Help Paying Utility Bills

Written by: Jeneli Almonte; Lead Care Manager
Last updated: October 12, 2026
Read time: 6 min

Key points

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is federal money that helps pay heating and cooling bills. States got about $4.1 billion of it for 2026.
In many states, one person can qualify with income up to about $1,995 a month in 2026. California and New York allow more.
With a shutoff notice, crisis help must come within 48 hours, federal law says. If a life is at risk, it's 18 hours.
44 states have extra shutoff rules for people who are very sick, use medical equipment or are older.

LIHEAP helps pay your gas, electric, oil or propane bill. It can also stop a shutoff, fix a broken furnace or seal a drafty home. If you've been keeping the heat low to save money, or a shutoff notice just came, start here. The federal government pays for it, and your state runs it through local agencies that decide who gets help.

You may qualify if

You pay for heat, cooling or power, on your own bill or in your rent.
Your household makes less than your state's limit. In many states that is about $1,995 a month for one person and $2,705 for two in 2026.
Or you get certain benefits, which some states count as proof. These include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), once called food stamps.

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because your local agency decides and some programs help people 60 and older first. If you would rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can help you apply.

Kinds of help with energy bills

Help	Who it is for	What it does
LIHEAP bill help	Households under the state's income limit	A payment toward your heating or cooling bill, usually once a season. It most often goes straight to the utility or fuel dealer.
LIHEAP crisis help	People with a shutoff notice, a shutoff, or almost no fuel	Pays enough to keep the heat or power on, or to get it back.
Weatherization	Income up to about $2,660 a month for one person (2026). Owners and renters.	Free insulation, sealing and repairs. The Department of Energy says homes save $372 or more a year.
Utility discount rates	Low-income customers. Each state and utility sets the rules.	A lower price on every bill. You sign up with your utility.
Medical programs	People who use medical equipment at home. California calls it Medical Baseline.	Extra energy at a lower price, and more warning before a shutoff. Ask your utility if it has one.

Is LIHEAP still running in 2026?

Yes, LIHEAP is still running and funded, and states are opening their programs for the 2026 to 2027 winter. Many open in October or November.

The program had a rough 2025, and in April the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) laid off the federal LIHEAP team. Then the 43-day federal shutdown held up money for last winter. The first $3.7 billion reached states on November 28, 2025, and the rest came in April 2026, HHS says.

The White House asked Congress to end LIHEAP for 2026, and asked again for 2027, but Congress kept it for 2026. A short-term law signed September 2, 2026 kept it going at 2026 levels from October 1. The money can run out, so apply as soon as your state opens.

How to apply

Find your local office, because it decides who gets help. Call the national Energy Assistance Hotline at 1-866-674-6327. People answer weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. You can also visit energyhelp.us or call 211.
Gather your papers so you're ready. Bring a photo ID, your latest utility bill, any shutoff notice, and proof of income for everyone at home.
Apply early, because the money can run out. Ask if you can apply online, by mail or in person.
Say so if you have a shutoff notice, and ask for crisis help, because it has to come faster. If you're too sick to travel, the office must help you apply from home or get you there.
Wait for the answer. The payment usually goes to your utility and shows up on your bill, so keep paying what you can until then.

Your rights if a shutoff is coming

In 2026, 44 states have shutoff rules for vulnerable people and 42 have cold-weather rules, the LIHEAP Clearinghouse says.

Tell your utility now if someone at home is seriously ill, uses medical equipment, or is older.
Get a note from your doctor, because in many states it puts a shutoff on hold for a set time.
Ask for a payment plan, because paying what you owe over several months often stops a shutoff.
Know the limits of these rules. They pause a shutoff but don't erase the bill, so pair them with LIHEAP or a payment plan. They cover the gas and electric companies your state regulates, not most city utilities, co-ops or oil and propane dealers.

What a Pair Team advocate does

When someone calls us about a power bill, it's rarely the only bill. Rent and the cost of Medicare often come up in the same call, so here's what we do:

Check, in one call, which help you can get: LIHEAP, your utility's discount and any medical program.
Fill out the forms with you, then follow up with the agency until the payment shows on your bill.
Call the utility with you to set up a payment plan, or to put a medical hold on a shutoff.
Help with what usually comes with it: food help, Medicaid, medical equipment, rides and housing.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Will LIHEAP pay my whole bill?

LIHEAP usually does not pay your whole bill, because the amount depends on your income, household size, fuel and state. In New York, the 2026 to 2027 regular benefit for gas or electric heat starts at $400. To cover the rest, ask your utility about a discount rate or a payment plan.

Does Medicare pay utility bills?

Original Medicare does not pay utility bills, but some Medicare Advantage plans help pay utilities for members with certain long-term health problems. KFF is a health policy research group. It found help with bills like utilities and rent in 72% of Special Needs Plans in 2026. Only 8% of other plans had it. Special Needs Plans are for people with Medicaid or certain conditions. To see if your plan helps, call the number on your card.

Will LIHEAP lower my SNAP or Medicaid?

LIHEAP won't lower your SNAP or Medicaid, because LIHEAP help does not count as income, federal law says. If someone at home is 60 or older or disabled, getting LIHEAP can even raise your SNAP food benefit.

Can renters get LIHEAP?

Yes, renters can get LIHEAP, and federal rules say renters and owners must be treated fairly. If heat is part of your rent, the payment may be smaller.

Someone offered me a LIHEAP grant for a fee. Is it real?

No, that offer isn't real, because LIHEAP never charges a fee or sends grants to people directly. Report it to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

Find the rules for your state

California: apply through your local agency, where one person can make up to $3,331 a month in 2026.
New York: the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is New York's version of LIHEAP. Regular HEAP takes applications from November 2, 2026, and one person can make up to $3,563 a month.
Nevada: the Energy Assistance Program is Nevada's version of LIHEAP. One person can make up to $1,995 a month, from July 2026 to June 2027.

Everywhere else, call 1-866-674-6327 to find your state's office. For free Medicare help, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-877-839-2675 (shiphelp.org).

Sources

About the author

Jeneli Almonte

Lead Care Manager

Jeneli Almonte is a Lead Care Manager at Pair Team. Since 2022, she has helped patients with benefits, housing and food.

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