Pennsylvania's 2026-2027 LIHEAP season opens Monday, November 2, 2026, and runs through Friday, April 23, 2027. Cash grants range from $200 to $1,000 and go straight to your utility company or fuel dealer, and separate crisis grants of up to $1,000 are available if you are without heat or within 15 days of losing it. A household of one can earn up to $23,940 a year and a household of four up to $49,500. You can apply online at COMPASS, by phone at 1-866-857-7095, or in person at your County Assistance Office.
This guide covers the income limits, the documents you need, the exact application steps, and what to do if your heat is already in jeopardy.
What Pennsylvania LIHEAP Pays For
LIHEAP in Pennsylvania is run by the Department of Human Services (DHS) through the same County Assistance Offices (CAOs) that handle SNAP and Medicaid. It has two separate pieces, and most households should know about both.
The LIHEAP cash grant is a one-time payment toward your main heating source for the season. For 2026-2027 the range is $200 minimum to $1,000 maximum. The exact amount depends on four things: the region of the state you live in, your household's annual income, your heating type, and the number of people living in the home. A household receives only one regular cash grant per heating season.
The LIHEAP crisis grant is emergency money for a heating emergency. For 2026-2027 crisis grants run from $25 up to a season maximum of $1,000. Unlike the cash grant, you can receive several crisis authorizations during one season if you hit an emergency more than once, as long as the combined total stays at or under $1,000.
Neither grant has to be repaid. Payments are sent directly to your utility or fuel vendor rather than to you, so the benefit shows up as a credit on your account. That applies whether your heat comes from electricity, natural gas, heating oil, propane, coal, wood, or kerosene.
Pennsylvania LIHEAP Income Limits 2026-2027
Pennsylvania sets eligibility at 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, measured on gross household income before taxes. The limits below took effect February 1, 2026, and apply to the 2026-2027 season.
| Household Size | Maximum Annual Gross Income |
|---|
| 1 person | $23,940 |
| 2 people | $32,460 |
| 3 people | $40,980 |
| 4 people | $49,500 |
| 5 people | $58,020 |
| 6 people | $66,540 |
| 7 people | $75,060 |
| 8 people | $83,580 |
| 9 people | $92,100 |
| 10 people | $100,620 |
For each additional household member beyond 10, add $8,520 to the limit.
For a monthly equivalent, divide by 12: roughly $1,995 for one person, $2,705 for two, $3,415 for three, and $4,125 for a household of four.
There is no asset or resource test for Pennsylvania LIHEAP. Savings, a car, and a home do not count against you.
Who Qualifies
To receive a Pennsylvania LIHEAP cash grant you need to:
- Live in Pennsylvania
- Have gross household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size
- Be responsible for paying your home heating costs, either directly to a vendor or as part of your rent
Several things are commonly assumed to be requirements and are not. You do not have to be receiving public assistance, cash assistance, or SNAP. You do not need to have an unpaid bill or be behind on your account. You do not have to own your home. Renters qualify, including renters whose heat is included in the rent payment.
If heat is built into your rent, you will need to document how you pay for it. A copy of your lease showing heat is included, or a signed written statement from your landlord explaining the arrangement, is normally what the CAO asks for.
Household income means the income of everyone living in the home, not just the person whose name is on the bill. Count wages, Social Security and SSI, SSDI, pensions, unemployment compensation, child support, and most other regular income.
Documents You Need Before You Start
Having these in front of you turns a 40-minute application into a 15-minute one:
- Names of everyone in the household
- Dates of birth for everyone in the household
- Social Security numbers for all household members
- Proof of income for every household member with income (recent pay stubs, a Social Security award letter, pension statements, unemployment records)
- A recent heating bill, or the name and account number of your fuel dealer
- Proof of your current address if you have moved recently
- A copy of your lease or a landlord statement if heat is included in your rent
If a household member does not have a Social Security number, say so on the application rather than leaving it blank. The CAO can tell you how that affects the household's grant.
How to Apply for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania: Step by Step
Step 1: Check whether you already have a pre-printed application. Households that received LIHEAP during the 2025-2026 season are mailed a 2026-2027 LIHEAP application or a COMPASS postcard carrying a registration number. That registration number lets returning customers apply before the season officially opens, which is the single biggest timing advantage available. Watch your mail in October.
Step 2: Pick your application method. New applicants, and anyone who did not receive the mailing, can apply on or after November 2, 2026, in one of three ways:
- Online at compass.state.pa.us. COMPASS is Pennsylvania's single benefits portal, and it lets you apply for LIHEAP on its own or alongside SNAP and Medicaid in the same session. The myCOMPASS PA mobile app works for uploading documents and checking on a case.
- By phone through the LIHEAP Customer Helpline at 1-866-857-7095, or by calling your County Assistance Office directly.
- In person or by mail at your County Assistance Office. Office contact information for all 67 counties is listed on the DHS website.
Step 3: Complete the application fully and submit your proofs. Incomplete applications are the main cause of delay, and the two fields people skip most often are the heating vendor account number and the income of a second adult in the home. Upload documents in COMPASS, use the myCOMPASS PA app, fax them, mail them, or drop them off.
Step 4: Wait for your written notice. DHS sends a written decision on eligibility within 30 days of receiving a completed application. The notice states your grant amount and which vendor it was sent to.
Step 5: Confirm the credit landed. Check your next utility bill or call your fuel dealer. You can also track your case at trackmybenefits.pa.gov. If the grant went to the wrong vendor because you switched suppliers, call your CAO to get it corrected.
If Your Heat Is Already in Trouble: Crisis Grants
Crisis is a different request with different rules, and this is where most mistakes happen.
You can get a crisis grant if your household is without heat, or within 15 days of being without heat, because of a lack of fuel or a utility termination. Qualifying emergencies include:
- Broken or inoperable heating equipment
- A main heating source that has been shut off, or a termination notice from your utility
- A fuel supply with less than 15 days left
- Being out of fuel entirely
Every crisis request must be made to your County Assistance Office. You cannot do it through your utility, and you cannot do it through COMPASS alone. A CAO representative has to contact your vendor to authorize the crisis payment. LIHEAP crisis will not pay for a delivery that was not authorized by the CAO in advance, and it will not pay if the emergency was already resolved before the CAO reached the vendor. If you are on automatic fuel delivery, call your CAO to ask for crisis help before an automatic delivery resolves the emergency, or the help is no longer available for that event.
Two more details worth knowing. Any fuel credits you already have on your account must be applied or used up before crisis can be authorized, with an exception when the funds would pay for repairs or service by the vendor. And if you already applied for a LIHEAP cash grant this season, you do not need to file a separate application for crisis, unless you moved to a new address or a new person joined your household.
The crisis amount is based on what it takes to resolve the specific emergency, such as stopping a shutoff or filling the tank one time. The CAO tells you the maximum crisis dollars available to you at the time of the pledge.
Season Dates and Deadlines
| Item | Date |
|---|
| 2026-2027 season opens | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| 2026-2027 season closes | Friday, April 23, 2027 |
| Early access for returning customers | On receipt of the mailed application or COMPASS postcard with registration number |
| Decision timeline | Written notice within 30 days of a completed application |
Treat the April date as a target rather than a promise in either direction. Pennsylvania has both closed LIHEAP early when funds ran low and extended it when funds allowed. The 2025-2026 season's deadline was extended into May 2026. Applying in November or December is always the safer play.
The $100 Supplement from Summer 2026
In late July and August 2026, DHS issued one-time $100 supplemental LIHEAP payments to roughly 193,000 Pennsylvania households. No application was needed. To receive it, a household had to have gotten LIHEAP during the 2025-2026 season and include at least one person who has a disability, is age 60 or older, or is a child under 6. The credit went to the same utility or fuel vendor that received the original cash grant.
That supplement was paid out of last season's funds. It does not reduce or affect your eligibility for a 2026-2027 LIHEAP cash grant or crisis grant.
Other Pennsylvania Energy Help Worth Stacking
LIHEAP is not the only program, and these can be used alongside it.
Customer Assistance Programs (CAP). Every major electric and gas utility in Pennsylvania is required to offer one. A CAP sets your monthly bill based on household income instead of usage, and most versions forgive part or all of an old balance while you stay enrolled. Call your utility's customer assistance line and ask to be screened for CAP. For many low-income households this saves more over a year than the LIHEAP grant itself.
Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP). Free weatherization and energy education from your utility, aimed at cutting monthly usage. Income eligibility is generally 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, and some utilities raise that to 200% for households with special needs or unusually high usage.
Weatherization Assistance Program. Administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development, this covers insulation, air sealing, and heating system work. The information line is 1-866-466-3972.
Dollar Energy Fund. Pennsylvania's largest utility hardship fund provides one-time grants applied directly to gas, electric, or water bills for households that have used up other assistance. Call 1-888-282-6816.
For a full picture of what else your household may qualify for in the state, see our Pennsylvania benefits guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Pennsylvania LIHEAP open for 2026?
The 2026-2027 LIHEAP season opens Monday, November 2, 2026, and continues through Friday, April 23, 2027. Households that received LIHEAP last season can apply earlier using the registration number on the application or COMPASS postcard DHS mails them.
What is the income limit for a family of four in Pennsylvania?
$49,500 in annual gross income for the 2026-2027 season. That figure is 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and took effect February 1, 2026.
How much is a Pennsylvania LIHEAP grant?
Cash grants run from $200 to $1,000, set by your region, household income, heating type, and household size. Crisis grants run from $25 to a season maximum of $1,000 and are based on what it costs to resolve your specific emergency.
Can I apply for LIHEAP online in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Apply at compass.state.pa.us, the state benefits portal, on or after November 2, 2026. You can also use the myCOMPASS PA app to submit documents and check your case, and trackmybenefits.pa.gov to see status.
Do renters qualify for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania?
Yes, including renters whose heat is included in the rent. Bring a copy of your lease showing heat is included or a signed statement from your landlord describing how you pay for heat.
How long does Pennsylvania LIHEAP take to process?
DHS issues a written eligibility decision within 30 days of receiving a completed application. Crisis requests are handled faster because they involve an active heating emergency, so call your County Assistance Office directly rather than waiting.
Can I get both a cash grant and a crisis grant?
Yes. They are separate benefits. If you already filed a cash grant application this season, you do not need a new application for crisis unless you moved or someone new joined your household. You still have to contact the CAO to request crisis each time.
What if my fuel is delivered automatically?
Call your County Assistance Office to request crisis help before the automatic delivery happens. Once an automatic delivery resolves the emergency, crisis funds are no longer available for that event.
Does LIHEAP cover propane, heating oil, wood, or coal?
Yes. Pennsylvania LIHEAP covers your main heating source regardless of fuel type, including electricity, natural gas, oil, propane, kerosene, coal, and wood. The payment goes to the vendor that supplies it.
Do I have to reapply every year?
Yes. LIHEAP eligibility is determined each heating season. Prior-year recipients get a pre-printed application or postcard in the mail, which is faster than starting over but still has to be completed and returned.
What happens if I am denied?
Your written notice states the reason and your appeal rights. You can request a hearing within the timeframe on the notice. If the denial was based on income, check whether the figure used matches your current gross income, since a job loss or reduced hours after you applied can change the outcome. You can also reapply if your household circumstances change during the season.
