Pennsylvania Households Can Get Up To $1,000 In Heating Help Through April 23, 2027, And Utilities Cannot Shut Off Electric Or Gas From December 1 For Eligible Homes

When the first cold snap hits, the heating bill is the one that keeps people up at night. Pennsylvania is now taking applications for help, with grants of up to $1,000 for eligible households.

A finger pressing a button on a digital home thermostat display.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services opened the 2026-27 season of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, in early November 2026. The application window stays open through April 23, 2027.

There is a second piece of news for worried households. Starting December 1, regulated electric and gas utilities cannot shut off service for eligible homes.

Cash Grants Run From $200 To $1,000

According to the Department of Human Services, the regular LIHEAP cash grant is at least $200 and no more than $1,000, and a household can receive one per season. The money is meant to help households pay for heating.

Last season gives a sense of scale. In 2025-26, about 278,910 households received cash benefits, and the average grant was $289.

A Crisis Grant Can Help When Heat Is About To Go Out

There is also a crisis component for urgent cases. Crisis grants range from $25 to $1,000, and a household can receive more than one, up to a combined $1,000.

To qualify, your heating service must have been terminated or be at risk of termination. You can also qualify if you have less than two weeks of deliverable fuel, such as oil, propane, coal or wood.

In 2025-26, about 121,329 households got crisis benefits, with an average of $566. That is nearly double the average cash grant, which shows how serious these emergencies tend to be.

Who Qualifies Under The Income Limit

The income limit is 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a single person, that works out to $23,940 in gross yearly income.

For a family of four, the limit is $49,500 a year. Those figures are gross income, meaning before taxes and deductions.

If your household is close to the line, check the numbers carefully, since income is counted before taxes and deductions.

To put that in everyday terms, a retiree living alone on a modest fixed income, or a young family on a single paycheck, could fall under these limits. Many households that never thought of themselves as needing help turn out to qualify.

Gross income is the full amount before anything is taken out, so check your pay stubs or benefit letters rather than the amount that lands in your bank account.

No Electric Or Gas Shutoffs From December 1 Through March 31

The winter shutoff moratorium runs from December 1 through March 31. During those months, regulated electric and gas utilities cannot terminate service for households at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.

That threshold is higher than the LIHEAP limit, so more households are covered by the shutoff protection than by the grant itself.

The moratorium does not erase what you owe. The department is clear that outstanding bills remain, so the protection buys time rather than forgiveness.

The December through March window is the coldest stretch of the year in Pennsylvania, and it is when a shutoff does the most harm. Knowing the rule is in place can ease the pressure while you sort out a payment plan.

Because the protection covers regulated electric and gas utilities, households that heat with oil, propane, coal or wood are in a different situation. That is where the crisis grant for low fuel supplies comes in.

Sharing Your Information Could Open Bill Reduction Programs

Applicants can choose to share their information with their utility company. Doing so can help enroll them in reduced-bill programs or debt-forgiveness programs the utility offers.

That is worth considering if you are behind on payments, since the grant and a utility program can work together.

How To Apply And What To Do Next

You can apply online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS, or call the LIHEAP Helpline at 1-866-857-7095. Applying early is wise, because winter fuel needs do not wait for paperwork.

Before you sit down to apply, gather a few things so the process goes quickly.

Proof of income for everyone in the household, since the program counts gross income for all members.
Your most recent heating bill or fuel delivery record, and any shutoff notice you have received.
Your utility account number and the name of your heating provider or fuel dealer.
Identification and Social Security numbers for household members, as the application may ask for them.

Even if your heat is still on, do not wait for a crisis. The regular cash grant is there for households that simply need help getting through the season, and the application is open for months.

Small steps at home can stretch whatever help you get. Seal drafts around doors and windows, close off unused rooms, and set your thermostat a degree or two lower while you are away or asleep.

If you know a neighbor, a parent or a friend living on a fixed income, pass this along. A single phone call to the helpline could mean a warmer winter, and the window to apply stays open until April 23, 2027.

Willow and Hearth