026-01 · ACF LIHEAP.
The federal cap is whichever is higher: this number or 150% of poverty (below). For households of 1 to 6 people, 60% of state median income is higher in every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico, so the numbers below are the federal maximums. 150% of poverty is only higher for some bigger households (2 places at 7 people, 36 at 12). Sizes 7 to 12 are in the quick check and ACF's table.
| State | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,941 | $41,769 | $51,597 | $61,426 | $71,254 | $81,082 |
| Alaska | $43,444 | $56,811 | $70,179 | $83,547 | $96,914 | $110,282 |
| Arizona | $35,238 | $46,081 | $56,924 | $67,767 | $78,609 | $89,452 |
| Arkansas | $29,523 | $38,607 | $47,691 | $56,776 | $65,860 | $74,944 |
| California | $41,502 | $54,272 | $67,042 | $79,812 | $92,581 | $105,351 |
| Colorado | $45,295 | $59,232 | $73,169 | $87,106 | $101,042 | $114,979 |
| Connecticut | $48,714 | $63,703 | $78,692 | $93,681 | $108,669 | $123,658 |
| Delaware | $40,380 | $52,804 | $65,229 | $77,654 | $90,078 | $102,503 |
| District of Columbia | $63,024 | $82,416 | $101,808 | $121,200 | $140,592 | $159,984 |
| Florida | $33,733 | $44,113 | $54,493 | $64,873 | $75,252 | $85,632 |
| Georgia | $35,916 | $46,967 | $58,018 | $69,070 | $80,121 | $91,172 |
| Hawaii | $43,200 | $56,492 | $69,784 | $83,077 | $96,369 | $109,661 |
| Idaho | $34,030 | $44,501 | $54,972 | $65,443 | $75,913 | $86,384 |
| Illinois | $41,290 | $53,995 | $66,700 | $79,405 | $92,109 | $104,814 |
| Indiana | $34,635 | $45,292 | $55,949 | $66,607 | $77,264 | $87,921 |
| Iowa | $38,147 | $49,885 | $61,623 | $73,361 | $85,098 | $96,836 |
| Kansas | $36,733 | $48,035 | $59,338 | $70,641 | $81,943 | $93,246 |
| Kentucky | $32,489 | $42,485 | $52,482 | $62,479 | $72,475 | $82,472 |
| Louisiana | $31,398 | $41,059 | $50,720 | $60,381 | $70,041 | $79,702 |
| Maine | $38,070 | $49,784 | $61,498 | $73,213 | $84,927 | $96,641 |
| Maryland | $49,354 | $64,540 | $79,726 | $94,912 | $110,097 | $125,283 |
| Massachusetts | $53,585 | $70,073 | $86,561 | $103,049 | $119,536 | $136,024 |
| Michigan | $37,372 | $48,872 | $60,371 | $71,871 | $83,370 | $94,869 |
| Minnesota | $46,156 | $60,358 | $74,560 | $88,763 | $102,965 | $117,167 |
| Mississippi | $28,087 | $36,730 | $45,372 | $54,015 | $62,657 | $71,299 |
| Missouri | $35,298 | $46,159 | $57,020 | $67,882 | $78,743 | $89,604 |
| Montana | $36,120 | $47,234 | $58,348 | $69,463 | $80,577 | $91,691 |
| Nebraska | $38,015 | $49,712 | $61,409 | $73,106 | $84,802 | $96,499 |
| Nevada | $32,768 | $42,850 | $52,933 | $63,016 | $73,098 | $83,181 |
| New Hampshire | $48,713 | $63,702 | $78,691 | $93,680 | $108,668 | $123,657 |
| New Jersey | $51,273 | $67,049 | $82,825 | $98,602 | $114,378 | $130,154 |
| New Mexico | $28,854 | $37,732 | $46,610 | $55,489 | $64,367 | $73,245 |
| New York | $42,759 | $55,916 | $69,073 | $82,230 | $95,386 | $108,543 |
| North Carolina | $35,257 | $46,106 | $56,954 | $67,803 | $78,651 | $89,499 |
| North Dakota | $41,356 | $54,081 | $66,806 | $79,532 | $92,257 | $104,982 |
| Ohio | $36,756 | $48,066 | $59,376 | $70,686 | $81,995 | $93,305 |
| Oklahoma | $30,116 | $39,382 | $48,649 | $57,916 | $67,182 | $76,449 |
| Oregon | $40,326 | $52,734 | $65,142 | $77,550 | $89,958 | $102,366 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,460 | $52,910 | $65,359 | $77,809 | $90,258 | $102,707 |
| Puerto Rico | $13,946 | $18,238 | $22,529 | $26,821 | $31,112 | $35,403 |
| Rhode Island | $43,410 | $56,767 | $70,124 | $83,481 | $96,837 | $110,194 |
| South Carolina | $33,218 | $43,439 | $53,660 | $63,882 | $74,103 | $84,324 |
| South Dakota | $36,816 | $48,144 | $59,472 | $70,801 | $82,129 | $93,457 |
| Tennessee | $32,861 | $42,973 | $53,084 | $63,196 | $73,307 | $83,418 |
| Texas | $35,018 | $45,793 | $56,568 | $67,343 | $78,117 | $88,892 |
| Utah | $38,190 | $49,941 | $61,692 | $73,444 | $85,195 | $96,946 |
| Vermont | $42,221 | $55,212 | $68,203 | $81,195 | $94,186 | $107,177 |
| Virginia | $44,776 | $58,554 | $72,331 | $86,109 | $99,886 | $113,663 |
| Washington | $45,806 | $59,900 | $73,994 | $88,089 | $102,183 | $116,277 |
| West Virginia | $30,603 | $40,019 | $49,435 | $58,852 | $68,268 | $77,684 |
| Wisconsin | $39,863 | $52,129 | $64,395 | $76,661 | $88,926 | $101,192 |
| Wyoming | $35,858 | $46,892 | $57,925 | $68,959 | $79,992 | $91,025 |
From ACF's Attachment 4, built from Census 2020-2024 American Community Survey medians for a 4-person family and the household-size percentages in 45 CFR 96.85 (52% for 1 person up to 150% for 12). We checked every one of ACF's 624 cells against that rule. Sources: ACF 60% SMI table · ACF IM 2026-01 · 45 CFR 96.85.
| Household size | 150%: 48 states + D.C. | 110% floor | 150%: Alaska | 150%: Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,940 | $17,556 | $29,925 | $27,540 |
| 2 | $32,460 | $23,804 | $40,575 | $37,335 |
| 3 | $40,980 | $30,052 | $51,225 | $47,130 |
| 4 | $49,500 | $36,300 | $61,875 | $56,925 |
| 5 | $58,020 | $42,548 | $72,525 | $66,720 |
| 6 | $66,540 | $48,796 | $83,175 | $76,515 |
| 7 | $75,060 | $55,044 | $93,825 | $86,310 |
| 8 | $83,580 | $61,292 | $104,475 | $96,105 |
| Each additional person | +$8,520 | +$6,248 | +$10,650 | +$9,795 |
Below 110% of poverty, a state can't deny you on income alone. Puerto Rico uses ACF's adjusted guidelines ($9,157 at 150% for 1 person); other territories are advised to use the same table. See our 2026 poverty level chart. Sources: ACF 150% FPG table · ACF Puerto Rico table · 42 U.S.C. 8624.
On Oct. 9, 2026, HHS released $3,631,860,000 in fiscal 2027 LIHEAP block grant money ($3,587,894,233 for states, D.C. and territories; $43,965,767 for tribes). That is 90% of what's available under the current continuing resolution (Pub. L. 119-103). States must have an approved fiscal 2027 plan to use it, then each opens its own application period.
Source: ACF FY2027 release.
Scam warning. LIHEAP never charges a fee and does not give grants directly to individuals by message. If someone offers you a LIHEAP grant or asks for a fee, report it to the HHS fraud hotline, 1-800-447-8477. Also see our scam check.
Related: Benefits hub · Winter heating costs 2026-27 · Lifeline phone discount · SNAP income limits · Federal poverty level 2026.
Facts, not legal advice. We summarize federal law and HHS's tables, with dates. The quick check is arithmetic on numbers you type, not a decision; your state, tribe or local agency decides. We don't link to or get paid by any utility or company.
Federal law caps LIHEAP income eligibility at the greater of 150% of the HHS poverty guidelines or 60% of your state's median income. For federal fiscal year 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027), 150% of poverty is $49,500 a year for a family of four in the 48 states and D.C. Your state may use a lower limit, but it can't turn you down on income alone if your income is under 110% of poverty ($36,300 for four).
The federal maximum for Tennessee in fiscal 2027 is 60% of state median income, because it is higher than 150% of poverty for households of up to 8 people: $32,861 for 1 person, $63,196 for 4. Tennessee's program, run by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), can set a lower limit, so check with THDA or your local agency.
Federal law lets LIHEAP pay households where someone gets TANF, SSI, SNAP or certain needs-based VA pension payments, without a separate income test. Many states use this, but each state sets its own rules, so ask your local LIHEAP office.
Help with home heating and cooling bills, energy crises such as a shutoff notice or running out of fuel, low-cost weatherization, and energy-related home repairs like fixing or replacing a heating system. For a crisis, federal law says the agency must provide some help within 48 hours of an eligible household applying, or 18 hours if the situation is life-threatening.
Apply through your state, tribe or local community action agency. To find where, call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327, or use HHS's state contact list. LIHEAP never charges a fee and does not give grants directly to individuals by text or email; report offers that ask for a fee to the HHS fraud hotline, 1-800-447-8477.
Yes, partly. On Oct. 9, 2026, HHS released $3,631,860,000 in fiscal 2027 LIHEAP block grant funds, 90% of the amount available under the current continuing resolution (Pub. L. 119-103). States then open their own application periods, which differ by state.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.