Where to apply for LIHEAP and what to check while you wait

Applying in the wrong place wastes time

The federal government pays for LIHEAP, but no federal office takes applications from the public. You apply with your state, territory or tribal program, or with a local agency that works for it. This site does not take applications either.

Be careful with calls, texts or websites that offer a LIHEAP grant or ask for a fee. The federal LIHEAP office says the program does not give grants to people directly and does not charge a fee. If someone asks you for money, you can report it to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

Three ways to find the right office

Why go straight to your state program? Only your state program or its local agency can take your form, check your papers and decide. Starting anywhere else only adds steps.

How do you find your local office? Call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327. The call is toll-free, and the line is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Tell them your state and county.

Where do the forms go in your state? In many states, a community action agency takes the forms. In others, it is a county social services office or a state online system. Your state LIHEAP office can tell you which one serves your home.

How to reach the right office

Pick the way that fits your day. Each one leads to the same kind of application.

• By phone. Call the national referral line at 1-866-674-6327 on a weekday. Ask for the LIHEAP office for your county.
• Through your state program. Each state has its own LIHEAP office. Some use a local name, like HEAP in New York or LIEAP in North Carolina.
• Through a local agency. Community action agencies and county social services offices take forms in many states. Many of them also help you fill out the form.
• Online, in some states. Pennsylvania uses COMPASS, North Carolina uses ePASS and Arizona uses the A-to-Z Arizona Portal. New Jersey and New York also take forms online.

When you call, ask four things. Ask when the program opens and which papers to bring. Ask if older adults or people with a disability can apply early. Then ask how to get crisis help if your heat is shut off.

What to check while you wait

Keep your phone on and open every letter from the agency. If it asks for a paper, send it as soon as you can. Keep paying what you can on your bill, and tell your energy company that you applied. If your heat is shut off or you are about to run out of fuel, call the agency and ask for crisis help. Under federal law, an eligible household in a crisis must get some help within 48 hours of applying, or 18 hours if the situation is life-threatening.

A few questions come up most often. Each one has its own page on this site.

• Do I meet the income limits? See the federal rules and the limits by household size.
• When does my state open? See the guides for New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona.
• What if my heat is shut off? Each state guide explains its crisis help.