Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)

The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, WHEAP, helps with heating costs, electric costs, and energy emergencies. The heating benefit is a one-time payment during the heating season, October 1 through May 15, that covers a portion of your energy costs. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov, or by phone, mail, or in person with your local WHEAP agency.

Eligibility runs on 60 percent of Wisconsin's state median income. For the 2025-2026 program year that is $3,201.75 a month for one person, $4,187 for two, $5,172 for three, $6,157 for four, or read annually, $38,421 for one person up to $73,888 for four. That line reaches well into working-household territory, so a job does not rule you out.

One honest caveat: benefits are not guaranteed. Once a program year's funds run out, no benefits are issued even to eligible households, so apply early in the season rather than late. The exact heating payment varies by household size, income, and energy costs.

The crisis side is where WHEAP saves people. If you have no heat, are nearly out of fuel, or your electricity has been or will soon be shut off, crisis assistance can help, and WHEAP agencies staff a 24-hour crisis line for after-hours emergencies. Non-emergency help can include payments to a fuel supplier, copayment agreements, and budgeting counseling.

There is help for broken equipment too. The Home Energy Plus HVAC Program helps homeowners when the primary heating system stops working or runs unsafely, covering repair or, in some cases, full replacement. A year-round water conservation program repairs or replaces failing water heaters for customers of participating utilities.

Two things worth knowing. If you are income-eligible for WHEAP, your application is automatically referred to the local weatherization agency, which can fix the home so future bills shrink. And customers of certain cooperative or municipal utilities that run their own Commitment to Community program instead of paying into the state fund are not eligible for these state benefits, so check yours.