Independent educational publisher · Not a government agency · Applying for help is always free
Help with your light bill: the free programs, and why you cannot find them
By Andre Haynes, founder of BillRelief Check · Last verified July 2026 ·
Sourced to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
There is real money to help you pay this bill. It is federal, it is free to apply for, and most people who qualify never get it. Not because they were turned down, but because they could not find it. Here is why, and exactly what to do.
If you have a shutoff notice, do not read the rest of this page yet.
Call 1-866-674-6327 right now, weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern. That is the free federal referral hotline. Say the words "I have a shutoff notice and I need crisis assistance." Crisis help is a separate pot of money from regular seasonal assistance, and it is often available even when the regular program is closed. Then come back and read the rest.
The reason you cannot find it
The program is called LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It is federal, funded by Health and Human Services, and it pays toward home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs.
Here is the part that stops people. Your state probably does not call it LIHEAP.
Where you live
What it is called there
New York
HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program)
Texas
CEAP (Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program)
Virginia
EHAP
Massachusetts, New Hampshire
often just Fuel Assistance
California
LIHEAP or CalHEAP
New Jersey
Home Energy Assistance, alongside the Universal Service Fund
So somebody searches "LIHEAP," lands on a federal page, finds no application, and concludes it is not for them. It is the same money. Every one of those programs is funded by the same federal block grant. Only the name on the door changed.
Three free ways to find your actual office. Call the National Energy Assistance Referral hotline at 1-866-674-6327, weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern. Or use the federal state directory at acf.gov and click your state. Or dial 211 and ask for the community action agency that handles energy assistance. All three are free. All three go to the same place.
And the thing I most want you to hear. Applying is free, everywhere, always. The federal government does not charge and neither does your state. If you find a site charging an "application assistance fee" to help you apply, you are on a third party site, not a government one. They are charging you for a form you can get for nothing. Some of them buy the top ad slot when you search. Use the .gov directory or the phone number above.
Who qualifies
Federal law caps eligibility at 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, or 60 percent of State Median Income, whichever is higher in your state. States may set their limit lower than that. That rule comes from the LIHEAP statute itself.
I am not going to print an income limit here, and I want to explain why. I found three different figures for the same threshold on three different sites while researching this page. The real number depends on your state, your household size, and the program year, and states set their own cutoffs within the federal ceiling. A number I put here would be wrong for most of the people reading it, and a wrong number in either direction does real damage: it either talks you out of applying when you qualify, or sets you up for a rejection. Ask your state. It is one phone call and they will tell you exactly.
The shortcut most people miss
If you already receive SNAP, SSI, or TANF, many states treat you as categorically eligible, which means you skip income verification entirely. Bring your benefits award letter to the appointment and tell them which programs you are on. This can turn a document-gathering ordeal into a short conversation.
Two things to know before you get your hopes up or down
You will not get a check. LIHEAP pays your utility company or fuel supplier directly. It arrives as a credit on your account. If someone offers you cash from LIHEAP, that is not how it works.
Renters qualify. Generally when utilities are in your name, and in some states even when utility costs are built into your rent. Do not assume you are excluded because you do not own the place.
What else exists that nobody tells you about
LIHEAP is the biggest one, not the only one. Ask about all of these in the same phone call, because you are already talking to the person who knows.
Crisis assistance. A separate pot for energy emergencies: shutoff notices, no heat, no cooling, running out of fuel. Often available outside the regular season. Ask for it by name.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Free home efficiency work: insulation, sealing, sometimes furnace repair. This is the one that lowers the bill permanently instead of once. LIHEAP applicants are commonly referred to it. Renters can qualify with the landlord's permission.
Your utility's own hardship program. Most big utilities run their own, funded by ratepayer surcharges, completely separate from any government program. Call your utility and ask about "hardship assistance" or "bill payment assistance." They will not volunteer it.
Percentage of income plans. Some states cap your bill at a percentage of household income rather than giving a one-time payment. Ohio's PIPP Plus is the best known. Ask whether your state has one, because for many households it is worth more than LIHEAP.
Lifeline, for phone and internet. An FCC program giving a monthly discount on phone or internet service, with a higher amount on tribal lands. Apply free at lifelinesupport.org. Different bill, same idea, and most people who qualify for LIHEAP qualify for this too.
Local nonprofits. Salvation Army runs energy assistance in most metro areas. Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, and your local 211 all keep lists of community funds. This is the layer that catches people who fall between the government programs.
Before you call, gather these
The application itself is short. The documents are what slow people down. Have ready: photo ID, Social Security numbers for everyone in the household, proof of income for everyone (recent pay stubs, benefit award letters), your most recent utility bill with the account number, and proof of address. If you receive SNAP, SSI, or TANF, bring that award letter and mention it first.
In Arizona? Check whether you can even be shut off right now. Arizona bans summer disconnections from June 1 through October 15, and APS holds disconnections at 95 degrees year round under a 2026 settlement. Most people facing a notice have no idea. Use the free checker →
Which bill is actually hurting?
Utility help is only one kind of help. If what is really squeezing you is medical bills, credit cards, or something else, the free way out is different and I will point you at the right one. Two minutes, no signup to see your answer.
Your state probably calls it something else. New York calls it HEAP, Texas calls it CEAP, Virginia calls it EHAP, Massachusetts and New Hampshire often say Fuel Assistance. All are funded by the same federal block grant. Call 1-866-674-6327 and they will tell you exactly who to contact.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No. Applying is free everywhere. If a site charges an application assistance fee, it is a third party, not the government. Use the federal directory at acf.gov or call 1-866-674-6327.
Who qualifies?
Federal law caps it at 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or 60 percent of State Median Income, whichever is higher. States can set lower limits. The exact dollar figure depends on your state, household size, and program year, so ask your state office. Receiving SNAP, SSI, or TANF often makes you categorically eligible.
Do I get a check?
No. LIHEAP pays your utility or fuel supplier directly. It appears as a credit on your account.
Can renters apply?
Yes, generally when utilities are in your name, and in some states even when they are included in rent. Ask your state office.
I have a shutoff notice. What now?
Call 1-866-674-6327 immediately and ask for crisis assistance by name. It is separate funding from regular seasonal help and is often available when the regular program is closed.
Sources. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services: LIHEAP program page (what LIHEAP covers, the National Energy Assistance Referral hotline 1-866-674-6327 and its hours, EnergyHelp.us) and LIHEAP Resource Guide FAQ (the federal government does not maintain local information or take applications, each state has its own form and procedures, the state directory). LIHEAP Clearinghouse, the official federal hub, which operates the NEAR referral service. Income rule from the LIHEAP statute, 42 U.S.C. section 8624(b)(2). Lifeline: lifelinesupport.org (FCC). State program names verified against state agency materials including New Jersey's own energy assistance materials. Verified July 2026. We deliberately do not print income dollar limits because they vary by state, household size, and program year, and we found conflicting figures across sources while researching this page. Always confirm with your own state office.
BillRelief Check is an independent educational publisher. We are not a government agency and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, any state energy office, any community action agency, or any utility company. We do not take applications, we do not process benefits, and we cannot tell you whether you qualify. We never charge for anything on this page, and nobody should ever charge you to apply for LIHEAP or any other assistance program. Educational information only, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Program rules, names, income limits, and application windows vary by state and change; always confirm against acf.gov or your state agency before you rely on anything here.