Energy Assistance

Energy assistance is public help that lets low-income households pay for heating, cooling, and other utility costs. The main federal program is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which sends money to states, tribes, and territories that run it locally. Some programs also help with water bills and with weatherizing homes, and benefits and sign-up steps vary by place.

People usually bring questions about who qualifies, how to apply, and where to find the local office. They also ask what help exists during a utility shutoff, whether renters can receive aid, how seniors and people with disabilities can get help, and how reporting a change in a household affects benefits.