LIHEAP (Home Energy Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
Florida LIHEAP helps pay the power bill in every season, because here the killer is the summer AC bill, not winter heat. Cooling help runs April through September. Heating runs October through March. Crisis help runs all year, up to $2,000 per crisis. Apply through the agency for your county; floridajobs.org keeps the list, and many agencies now take applications online.
Crisis cases move on a clock. Once a crisis case is approved, the agency has 48 hours to fix a shut-off. It has 18 hours when heat or cold puts someone's life at risk. Say the words that are true: disconnect notice, elderly, disabled, children, medical need.
The income limit: $32,155 a year for one person, $61,837 for a family of four. The bill must be in your name or your responsibility. The money goes straight to the utility, never to you. Water, sewer, and phone are never covered.
During a declared disaster, the rules loosen. Agencies can hand out fans, air conditioners, and blankets. And phone lines are jammed at many agencies, so ask about applying online and keep trying. The state itself warns of very high call volume.
Power off with someone elderly or disabled inside? Treat it as an emergency now: 911 if life-threatening, 2-1-1 for agencies that can move today. If you are denied, the appeal runs through that local agency. And ask about free home repairs at the same office; they shrink the next bill.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Total household income no more than 60 percent of the Florida state median income or 150 percent of the federal poverty level (about $61,837 a year for a family of 4)
- You must be responsible for paying the home heating or cooling bill; your local agency provider takes the application and makes the decision
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Find your county's agency on floridajobs.org's LIHEAP provider list, and check whether it takes applications online.
- 2
Holding a shut-off notice? Say so first. Approved crisis cases must be fixed within 48 hours, or 18 if health is at risk.
- 3
Gather: your latest energy bill, any final notice, income proof for everyone, photo ID, Social Security numbers, and proof of citizenship or residency.
- 4
Name anyone elderly, disabled, or under 18, and any medical need; those drive priority.
- 5
Apply in the right season: cooling April-September, heating October-March, crisis anytime.
- 6
Denied, or an approved bill goes unpaid? Escalate at the local agency, up to its director. And ask about free weatherization while you are there.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Does Florida LIHEAP help with air conditioning bills?
Yes; cooling is the program's Florida emphasis. Cooling assistance runs April through September, heating October through March, and crisis help runs year-round.
How fast does crisis help come?
Once approved, the agency must resolve a standard crisis within 48 hours, and within 18 hours when weather puts someone's life or health at risk. Up to $2,000 per crisis event.
What is the income limit for Florida LIHEAP?
60 percent of the state median income: $32,155 a year for one person, $61,837 for a family of four, up to $85,335 for eight. You must also be responsible for the energy bill.
Does the money come to me?
No, it pays your utility directly. Gas and propane count only in winter as primary heat, and water, sewer, and phone are never covered.
Where do I apply?
Through your county's local agency, never the state. The provider list on floridajobs.org shows each county's agency, and many now link online applications.
The lines are always busy. What else can I do?
Check the agency's website for an online application, keep trying early in the day, and dial 2-1-1 for other local utility funds. If someone is in danger without power, call 911.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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