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

Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps households pay heating bills. It’s a grant, so you don’t pay it back [1]. The 2026–27 season runs from November 2, 2026 to April 23, 2027 [2][3].

What LIHEAP pays for

LIHEAP has two main parts [2][3]:

• Cash grant. A one-time payment sent to your utility or fuel company and credited on your bill. In some cases the check goes to you. Grants range from $200 to $1,000, based on household size, income and fuel type [1][2].
• Crisis grant. Help when you’re in danger of losing heat. You can get more than one crisis grant during the season, up to a total of $1,000 [2]. The smallest crisis grant is $25 [3].

The state may also add a supplement to the cash grant for some households, if funds allow. The 2027 plan lists $50 if someone is 60 or older, $50 if someone has a disability, and $75 if there’s a child age five or under, up to $175 in all [3]. These amounts can change.

Broken furnaces are handled through the LIHEAP Emergency Services Program . It can repair a heating system or fuel lines, replace a system that can’t be fixed, and thaw frozen pipes tied to a heating emergency [3]. The emergency is to be addressed within 48 hours, or 18 hours if it is life-threatening [3]. You start by applying at your County Assistance Office [3].

The 2027 state plan sets up cash and crisis grants for the winter. It doesn’t set up a summer cooling program [3].

Who qualifies

You may qualify if your household income is under the limit for your household size [1]. You don’t need to be on public assistance, you don’t need an unpaid heating bill, and you can rent or own your home [1][2].

These limits are 150% of the federal poverty income guidelines [3].

How to apply

1. Online: apply through COMPASS at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS [2].
2. By phone: call the statewide LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095 to request an application. In Philadelphia County, call (215) 560-1583. If you’re hard of hearing, dial 711 [2].
3. In person: applications are available at your local County Assistance Office [2].

After you apply, you can track your application at trackmybenefits.pa.gov [1]. You’ll get a written notice telling you whether you qualify and how much you’ll get [2].

What to have ready

• Names and dates of birth for everyone in your household [2].
• Social Security numbers for everyone in your household [2].
• Proof of income for everyone in your household [2].
• A recent heating bill [2].

In a heating emergency

These count as a heating crisis [1][2]:

• Your heating equipment is broken, or lines are leaking and must be fixed or replaced.
• You’re out of fuel, or have less than a 15-day supply.
• Your gas or electric service has been shut off.
• You’ve received a notice that service will be shut off (DHS counts a shutoff within the next 60 days).

If you haven’t received a LIHEAP grant yet this season, you must apply for LIHEAP to be considered for a crisis grant. If you already got one, contact your local County Assistance Office to report the emergency [1].

A few details on the winter rules [4]:

• Utilities may still shut off service in winter to customers with income above 250% of the poverty level.
• Philadelphia’s city-owned gas utility has extra authority. After January 1 it may shut off some customers with income between 150% and 250% of the poverty level who haven’t kept up with payments. Households with someone 65 or older, a child 12 or younger, or a medical certificate are among those protected.
• If your utility account is in your landlord’s name, the utility can’t shut off service from December 1 through March 31, except for limited reasons like fraud or tampering.

Where the money comes from

LIHEAP is a federal program run through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families [1][5]. On October 9, 2026, HHS released about $3.6 billion in LIHEAP funds for federal fiscal year 2027 under a temporary spending law. That was 90% of the money available under that law [5]. Pennsylvania’s plan says the state may raise or lower benefits if its actual funding differs from its estimate [3].