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Pennsylvania LIHEAP 2026–27: Income Limits and How to Apply

By CalculateBenefits Editorial Team · Mark Phaneuf, Publisher
AI-assisted source check: November 10, 2026. What these dates mean.

Pennsylvania's LIHEAP heating help is open now. The state says, "The season runs November 2, 2026 through April 23, 2027." A cash grant is $200 to $1,000, and it goes to your heat company. To apply, use COMPASS online or send a paper form to your county assistance office. To get a paper form, call 1-866-857-7095.

LIHEAP stands for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services (DHS) runs it. CalculateBenefits is not a state office. We can't take your form or tell you if you will get help. We checked each fact here on state and federal pages on Nov. 10, 2026.

When is Pennsylvania LIHEAP open in 2026–27?

It is open from Nov. 2, 2026, to April 23, 2027. Cash and crisis grants both use these dates, per the state's final LIHEAP plan for this year. That plan also says the state may make the season longer or shorter, based on funds.

One heads-up: a question box lower on the state's LIHEAP page still shows last winter's dates. Go by the line at the top that says the 2026-2027 season is open.

Did you get LIHEAP last winter? Watch your mail. People who got help last season get a 2026/27 form or a COMPASS postcard with a registration number. It let them apply before the season opened.

Who can get LIHEAP in Pennsylvania?

It depends on your home's income and size. The limit is 150% of the federal poverty line, counted before taxes. Renters and owners can both apply. You do not need to be on another aid program. A past-due heat bill is not needed, either.

These are the yearly income limits for the 2026–27 season, from the state's final LIHEAP plan. The state's LIHEAP page shows the same table, marked "Effective: February 1, 2026."

For each person past 8, add $8,520. The plan says these limits are updated each February. Count all kids and adults who live with you. Also count relatives who rent a room, and roomers who share costs.

Not sure if you are under the limit? DHS says you do not need to know if you are eligible before you apply.

How much is a LIHEAP cash grant?

For 2026–27, a cash grant is $200 to $1,000. Your amount depends on your income, how many people live with you, your fuel type, and where you live. Last season, the average cash grant was $289, DHS says.

It is paid one time. DHS sends it straight to your utility or fuel company as a credit on your bill. The form lists two cases where this can differ: heat is part of your rent, or your fuel dealer does not take LIHEAP payments.

Each home can get one cash grant per season. It does not have to be paid back. But you must apply again each year. To see amounts for your area, use the state's LIHEAP benefit table. Pick your county and fuel type.

What is a LIHEAP crisis grant?

A crisis grant is extra help for a heat emergency. DHS lists these:

• Your heat has been shut off, or you may lose utility service
• You are out of fuel, or have less than a 15-day supply
• Your heater is broken, or a line leaks and must be fixed or replaced

For 2026–27, DHS says, "The minimum crisis grant is $25 and the maximum grant is $1,000." If you have more than one emergency in a season, you may be able to get more than one crisis grant, up to $1,000 in all. Each grant is based on what it takes to end that emergency, such as filling your fuel tank one time.

DHS says people who are eligible get help within 10 business days of applying. Help can come sooner if a life is at risk.

Haven't applied for LIHEAP this season? Apply first. That is how you are considered for a crisis grant. Already got LIHEAP this season? Call your county assistance office to report the emergency. Crisis help is open 24 hours a day, and in most counties you call the county office.

Call before you order fuel. A state fact sheet says crisis funds will not pay for a delivery the county office did not OK first.

Is your furnace broken? The state plan says LIHEAP emergency services may include fixing a heater, or replacing one that can't be fixed. You still start at the county office. Our guide on the calls to make when your heat bill is late or your furnace breaks can help, too.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania?

1. Online: Apply on COMPASS, the state's site for aid programs. DHS says COMPASS can make it easier if you applied before.
2. On paper: Print the 2026-27 LIHEAP form. Fill it out and sign it. Then take or mail it to your county assistance office. The state also has the form in Spanish and seven other languages.
3. By phone: Call the LIHEAP Helpline at 1-866-857-7095, Monday through Friday, to ask for a paper form. If you have trouble hearing, call 711.

After you apply, check your status at trackmybenefits.pa.gov.

What papers do I need for LIHEAP?

The 2026-27 form asks for these:

• Proof of income for each person in the home, such as pay stubs or award letters. Use the month before you apply, or the last 12 months.
• A bill for your main heat, dated within 2 months of when you apply. For oil, propane, or other fuel, send a bill or receipt from January of last season to now.
• If heat is in your rent, a copy of your lease or a signed note from your landlord. It should say how heat is paid and what kind of heat you have.
• Social Security numbers for each person in the home. The form explains what to do if someone does not have one.
• Proof of immigration status for anyone who is not a U.S. citizen.
• If you have no income, a note on how your home pays for food and rent.

Already get SNAP, Medicaid, or cash aid? The form asks if DHS may use the income it has on file. If you check yes, you may not need to send proof of that income.

Take care with this part. The form says that without the proof it needs, "we will not be able to process your application." Sign it, date it, and keep a copy.

Where is my county assistance office?

Find it on the state's county assistance office list. It shows each office's address, hours, and phone. Many offices have a separate LIHEAP line. Two big ones:

• Philadelphia LIHEAP: 215-560-1583, at 1163 S. Broad Street.
• Allegheny County LIHEAP: 412-562-0330, at 5947 Penn Avenue, 4th Floor, in Pittsburgh.

Not sure which office is yours? The form says to call 1-866-857-7095.

Is Pennsylvania LIHEAP delayed this year?

Not as of Nov. 10, 2026. It opened on Nov. 2, 2026, the date set in the state's plan. Federal funds for this winter have started to flow. On Oct. 9, 2026, the U.S. released about $3.6 billion to all LIHEAP programs. That was 90% of the funds under a short-term law signed on Sept. 2, 2026.

That could still change, and funds can run out. The form you sign says a person may not get help if "LIHEAP money has run out." DHS can also raise or lower grant sizes if its funding changes. So it pays to apply early.

Can my heat be shut off this winter in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's winter shutoff ban runs from Dec. 1 through March 31. It stops regulated electric and gas companies from cutting off homes at or below 250% of the federal poverty line. It does not wipe out what you owe. To learn more, read our guide to winter shutoff rules and bill help.

What other help is there with my heat bill?

Most gas and electric companies in Pennsylvania have their own help. The state utility board (PUC) lists Customer Assistance Programs. These can lower a monthly bill and may cut what you already owe. Hardship funds can also give grants toward a bill. Call the number on your bill and ask.

On the LIHEAP form, you can choose to let DHS share your form with your utility. That can help you sign up for these programs. This is optional. Saying no does not change whether you can get a LIHEAP grant.

The state's LIHEAP page also points to two more funds. Outside Philadelphia, there is the $1 Energy Fund. In Philadelphia, there is the Utility Emergency Services Fund.

Want a lower bill for good? On the form, you can ask about free weatherization, such as insulation and a heater check. Read our guide to free home energy upgrades.

How do I spot a LIHEAP scam?

The federal LIHEAP office says the program "does not charge a fee for receiving a benefit." If a message offers you a LIHEAP grant or asks for a fee, call the HHS fraud line at 1-800-447-8477. In Pennsylvania, apply only through COMPASS, your county office, or the state helpline. Never pay anyone to help you get this.

Help in other states

Live outside Pennsylvania? Our guide to heating bill help by state lists each state's line. To learn how LIHEAP works across the country, see how to apply for LIHEAP through a local office.

Programs mentioned in this guide