LIHEAP energy assistance
Federal help paying heating and cooling bills, including crisis assistance when service is about to be shut off.
Best for
Households at risk of a utility shut-off, especially where medical equipment or refrigerated medication depends on power.
Why Kave includes this
Kave includes an energy program in a healthcare directory on purpose. Insulin needs refrigeration, oxygen concentrators need electricity, and a shut-off notice is a medical emergency in slow motion. Many states also offer a medical-necessity protection that LIHEAP staff can start.
- Expected cost
- Benefits are paid to the utility on your behalf. There is no cost to apply.
- Insurance requirement
- None.
- Who qualifies
- Income limits are set by each state, typically a percentage of the state median income or of the Federal Poverty Level. Households with a member on life-support equipment often receive priority.
- Where it is available
- Nationwide (United States)
- How you use it
- Online or by phone and In person
- Languages
- English and Spanish
Limitations Kave wants you to know about
- Funds are limited and many states stop taking applications when the allocation is exhausted.
- Benefit amounts and application windows vary substantially by state.
National Energy Assistance Referral line.
Verification
Compiled by Kave on July 1, 2026 and link-checked. Not yet independently verified. Kave assembled this from the organisation’s own published material and confirmed the links resolve. No reviewer has confirmed the eligibility details against the source, so check them on the official site before you rely on them.
- Compiled
- July 1, 2026 (28 days ago)
- Next scheduled review
- September 29, 2026
- Reviewed by
- Not yet reviewed
Sources used
- HHS Office of Community Services — LIHEAP — read July 1, 2026
Kave quality score
83/100
Kave lists resources scoring 80 or above that also clear all four mandatory gates.
- Patient impact20/25
- Affordability or financial value18/20
- Accessibility11.7/15
- Transparency11.7/15
- Ease of use7/10
- Institutional credibility5/5
- Geographic reach4.8/5
- Privacy and data practices4.4/5
Geographic reach is deliberately worth only five points, so a strong local resource is not pushed out by a weak national one. Read the methodology.