Last updated: June 5, 2026
Your power is close to shutoff, the gas is already off, the oil tank is almost empty, or the furnace quit on a cold night. LIHEAP crisis help may be the fastest public energy aid to ask about, but you need to call the right office and use the word “crisis.”
What LIHEAP crisis benefits can do
LIHEAP is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It is a federal block grant run by states, territories, tribes, and local agencies. The federal ACF LIHEAP page explains that LIHEAP helps with energy costs, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. The money does not come straight from the federal office to you. Your state, tribal program, territory, county, or Community Action Agency usually handles the application.
A crisis benefit is the urgent part of LIHEAP. It is meant for a home energy emergency, not just a high bill. The official LIHEAP fact sheet says grant recipients must provide crisis energy assistance through at least March 15, but the exact season and rules still vary by place.
Common crisis problems include:
- a shutoff notice for electric, gas, or another main energy source;
- service that is already shut off;
- no working heat in cold weather;
- very low heating fuel, such as oil, propane, wood, pellets, coal, or kerosene;
- a broken furnace, boiler, heater, fuel line, or other heating part that may be covered locally;
- a cooling emergency in a state that runs summer crisis help, often when heat is dangerous for health.
Federal law sets fast crisis response targets for eligible households. Under federal LIHEAP law, a crisis program must provide some form of help that resolves the energy crisis within 48 hours after an eligible household applies. If the situation is life-threatening, the response time is 18 hours. This does not mean every person gets a payment in 18 or 48 hours. It means the local program must act quickly if you are eligible and have provided what it needs to decide the case.
Important: Crisis help is not a promise that the full bill will be paid. Local programs may pay only enough to stop a shutoff, restore service, deliver a minimum amount of fuel, or make an urgent heating repair. Funding can run out.
What to do first if the situation is urgent
When you are in a crisis, the order matters. Do not spend the first hour filling out the wrong online form if the shutoff is today. Call or contact the crisis intake office, the utility, and 211 as needed.
Use 911 for danger. If you smell gas, see smoke, have sparks, have a carbon monoxide alarm sounding, or someone has symptoms like confusion, chest pain, fainting, or severe trouble breathing, leave the home and call emergency services. LIHEAP is not a fire, gas leak, or medical emergency service.
For cold or heat danger, take safe steps while you seek help. The CDC carbon monoxide page warns that carbon monoxide is odorless and can cause sudden illness or death. The U.S. Fire Administration’s heating fire safety guidance says not to use an oven to heat a home and to keep anything that can burn at least three feet from heat sources.
| Problem today | Best first call | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| Shutoff notice, disconnect date, or service already off | Local LIHEAP crisis office and the utility | Ask for crisis LIHEAP and ask the utility to note that you are applying. |
| Less than a safe fuel supply | Local LIHEAP office and your fuel vendor | Ask if emergency fuel delivery, vendor pledge, or minimum delivery help is available. |
| Broken furnace or heating system | Local LIHEAP office | Ask if heating equipment repair, replacement, or a safety inspection is part of your state program. |
| You do not know your local office | NEAR or 211 | Give your city, county, state, fuel type, and shutoff or no-heat problem. |
| Unsafe heat or possible carbon monoxide | 911, fire department, gas company, or emergency shelter line | Get out first. Do not wait for a benefits appointment. |
Fast action steps
- Take a picture of the shutoff notice, empty fuel gauge, utility bill, or repair problem.
- Call your local LIHEAP office and say “I need to apply for crisis benefits.”
- Call the utility or fuel vendor and say you are applying for LIHEAP crisis help.
- Ask the agency how to send documents the same day: upload, email, fax, in person, or drop box.
- Write down every call: date, time, person, phone number, and what they told you.
Who may qualify
LIHEAP is for households with low income and a home energy need. Each state, territory, and tribe sets its own income limit within federal rules. The federal rule generally caps LIHEAP income limits at the greater of 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or 60% of State Median Income, and states cannot set limits below 110% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Some places use monthly income, some use 30-day income, and some use seasonal or annual income.
Do not assume you are over income because another program denied you. Also do not assume you qualify because a neighbor did. Your household size, fuel type, income period, shutoff status, energy burden, age, disability, and state rules can all matter.
Simple qualification check
- You may have a stronger case if you have a shutoff notice, no service, no heat, low delivered fuel, or unsafe heating equipment.
- You may get priority in some places if the household includes an older adult, young child, person with a disability, homebound person, or serious medical need.
- You may be denied if you miss documents, apply outside the crisis season, use a non-covered energy cost, or your local program is out of funds.
Some states publish special opening dates for priority groups. Georgia, for example, says on its Georgia LIHEAP page that the heating program normally opens first for residents age 65 or older and medically homebound residents, then later for other eligible residents. Illinois says on its Illinois LIHEAP page that its 2025-2026 application period runs from October 1, 2025, to August 15, 2026, or until funds are exhausted, with earlier access for certain households. These are examples only. Your state may use different dates.
Where to apply
The safest national starting point is the official LIHEAP office search, which can point you to a state, territory, tribal, or local office. You can also use the NEAR referral service or call NEAR at 1-866-674-6327 for energy assistance referral. If phone service is easier, 211 utility help can connect many callers to local utility and emergency aid programs.
The federal USA.gov energy help page also points people to LIHEAP, weatherization, and state utility disconnection information. This can help if you are not sure whether your problem belongs with LIHEAP, WAP, a utility commission, or a local charity.
In many areas, the local intake office is a Community Action Agency. In other places, it may be a county assistance office, state agency, tribal office, nonprofit contractor, or city program. New Jersey’s New Jersey LIHEAP page, for example, directs applicants to a local Community Action Agency and lists a statewide energy assistance hotline. Pennsylvania’s Pennsylvania LIHEAP page tells people with a heating emergency to contact the county assistance office if they already received a LIHEAP benefit for the season.
Phone script: local LIHEAP office
“Hello, I need to apply for LIHEAP crisis benefits. My problem is [shutoff notice / service already off / no heat / low fuel / broken furnace]. My shutoff date is [date], or I have [amount] fuel left. What is the fastest way to submit a crisis application today, and what documents do you need?”
Phone script: utility company
“I am applying for LIHEAP crisis assistance today. Please note my account. Can you delay disconnection while my crisis application is reviewed? Do you have a medical, senior, disability, winter, payment-plan, or hardship protection I should apply for too?”
Phone script: 211 or NEAR
“I need the LIHEAP crisis office for [city, county, state, or tribe]. I have [shutoff / no heat / low fuel / broken heating equipment]. Please give me the exact agency name, phone number, application link, and any after-hours crisis instructions.”
Why the rules are different in every place
LIHEAP is federally funded, but local rules are not all the same. States and tribes file plans that explain their benefits, crisis definitions, dates, income rules, vendors, and appeal process. That is why one state may treat a 60-day shutoff notice as a crisis while another may require a shorter disconnect window. One state may help with furnace repair. Another may refer equipment work to weatherization, a separate heating repair program, or a local nonprofit.
| Rule that may change | What to check locally | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Application season | Opening date, closing date, and “until funds run out” language | A crisis program may close or narrow when funds are low. |
| Income period | 30 days, monthly, seasonal, or yearly income | A recent job loss may count differently by state. |
| Crisis definition | Shutoff date, fuel level, no-heat rule, medical need, cooling emergency | Your wording on the call should match the local crisis category. |
| Benefit amount | Minimum, maximum, one-time limit, vendor payment rules | The payment may not cover the whole balance. |
| Heating repair | Inspection, contractor approval, bid, ownership proof, safety limits | You may need approval before repair work starts. |
| Appeal rights | Written denial, hearing deadline, local complaint process | You may have only a short time to challenge a denial. |
State pages show how different the program can be. California describes an Energy Crisis Intervention Program on its California LIHEAP page for situations like a 24- to 48-hour disconnect notice, service termination, or a potentially life-threatening energy crisis. New York’s New York HEAP page says emergency HEAP may help people in danger of running out of fuel or having utility service shut off. Missouri’s Missouri LIHEAP page tells applicants that regular applications are reviewed in about 30 business days unless the case is considered a crisis. South Carolina’s South Carolina LIHEAP page says LIHEAP is not meant to pay a household’s whole energy cost and that qualifying does not guarantee help if funds run out.
What to gather before you apply
You should not wait to call until every paper is perfect. Call first if the shutoff or no-heat problem is urgent. But the agency usually cannot approve a crisis case until it has enough proof.
| Document or proof | Examples | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Driver license, state ID, tribal ID, school ID, other accepted ID | Ask what is accepted if your ID is expired or missing. |
| Household members | Names, birth dates, Social Security numbers if required locally | Do not leave out people who live in the home. |
| Income | Pay stubs, Social Security, SSI, SSDI, unemployment, pension, child support, self-employment records | Ask what income period they use. |
| Energy bill or fuel account | Utility bill, shutoff notice, fuel vendor statement, account number | Send all pages, not just the first page. |
| Crisis proof | Disconnect notice, closed account, red tag, empty fuel gauge photo, no-heat repair note | Use the clearest proof you have. |
| Housing proof | Lease, mortgage statement, tax bill, rent receipt, landlord statement | Renters may still qualify, even when heat is part of rent, depending on local rules. |
| Special situation proof | Medical form, disability benefit letter, older adult proof, homebound status, disaster notice | Ask before paying a doctor for a form. |
Practical tip: If you have a smartphone, make a folder with clear photos of every document. Name each image simply, such as “gas-bill-page-1” or “disconnect-notice.” Blurry uploads are a common reason for delay.
Can LIHEAP help with a broken furnace or heating system?
Sometimes. Federal LIHEAP allows energy-related minor home repairs, but each place decides what it offers. A crisis office may help with furnace repair, boiler repair, a fuel line problem, a clean-and-tune, reconnecting service, emergency fuel, or a referral to weatherization. It may also decide that your repair is too large, not energy-related, not safe to patch, or outside the program rules.
Do not hire a contractor and assume LIHEAP will reimburse you. Many programs require an agency inspection, approved vendor, estimate, purchase order, or pre-approval before work starts. If your heat is out, ask the LIHEAP crisis worker what to do before you authorize repair work.
Phone script: heating repair
“My main heat is not working. Before I pay anyone, does LIHEAP or a related program help with heating equipment repair or replacement? Do you require an inspection, approved contractor, written estimate, or pre-approval?”
Heating equipment cases can take longer than a bill-payment pledge because someone may need to confirm the problem. If there is a gas leak, carbon monoxide concern, fire hazard, or red-tagged appliance, follow safety instructions from the utility, fire department, inspector, or emergency responder first.
Common mistakes that slow down crisis help
- Calling it a regular application only. Say “crisis” if you have a shutoff, no heat, low fuel, or unsafe heating problem.
- Waiting until the shutoff day. Apply as soon as you get the notice. Some utilities need time to receive a pledge.
- Sending partial documents. Missing income proof, bill pages, or account numbers can stop review.
- Paying the wrong party. If you can pay something, ask whether to pay the utility, fuel vendor, or another account. Missouri warns applicants to keep paying their utility bills if they can and to pay the utility company, not the LIHEAP agency.
- Starting repair work without approval. Equipment help often has contractor rules.
- Ignoring other protections. Ask your utility about winter rules, medical forms, senior protections, payment plans, budget billing, and hardship funds.
- Using unsafe heat. A gas oven, grill, generator indoors, or poor space-heater setup can turn a bill crisis into a life-threatening emergency.
If you are delayed, denied, or waitlisted
Ask for the exact reason in writing. A denial may be fixable. The agency may need one missing pay stub, a clearer bill, proof of household size, landlord information, or a different form. If the program is closed or out of funds, ask when to check back and whether another program is taking referrals.
If you think the decision is wrong, ask about the appeal or fair hearing process. Keep copies of the application, documents, denial notice, and call notes. Some states explain appeal rights on their LIHEAP pages or in their state plans. Do not wait too long. Appeal deadlines can be short.
What to ask after a denial
- “Was I denied for income, documents, crisis rules, program dates, or lack of funds?”
- “Can I submit missing documents or ask for reconsideration?”
- “What is the appeal deadline, and how do I appeal?”
- “Is there a utility hardship fund, 211 referral, weatherization referral, or local charity that may help?”
Backup options if LIHEAP cannot fix it fast enough
LIHEAP crisis help is often the right first call, but it is not the only path. Ask about these backup options while your application is moving:
- Utility hardship programs. Many utilities offer payment plans, arrearage management, budget billing, medical protection forms, senior protections, or charity funds.
- State utility commission help. Your state may have rules about notice, winter shutoff limits, medical certificates, or dispute rights.
- 211 referrals. 211 may know churches, charities, county funds, veteran groups, Area Agencies on Aging, disability groups, or local emergency funds.
- Weatherization. If the crisis is part of a larger energy-burden problem, ask whether the Weatherization Assistance Program can help lower future bills.
- Home repair nonprofits. For unsafe heating equipment, ask local Community Action, Rebuilding Together affiliates, Habitat affiliates, Area Agencies on Aging, and disability resource centers about repair referrals.
- Emergency shelter or warming/cooling center. If the home is unsafe for the night, call 211, local emergency management, or your city or county information line.
Be careful with high-cost quick fixes. A payday loan, title loan, rent-to-own heater, or rushed contractor financing can make the next month worse. If you are pushed to sign a same-day loan or repair contract, pause and ask a HUD-approved housing counselor, legal aid office, or trusted nonprofit before signing.
Scam warnings
Real LIHEAP help does not require a fee to receive a benefit. ACF warns that LIHEAP does not provide direct grants to individuals and does not charge a fee for receiving a benefit. The FTC grant scams page warns that offers of free government grant money are scams. The HHS grant fraud alert says not to pay money or give personal information to schemes offering HHS grants.
Watch for these red flags:
- someone says you were “selected” for a LIHEAP grant by text or social media;
- someone asks for a fee, gift card, wire transfer, crypto payment, or bank login;
- a website looks official but does not use a government or known agency domain;
- someone promises approval before checking your household, income, bill, and local rules;
- someone pressures you to sign a repair loan before you call LIHEAP.
If you are unsure, hang up and call the official local agency number from the LIHEAP office search, your state page, or 211. Do not use the phone number from a suspicious text.
Frequently asked questions
Is LIHEAP crisis help available all year?
Not always. Some states run crisis help only during heating season. Some also run cooling crisis help. Some close when funds run out. Check your local LIHEAP office for current dates.
Will LIHEAP pay my whole utility bill?
Usually not. Crisis help may pay enough to stop shutoff, reconnect service, deliver fuel, or address the urgent part of the problem. Your balance may still need a payment plan.
Can renters apply?
Often yes. Renters may qualify if they are responsible for heating or cooling costs. In some places, renters may qualify even when heat is included in rent, but the rules vary.
Can LIHEAP replace my furnace?
Sometimes, but not everywhere. Some programs cover heating equipment repair or replacement. Others only pay bills or refer repairs to another program. Ask before hiring a contractor.
What if I already received LIHEAP this season?
You may still be able to report a crisis, depending on local rules and remaining funds. Some places allow a separate crisis benefit. Others limit help to one benefit or a maximum amount.
What if I cannot leave home to apply?
Ask for a reasonable way to apply from home or get help submitting the application. Federal LIHEAP crisis law includes access rules for low-income people who are physically infirm, but the exact local process can vary.
About This Guide
HomeRepairGrants.org wrote this guide to help households understand LIHEAP crisis benefits, urgent energy shutoff help, no-heat situations, fuel emergencies, and possible heating equipment help. This guide uses official federal, state, local, and high-trust nonprofit/community sources mentioned in the article, including HHS/ACF, the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, USA.gov, 211, state LIHEAP pages, CDC, the U.S. Fire Administration, FTC, and HHS-OIG.
HomeRepairGrants.org is not a government agency, does not guarantee eligibility, and is not legal, financial, tax, medical, insurance, disability-rights, or government-agency advice. Program rules, benefit amounts, open dates, documents, and appeal rules can change. Always confirm details with your local LIHEAP office, utility, state agency, tribal program, or qualified local advisor.
Corrections: Email info@homerepairgrants.org with corrections.
Update note
Next review: August 17, 2026