LIHEAP · Guide
Arizona LIHEAP: income limits, benefit amounts and how to apply
Last updated 2026-10-24 · Reviewed against official sources · Editorial standards
Key takeaways
- The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) runs LIHEAP with local community action agencies.
- DES does not list a winter season. Help is first come, first served, with one regular benefit and one crisis benefit per 12 months.
- The income limit is $2,936 a month for one person and $5,647 for four.
- Regular benefits run from $160 to $640, based on points. Crisis help can reach $500.
- Apply through the A-to-Z Arizona Portal or with a paper form. The LIHEAP service line is 1-866-494-1981.
Who can get LIHEAP in Arizona
A household must need help paying energy bills, meet citizenship or immigration rules and have income within the limit. If someone in the home gets DES Nutrition Assistance or Cash Assistance, the household meets the income rule. DES uses the income already on file.
| Household size | Monthly gross income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,936 |
| 2 | $3,840 |
| 3 | $4,743 |
| 4 | $5,647 |
| 5 | $6,550 |
| 6 | $7,454 |
| 7 | $7,623 |
| 8 | $7,793 |
These limits equal 60 percent of Arizona's median income for fiscal year 2027. Power AZ, a related program with a higher income limit, has run out of money. DES said it would not accept Power AZ applications sent after Sept. 21, 2026.
How the benefit is set
DES gives points for three things. Lower income relative to the limit earns up to 5 points. A higher energy bill relative to income earns up to 6 points, plus 2 for delivered fuel. A household earns 1 point each for an older adult, a person with a disability, a child age 6 or younger and a veteran.
| Points | Benefit up to |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | $160 |
| 5 to 8 | $320 |
| 9 to 12 | $480 |
| 13 or more | $640 |
DES says these amounts apply to applications received on or after Oct. 12, 2024, and can change each year with federal funding.
Crisis help
Crisis help is a separate benefit of up to $500, once every 12 months. To get it, you must have used up your regular benefit. You must also have a shutoff or past-due notice for your energy bill. An eviction notice counts when utilities are part of the rent. So does having less than 7 days of portable or prepaid energy left.
How to apply
Apply online through the A-to-Z Arizona Portal, or use a paper form. Have a current utility bill, a photo ID, proof of citizenship or immigration status, any shutoff notice and proof of income. If you get DES Nutrition or Cash Assistance, you do not need proof of income. DES checks identity with ID.me. If you do not use ID.me, you can send a paper form with a government-issued ID. If you list more than one utility, you rank them, and DES pays them in that order.
For help with the form or a grievance, visit your local community action agency or call 1-866-494-1981, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
If you disagree with the decision
You can ask for an Administrative Review within 10 calendar days of the decision. If you still disagree, you can appeal within 20 calendar days. You can also skip the review and appeal within 20 calendar days.
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for LIHEAP in Arizona?
DES does not list a set winter season. It takes applications on a first-come, first-served basis while funds last.
How often can I get LIHEAP in Arizona?
One regular benefit and one crisis benefit in a 12-month period.
How do I report LIHEAP fraud in Arizona?
Submit a fraud report to DES online, or call the fraud hotline at 1-800-251-2436 or 602-542-9449.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Income limits, points and benefit amounts, $500 crisis limit, how to apply, service line 1-866-494-1981, grievances, Power AZ closure. Read 2026-10-24.
- ACF, IM 2026-01 Attachment 4: State Median Income by household size, mandatory use in FY 2027: 60 percent of state median income for each state and household size. Read 2026-10-24.
- ACF, LIHEAP Map: State and Territory Contact Listing: State agencies that run LIHEAP and their public inquiry lines. Read 2026-10-24.