Shapiro Administration Extends LIHEAP Season to May 8, Reminds Pennsylvanians Who Need Energy Assistance to Apply | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

As of late March, LIHEAP has helped more than 233,000 Pennsylvania households with an average $282 cash benefit so far this season.

Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh today announced the 2025-26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season has been extended from April 10 to May 8, 2026.

Following a delayed opening due to the federal government shutdown, DHS has adequate funding to continue the current season. Secretary Arkoosh urged Pennsylvanians who are behind on or having trouble paying home heating bills to apply for LIHEAP Cash and LIHEAP Crisis benefits before the new May 8 deadline.

Despite calls from the Trump Administration to defund this program that provides life-sustaining heating assistance so Pennsylvanians can safely heat their homes during the coldest months of the year, there are currently no changes to LIHEAP or this season's program in Pennsylvania. Because DHS has adequate funding to continue the current season, Secretary Arkoosh urged Pennsylvanians who are behind on or having trouble paying home heating bills to apply for LIHEAP Cash and LIHEAP Crisis benefits before the new May 8 deadline. While this season is not expected to be impacted, continued federal funding and support are critical to DHS' ability to provide uninterrupted assistance for Pennsylvanians during the next winter season.

"LIHEAP helps Pennsylvanians around our Commonwealth heat their homes and keep themselves and their families warm through the winter, but as we welcome Spring, past-due bills and emergencies may still be financially destabilizing," said Secretary Arkoosh. " If you are still having trouble paying your heating bills, please apply by May 8 so LIHEAP can help ease this burden."

LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by DHS that provides assistance for home heating bills. The program offers LIHEAP cash grants to help reduce a household's monthly heating bill and LIHEAP crisis grants to help with heating emergencies; assistance is available for renters and homeowners. As of March 21, LIHEAP has helped more than 233,000 households with an average $282 cash benefit and nearly 83,000 households with an average $558 crisis benefit so far during the 2025-26 season.

LIHEAP assistance is available in the form of cash or crisis grants which are distributed directly to a household's utility company or home heating fuel provider. Individuals or households do not have to repay this assistance. For the 2025-26 season, the minimum LIHEAP cash grant is $200 and the maximum cash grant is $1,000.

Pennsylvanians who need the LIHEAP crisis grant will be eligible for a minimum grant of $25 and a maximum grant of $1,000. Individuals and households are eligible for a crisis grant if they meet the poverty limits and are in jeopardy of having their heating utility service terminated, have already had their heating utility service terminated, or who are out of or have less than two weeks' worth of deliverable fuel, such as fuel oil, propane, coal, or wood.

Individuals and families are financially eligible for the 2025-2026 LIHEAP season if their incomes are at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit. For an individual, that is a gross income of $23,940 per year, and for a family of four, that is a gross income of $48,500 per year.

Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP online at https://www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS, and for other public assistance programs online or by phone at 1-866-550-4355. Paper applications can also be submitted at a local County Assistance Office. Pennsylvanians do not need to know their own eligibility to apply for these programs. Households must apply for LIHEAP each year, so if a Pennsylvanian has been denied previously, DHS encourages them to apply again to see if they are eligible for the 2025-26 LIHEAP season.

In addition to LIHEAP cash and crisis grants, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's LIHEAP Emergency Services Program (administered locally through its Weatherization Assistance Program offices) is available for individuals who need help covering crisis heating system repair or replacement costs. Funding is limited and applications for inoperative heating system assistance must still be submitted online through COMPASS or in person at your local County Assistance Office by April 10.

More information about LIHEAP is available on DHS' website.