Washington Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
Last updated August 2026
Washington's LIHEAP pays a grant toward home heating, sent straight to your utility in most cases, once per household per program year (October through September). The income ceiling is 150 percent of the federal poverty level, and the local agency also weighs household size and heating costs. Any heat source counts: electric, gas, propane, oil, coal, or wood.
Here is the step people get wrong: you cannot apply to the state. The Department of Commerce funds the program but takes no applications and awards no grants. Everything runs through the community action agency serving your county, each with its own scheduling process. Find yours with the LIHEAP map tool on the state site, pick your county, and follow that agency's appointment instructions.
The grant is not a flat number. It varies with household size, income, and your annual heating cost, and only your local provider can tell you the figure. One pleasant surprise to expect: some payments arrive as cash on an existing EBT card rather than a utility credit, so unexpected cash in the account may be your heating grant, not an error.
The program grew past winter. Washington LIHEAP now includes cooling services, and it can repair or replace an unsafe or broken heating or cooling system, not just pay a bill. It can also route you into the state weatherization program through the same agency, which fixes the home so every future bill is smaller.
Bring documentation to the appointment: identity, residence, heating costs, and income are typical, but ask your specific agency because requirements vary. If you disagree with a decision, you do not have to accept it quietly: the state publishes a fair hearing request form, and questions go to the Commerce LIHEAP office at 360-725-2857.
Do not stop at one program. Many Washington utilities run their own bill assistance and discount rate programs, often through these same agencies, and the state runs its own energy assistance program alongside federal LIHEAP. Ask your agency what else your household fits, and dial 2-1-1 for anything urgent.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Income-based; low-income households across Washington may qualify, and priority often goes to older adults, people with disabilities, and families with young children
- You apply through one of the local community action agencies statewide, each with its own scheduling process
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Find your county's agency with the LIHEAP map tool on the state Commerce site.
- 2
Schedule an appointment following that agency's process; you cannot apply through the state.
- 3
Bring ID, proof of residence, income, and heating costs, and ask the agency for its exact list.
- 4
Ask about cooling help, furnace repair, utility discount programs, and weatherization in the same visit.
What to have ready
- Photo ID and proof of address
- Proof of income for household members
- A recent heating bill or proof of heating costs. Your agency confirms the exact list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
What is the income limit for Washington LIHEAP?
150 percent of the federal poverty level, with household size and heating costs also weighed. The local agency makes the final call.
How do I apply?
Through the community action agency serving your county; the state takes no applications. Use the LIHEAP map tool to find your agency and its scheduling process.
How much is the grant?
It varies by household size, income, and annual heat cost; only your local provider can quote your amount. It usually pays the utility directly, once per program year.
Can LIHEAP fix a broken furnace?
It can repair or replace an unsafe or inoperative heating or cooling system, and the program now includes cooling services too.
Can I challenge a decision?
Yes. The state publishes a LIHEAP fair hearing request form, and the Commerce LIHEAP office answers at 360-725-2857.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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