Ohio runs the federal LIHEAP program under the name HEAP, the Home Energy Assistance Program. To qualify for the 2026-2027 heating season, your total household income must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines, which works out to $27,930 a year for one person and $57,750 for a household of four. Applications are open now through May 31, 2027, and you can apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov, by mail, or in person at your local Energy Assistance Provider.
This guide covers the income limits, the four separate programs Ohio offers, the documents you need, and exactly how to submit your application.
The Four Ohio Energy Assistance Programs
Most people searching for LIHEAP in Ohio are looking for one of four programs. They share the same income test and the same application form, so a single application can put you in line for more than one.
Regular HEAP. A one-time annual credit applied directly to your main heating bill. This is the baseline benefit, available July 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. You do not need an emergency or a shutoff notice to qualify.
HEAP Winter Crisis Program. Emergency help if you are facing disconnection, already shut off, trying to establish new service, or have less than 25% of a tank of bulk fuel. Runs November 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. This one requires an appointment with your local agency.
HEAP Summer Crisis Program. Cooling assistance from July 1 through September 30 each year, for households with a member age 60 or older, a documented medical condition requiring cooling, or a disconnect notice. Can cover a bill payment, an air conditioner, fans, or central air repair.
PIPP Plus. The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus is not a one-time credit. It is an ongoing payment plan that caps your monthly utility bill at a share of your household income instead of your actual usage.
Ohio HEAP Income Limits 2026-2027
Ohio uses 175% of the federal poverty guidelines for households of one to seven people. For households of eight or more, the state switches to 60% of State Median Income, which is a more generous standard.
Income can be counted either over the last 30 days or over the past 12 months, whichever works in your favor. Agencies generally prefer the 12-month figure when income is uneven.
| Household Size | 12-Month Income Limit | 30-Day Income Limit |
|---|
| 1 person | $27,930 | $2,295.62 |
| 2 people | $37,870 | $3,112.60 |
| 3 people | $47,810 | $3,929.59 |
| 4 people | $57,750 | $4,746.58 |
| 5 people | $67,690 | $5,563.56 |
| 6 people | $77,630 | $6,380.55 |
| 7 people | $87,570 | $7,197.53 |
Households of eight or more use the State Median Income standard:
| Household Size | 12-Month Income Limit | 30-Day Income Limit |
|---|
| 8 people | $94,881 | $7,798.44 |
| 9 people | $96,946 | $7,968.16 |
| 10 people | $99,010 | $8,137.81 |
| 11 people | $101,069 | $8,307.04 |
| 12 people | $103,132 | $8,476.60 |
These figures come from the 2026 federal poverty guidelines published in January 2026, which set the one-person threshold at $15,960 and add $5,680 for each additional person. Ohio applies the 175% multiplier to those numbers.
Ohio has no asset test for HEAP. Savings, a retirement account, or owning your home will not disqualify you. Only gross household income matters.
One detail worth knowing: wage income earned by dependent minors under 18 does not count toward household income. A working teenager in the house will not push you over the limit.
Who Qualifies
Beyond the income test, you need to meet these conditions:
- Ohio resident
- U.S. citizen or legally admitted non-citizen (documentation required for each household member)
- Responsible for paying home heating costs, either directly to a utility or fuel vendor or through your rent
Renters qualify. If heat is included in your rent, you can still apply, though the benefit handling differs and your agency will walk you through it. If you pay a separate heating bill in your own name, you are treated the same as a homeowner.
Every person living in the home counts as part of the household, including roommates and relatives, and their income counts too. This is a frequent reason applications get denied: leaving out an adult who lives there.
How Much Ohio HEAP Pays
Regular HEAP is a single credit posted to your heating account. The amount is not fixed. Ohio calculates it from household size, income, heating fuel type, region of the state, whether anyone in the home is elderly, disabled, or a young child, whether you are enrolled in PIPP Plus, and how much federal funding the state received. In recent program years the regular HEAP credit has ranged from roughly $24 at the low end to around $441 at the high end.
Crisis benefits are capped differently and are considerably larger:
| Benefit | Winter Crisis (Nov 1 to Mar 31) | Summer Crisis (Jul 1 to Sep 30) |
|---|
| PUCO-regulated utility customers | Up to $175 | Up to $500 |
| Municipal or cooperative utility customers | Up to $750 | Up to $800 |
| Bulk fuel (propane, fuel oil, kerosene) | Up to $1,200 | Not applicable |
| Wood or coal heat | Up to $650 | Not applicable |
| Heating unit repair or replacement | Up to $1,500 | Central AC repair available |
The gap between regulated and non-regulated utility caps surprises people. If your electric or gas comes from a PUCO-regulated company, the Winter Crisis cap is only $175, because regulated utilities are also required to offer you a payment plan and a disconnection moratorium. Customers of municipal systems and rural electric cooperatives get a much higher cap because those protections do not apply to them.
Payments always go to your utility or fuel vendor, never to you directly.
Documents You Need
Gather these before you start. An incomplete application is the single biggest cause of delay, and Ohio will not process one that is missing signatures or income proof.
- Proof of income for every household member age 18 and older, covering either the last 30 days or the past 12 months. Pay stubs, Social Security or SSI award letters, unemployment statements, pension statements, self-employment records.
- A recent bill from your main heating source plus your electric bill. If you heat with bulk fuel, bring a recent delivery receipt or statement from your supplier.
- Social Security numbers and birth dates for everyone in the household.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for each household member. Birth certificate, Social Security card, passport, permanent resident card, or naturalization papers.
- Proof of disability, if you are claiming a disability-related priority or medical need.
- A zero-income statement if someone in the household has no income at all. Your agency provides this form.
For Summer Crisis applications based on a medical condition, you also need a physician's statement confirming that cooling is medically necessary.
How to Apply for HEAP in Ohio: Step by Step
Step 1: Decide which program you need first
If you have a shutoff notice in hand, you are out of fuel, or your service is already off, go straight to the Winter Crisis Program and call your local Energy Assistance Provider for an appointment. Crisis cases are handled on a short timeline. If you simply want help with the season's bills and you are not in an emergency, Regular HEAP online is the easier path.
Step 2: Find your local Energy Assistance Provider
Ohio delivers HEAP through a network of Community Action Agencies and other local providers, one or more per county. Look yours up at energyhelp.ohio.gov or through the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel at occ.ohio.gov/utilityassistance. Crisis appointments must be booked with the provider serving your county.
Step 3: Submit the application
You have three options.
Online. Go to energyhelp.ohio.gov, which now routes to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services energy assistance portal. You can start a Winter Crisis application online, but you still have to finish it at an appointment. Regular HEAP and PIPP Plus can be completed entirely online.
By mail. Download the Energy Assistance Programs Application, form JFS 00330, from the same site. Fill it out completely, sign the last page, attach copies of every required document, and mail it to:
Office of Community Assistance, Home Energy Assistance Program
P.O. Box 1240
Columbus, Ohio 43216
Send copies, never originals.
In person. Drop off or complete the application at your local Energy Assistance Provider or Community Action Agency.
Step 4: Attend your appointment if you are applying for crisis help
Winter Crisis requires a face-to-face or phone appointment. Bring every document on the list. Agencies cannot approve a crisis benefit without complete verification, and a missing item usually means rescheduling, which costs you days you may not have.
Step 5: Wait for processing, and keep paying what you can
Applications submitted online or by mail take up to 12 weeks to process, handled in the order received. Crisis applications move much faster. Regular HEAP credits for the 2026-2027 season start appearing on bills as early as October 2026.
A HEAP application by itself does not stop a disconnection. If you have a shutoff notice, you need the Winter Crisis Program, a payment plan with your utility, or PIPP Plus enrollment. Keep making whatever payments you can while your application is pending.
PIPP Plus: The Longer-Term Option
If your income is at or below 175% of the poverty guidelines and you are a customer of a PUCO-regulated electric or natural gas company, PIPP Plus is usually worth more over a year than any one-time credit.
Under PIPP Plus you pay 5% of your monthly household income for natural gas and 5% for electric, or 10% total if your home is all-electric, with a minimum monthly payment of $10 per utility. That is your bill regardless of how much energy you actually used. Pay the full PIPP amount on time every month and the utility credits off a portion of your remaining balance and your old arrears, which over time can wipe out the debt entirely.
You can apply for PIPP Plus at any point in the year, and you do not need an appointment. You do have to reverify your income annually to stay enrolled.
Weatherization: Fixing the Underlying Problem
The Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) uses the same 175% income standard and pays for permanent efficiency work: attic and wall insulation, air sealing, duct repair, and furnace inspection or replacement. There is no cost to the household. Applying for HEAP and HWAP together is the standard approach, since a credit on a bill helps for one month while insulation lowers every bill after it.
Ask your local Community Action Agency about HWAP when you submit your HEAP paperwork. Waitlists are common, so apply early.
Funding Outlook for the 2026-2027 Season
The federal Office of Community Services released $3.6 billion in LIHEAP block grant funding to states, territories, and tribes on October 9, 2026, under the continuing appropriations act signed in September 2026. That means Ohio entered this heating season funded.
Two caveats are worth planning around. First, the administration's budget request again proposed eliminating LIHEAP, so the program's long-term funding level is unsettled even though this season's money is out the door. Second, Ohio's crisis programs operate on a fixed allocation. When the Winter Crisis money for a county runs low, agencies tighten up or stop scheduling. Applying in November rather than February is the practical difference between getting help and getting a waitlist.
For a full picture of other Ohio programs you may qualify for alongside HEAP, see our Ohio benefits guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HEAP the same thing as LIHEAP in Ohio?
Yes. LIHEAP is the federal program name. Ohio calls its version HEAP, the Home Energy Assistance Program. When you search for LIHEAP in Ohio, HEAP is what you are looking for.
What is the income limit for HEAP in Ohio for 2026?
For the 2026-2027 program year, the annual limit is $27,930 for a household of one, $37,870 for two, $47,810 for three, and $57,750 for four. That is 175% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Households of eight or more use 60% of State Median Income instead.
When is the deadline to apply for Ohio HEAP?
Regular HEAP applications for the current heating season are accepted from July 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. The Winter Crisis Program runs November 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, a shorter window with its own funding pool.
Can I apply for Ohio HEAP online?
Yes. Go to energyhelp.ohio.gov, which routes to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services energy assistance portal. Regular HEAP and PIPP Plus can be completed fully online. A Winter Crisis application can be started online but must be finished at an appointment with your local Energy Assistance Provider.
How long does Ohio HEAP take to process?
Up to 12 weeks for applications submitted online or by mail, processed in the order received. Crisis applications are handled far more quickly because they involve an in-person or phone appointment with verification done on the spot.
Can renters get HEAP in Ohio?
Yes. If you pay a heating bill in your name, you apply exactly like a homeowner. If heat is included in your rent, you can still apply and your local agency will explain how the benefit is handled in that situation.
Will a HEAP application stop my utility from shutting off service?
No. A pending Regular HEAP application provides no disconnection protection. If you have a shutoff notice, apply for the Winter Crisis Program, enroll in PIPP Plus, or set up a payment plan with your utility. Ohio's winter reconnect order also gives regulated-utility customers a route to restore or maintain service during the heating season.
Can I get both HEAP and the Winter Crisis Program in the same year?
Yes. They are separate benefits with separate caps. Most households that need emergency help receive the Regular HEAP credit and a Winter Crisis payment in the same season, and may also be enrolled in PIPP Plus at the same time.
Does Ohio HEAP have an asset limit?
No. Ohio does not apply an asset or resource test to HEAP. Bank accounts, retirement savings, vehicles, and home ownership do not affect eligibility. Only gross household income is counted.
Who do I call with questions about Ohio HEAP?
Your local Energy Assistance Provider or Community Action Agency is the fastest route for application questions. For general program information and utility consumer help, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel can be reached at 1-877-742-5622.
