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The 2026-27 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season is scheduled to open on Nov. 2, according to information from STEP.
Many of STEP's customers rely on the LIHEAP, which is administered through the County Assistance Office, to manage their heating expenses through the cold months.
Families living on low incomes can get help to pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. The cash grant is a one-time payment sent directly to the utility company/fuel provider to be credited on the customer's bill. These grants range from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income, and fuel type.
Customers must meet income guidelines, but do not need to receive other public assistance or have unpaid heating bills. For a family of two, the annual income limit is $32,460 and for every additional person, $8,520 is added to the limit.
Households in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for grants through the Crisis Program and those experiencing a home-heating emergency due to weatherization-related issues may qualify for the Emergency Services Program (ESP, formerly known as Crisis Weatherization or Crisis Interface) which may include repair or replacement of their heating system. Customers must first apply for LIHEAP to be considered for emergency assistance.
Customers can learn more about LIHEAP at https://dhs.pa.gov/liheap. The LIHEAP Helpline can be reached at 1-866-857-7095 or the DHS Customer Service Center may be reached at 1-877-395-8930.