LIHEAP Heating Aid Opens Nov. 2. How to Get $200 to $1,000 for Winter Bills
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s 2026-2027 LIHEAP season opens Nov. 2, offering cash grants of $200 to $1,000 to help income-eligible households pay winter heating bills, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
The grants go directly to the utility company or fuel dealer as a one-time payment and do not need to be repaid. Grant amounts depend on household size, income and fuel type. Both renters and homeowners can qualify, and applicants do not need to receive other public assistance or have unpaid bills.
UGI Utilities urged its customers to apply in an announcement Monday, noting that nearly 21,000 of its customers received LIHEAP grants totaling more than $8.2 million last winter.
Pennsylvanians can apply online through COMPASS at compass.state.pa.us, by calling the LIHEAP helpline at 1-866-857-7095, or at their County Assistance Office. Applicants need proof of income, a recent heating bill and identifying information for each household member.
The application window runs Nov. 2, 2026 through April 23, 2027. Households facing a heating emergency, such as a shutoff notice or an empty fuel tank, may also qualify for crisis grants that provide additional help.
Philadelphia Gas Works also reminds customers that crisis assistance is available at neighborhood energy centers across the city for those without service or facing shutoff.
Energy officials encourage households to apply early in the season rather than waiting for the coldest months, when processing times can grow.