LIHEAP 2026-27 is open, and the money is already moving. The federal Office of Community Services released $3,631,860,000 in LIHEAP block grant funding on October 9, 2026 — about 90 percent of the amount available under the stopgap spending law that funds the government through December 11, 2026. If your heating bill is the one you dread most this winter, this is the program to check first.
LIHEAP — the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — is a federal block grant that states use to help low-income households pay heating and cooling costs. The money goes to the states, and each state runs its own version with its own dates, income limits, and grant amounts. There is no single national application. You apply through your state.
Here is the catch, and it matters: the October release covers only 90 percent of the annual amount. The remaining 10 percent depends on what Congress does next. The administration’s budget request again proposes eliminating LIHEAP entirely, so the long-term picture is not settled. For this winter, though, the money is real and states are already taking applications.
Pennsylvania opened November 2 — cash grants of $200 to $1,000
Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 LIHEAP season opened Monday, November 2, 2026, and runs through Friday, April 23, 2027. Cash grants run from $200 to $1,000, based on household size, income, and fuel type, and the grant is paid directly to your utility company or fuel provider. It does not need to be paid back.
Income limits are set at 150 percent of the federal poverty level: $23,940 a year for a single person and $49,500 for a family of four. If you are out of fuel, have less than a 15-day supply, or face a shutoff, you can also apply for a crisis grant of $25 to $1,000 on top of the cash grant. Apply online through COMPASS or call the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095. Pennsylvania also runs its winter shutoff moratorium from December 1 through March 31, so regulated utilities cannot cut off your heat in the coldest months.
Illinois, New York, and Ohio are open too
Illinois opened October 1, 2026, for older adults (60 and older), people with disabilities, families with a child 5 or younger, and households already disconnected or about to be. Everyone else who qualifies has been able to apply since November 1. The program runs through August 13, 2027, or until funding runs out. Illinois estimates benefits from $58 to $2,564. Apply at helpillinoisfamilies.com or call 1-833-711-0374.
New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) opened November 2, 2026. Governor Hochul’s office says more than 1.5 million New Yorkers can receive help this season, with up to $1,086 per household depending on how the home is heated. The maximum for oil, kerosene, and propane rose by $90 to $990. Emergency HEAP — for households about to run out of fuel or lose service — opens January 4, 2027. Apply at ny.gov/HEAP.
Ohio’s Winter Crisis Program runs November 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, for households at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level — $27,930 a year for a single person — who face disconnection or are low on bulk fuel. Ohio also has a Special Reconnect Order running October 12, 2026, to April 16, 2027, letting customers of regulated utilities reconnect by paying $175 plus a reconnect fee of up to $36.
What it means for you
Two things decide whether you get help: your state’s window and your place in line. Most states pay benefits first come, first served, and several programs close early when the money runs out. That is the real reason to apply in November rather than January — not just the cold, but the queue.
A worked example makes the point. Take a single person in Pennsylvania earning $22,000 a year. That is under the $23,940 limit, so she qualifies. If she heats with oil, her cash grant could be near the top of the $200-to-$1,000 range, paid straight to her fuel company. Add a crisis grant if her tank runs dry mid-winter. The same person in Illinois, as a ComEd customer, would face a 30-day gross income limit of $3,990 — about $48,000 a year — because Illinois sets its limit higher, at 200 percent of the poverty level for those customers. Same program, very different rules. Always check your own state’s limits before assuming you do not qualify.
If your state is not listed here, call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327 (TTY 1-866-367-6228) or use the LIHEAP Clearinghouse office search. And remember that heating help is only one piece of the winter budget: if you also receive SNAP, check whether your benefits are safe through the funding deadline — our SNAP funding update explains the December 11, 2026 date and what happens in January.
Sources
- ACF LIHEAP Clearinghouse — FY 2027 funding release, October 9, 2026: https://liheapch.acf.gov/Funding/funding.htm
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services — LIHEAP 2026-27 season: https://www.pa.gov/services/dhs/apply-for-the-low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap
- Illinois DCEO — LIHEAP How to Apply: https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/utilitybillassistance/howtoapply.html
- Governor of New York — HEAP opens November 2, 2026: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-15-million-new-yorkers-can-receive-hundreds-dollars-help-cover-home
- Related: WIC vs SNAP
- Related: Social Security December payment dates
FAQ: LIHEAP 2026-27
1. What is LIHEAP and how much can I get for winter 2026-27?
LIHEAP is the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It is a block grant to states, so amounts vary: Pennsylvania pays $200 to $1,000 in cash grants, Illinois estimates $58 to $2,564, and New York offers up to $1,086 per household this season. The grant is paid to your utility or fuel provider, not to you, and it does not need to be repaid.
2. Is LIHEAP funded for winter 2026-27?
Yes, for now. The federal Office of Community Services released $3,631,860,000 on October 9, 2026 — 90 percent of the amount available under the stopgap law. The remaining 10 percent depends on future appropriations, and the administration’s budget again proposes eliminating the program, so apply early while this season’s money is available.
3. When does LIHEAP open in my state?
It depends on the state. Pennsylvania and New York opened November 2, 2026; Illinois opened October 1 for priority groups and November 1 for everyone else; Ohio’s Winter Crisis Program runs November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327 to find your state’s dates.
4. Who qualifies for LIHEAP?
Each state sets its own income limit, generally between 110 and 150 percent of the federal poverty level or 60 percent of state median income. Pennsylvania uses 150 percent — $23,940 a year for one person, $49,500 for a family of four. Older adults, people with disabilities, and households with young children are often given priority.
5. What is a LIHEAP crisis grant?
A crisis grant is extra help on top of the regular cash grant when you are about to lose heat — for example, you are out of fuel, have less than a 15-day supply, or have a shutoff notice. In Pennsylvania, crisis grants run $25 to $1,000 per season. Apply through your county assistance office, not the regular application.