LIHEAP Energy Assistance (Tennessee)
Last updated August 2026
LIHEAP puts $174 to $750 toward your power or fuel bill if your income is low. The money never touches your hands. It lands on your utility account as a credit. Tennessee runs one statewide online form. It is the same form whether you fill it out at thda.org/liheap or with a worker at your local agency.
One rule trips people before they start: you must have an email address. No email means the case is marked incomplete and denied. Every decision also arrives by email, not mail. One address covers the whole household. If you do not have one, set one up first, or ask the agency staff to help.
Holding a shut-off notice? Do not wait quietly in line. You are a crisis case if someone in the home is 60 or older, 5 or younger, disabled, a veteran or active military. A hardship you could not control, like a job loss, counts too. Crisis cases get an answer within 48 hours, or 18 hours if life-threatening. Do not soften your story.
Regular cases take longer than people expect. The rule says 30 business days from the month you applied in. In practice, plan on up to about 45 days. Then a few more weeks pass before the credit shows on your bill.
Timing matters. The year ends September 30, and funds can run dry early. It is first come, first served, one benefit per household per year. Applying after the money is spoken for can land you on a waiting list instead of a denial. That list puts seniors, disabled people, young children, and veterans first. So file anyway.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Income at or below 60 percent of the state median income; households with the highest home energy costs relative to income get priority
- You need a working email address to use the online LIHEAP portal, and the benefit is paid directly to your energy supplier, not to you
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Get an email address first. This is not optional. No email means denial, and your decision arrives by email.
- 2
Gather your papers before you open the form. The checklist is below.
- 3
Start at thda.org/liheap. Create your account. Work through the household, income, and energy sections.
- 4
Say so if you are in crisis. A shut-off notice plus someone 60 or older, 5 or younger, disabled, or a veteran makes you a crisis case with a 48-hour decision. So does a hardship you could not control.
- 5
Submit, then watch your email, not your mailbox.
- 6
Expect the money to go to your power company, not to you. $174 to $750, posted as a credit, sometimes a few weeks after approval.
- 7
Stuck or denied? Call your local agency. It holds separate emergency funds with different rules, and 2-1-1 knows the church funds it does not run.
What to have ready
- A working email address, one per household, required
- Government photo ID for the person applying
- Social Security cards for everyone living in the home
- Proof of all household income for the last 30 days
- A current energy bill on an account open at least 28 days
- Your account history, ideally 12 months, or whatever covers your time at the address
- Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
- Your shut-off notice, if you have one
- Some households need one extra form, in English or Spanish: Zero Income (LI-03), Landlord/Tenant Agreement (LI-05) if utilities come through your rent, Self-Employment (LI-06), or Disability Verification (LI-11).
What the application looks like
Common questions
How do I apply for LIHEAP in Tennessee?
Online at thda.org/liheap, the state's one application portal. You need an email address, photo ID, Social Security cards, 30 days of income proof, and a current energy bill. Your local agency will help in person, or take a paper form and enter it for you.
How long does a LIHEAP decision take?
Plan on up to about 45 days for a regular case. Crisis cases with a shut-off get 48 hours, or 18 if life-threatening. The answer comes by email.
How much does LIHEAP pay?
$174 to $750 right now, based on how heavy your energy costs are next to your income. It goes straight to your utility as a credit, and can take a few weeks to show on your bill.
Can renters get LIHEAP?
Yes, same as homeowners. If the bill is in your name, apply normally. If utilities come through your rent, you also need a signed Landlord/Tenant Agreement, form LI-05.
What if I already have a shut-off notice?
File as a crisis case and say so on the form. You get a 48-hour decision if someone in the home is 60 or older, 5 or younger, disabled, a veteran, or the hardship was out of your control. Call your local agency the same day too.
What are the income limits for LIHEAP in Tennessee?
At or below 60 percent of the state's median income. For one person that is now $32,053 a year, about $2,671 a month. It rises with each added person. Your local agency can check your number by phone in a minute.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
See all Tennessee programs →Free · Private · No account needed