LIHEAP income eligibility is set by federal law at 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or 60% of the State Median Income, whichever is higher in your state. For a single person in the 48 contiguous states under the 2025 guidelines, the 150% figure is $23,475 per year; for a family of four, it’s $48,225. Your state may use a higher cutoff if 60% of its median income exceeds those numbers, and you can skip the income test entirely if anyone in your household receives SNAP, SSI, TANF, or certain veterans’ benefits.
The Two Federal Income Limits
Every state administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program has to work within the same statutory bookends. No state can set its income ceiling higher than 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or 60% of the State Median Income, and the larger of those two figures in a given state becomes the effective limit.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8624 – Applications and Requirements No state can exclude a household earning below 110% of the poverty guidelines, regardless of how it otherwise draws its lines.
The 60% State Median Income figure matters more than most applicants realize. In higher-cost states, the median income sits well above the national poverty line, so 60% of SMI can significantly exceed 150% of poverty. A household that looks too high-income under federal poverty math might still qualify when measured against their state’s economic conditions. Most states pick whichever calculation lets more families in.
2025 Income Limits at 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
The Department of Health and Human Services publishes updated poverty guidelines each January. The figures below reflect the 2025 guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C.2HHS ASPE. 2025 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $23,475
- 2 people: $31,725
- 3 people: $39,975
- 4 people: $48,225
- 5 people: $56,475
- 6 people: $64,725
- 7 people: $72,975
- 8 people: $81,225
Add $8,250 for each additional household member beyond eight. Alaska and Hawaii use higher thresholds. In Alaska, the 150% cutoff is $29,325 for a single person and $60,285 for a family of four. In Hawaii, those figures are $26,985 and $55,470. Remember that your state may apply the 60% SMI figure instead if it’s higher, so the actual limit where you live could exceed what’s in this table.
The 110% Floor
Even in states that set a relatively low income ceiling, federal law prohibits turning away any household earning less than 110% of the poverty guidelines.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8624 – Applications and Requirements For a single person that floor is roughly $17,215; for a family of four, about $35,365. The provision keeps the poorest applicants from being frozen out even when a state otherwise tightens its rules.
Automatic Qualification Through Other Programs
If anyone in your household already receives benefits from certain means-tested federal programs, you can skip the income verification step entirely. This is called categorical eligibility, and it applies when at least one household member receives:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- Certain means-tested veterans’ benefits under Title 38
Those programs already verified that the household has limited income, so LIHEAP doesn’t repeat the process.3LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Categorical Eligibility – States and Territories Categorically eligible households tend to see faster processing because the agency can pull existing records rather than waiting for fresh documentation.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8624 – Applications and Requirements You’ll still need to prove identity and residence, but the financial piece is already settled.
Whose Income Counts
LIHEAP defines a household as the group of people living together who share heating and cooling costs. Every adult in that unit has their income counted toward the total, even if they contribute nothing toward the utility bill. An adult child living at home and earning a wage gets their income included. So does a grandparent receiving Social Security. If you rent a room to someone who pays their own portion of the electric bill, they might still be considered part of your household depending on how your state defines shared utility costs.
Programs evaluate total gross income, meaning pre-tax earnings before deductions for insurance, retirement contributions, or taxes. Self-employment income is typically counted on a net basis after business expenses, though the specific rules vary by state. Documentation usually covers roughly the last 30 days: pay stubs, Social Security award letters, pension statements, unemployment benefit records, or profit-and-loss records for the self-employed.
Household size determines which row of the poverty guidelines applies. A single person uses the one-person threshold; a couple with two children uses the four-person threshold. More people means a higher income cutoff, which partly offsets the effect of combining everyone’s earnings.
Citizenship and Mixed-Status Households
U.S. citizens and certain categories of non-citizens can receive LIHEAP benefits. Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, non-citizens must fall into a “qualified” category. That includes lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and people paroled into the country for at least one year.4Administration for Children and Families. LIHEAP IM 2024-03 Changes to LIHEAP Eligibility for Citizens of Countries Governed by the Compacts of Free Association Citizens of Compact of Free Association nations (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau) became eligible as of March 2024.
When a household includes both eligible and ineligible members, the application doesn’t get rejected outright. The agency counts the income of every household member (including ineligible ones) when determining whether the household meets the income threshold. When calculating the benefit amount, though, ineligible members are excluded from the household count.5Administration for Children and Families. LIHEAP IM HHS Guidance on the Use of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and Citizenship Status Verification A mixed-status household of five might have its income measured against the five-person threshold but receive a benefit sized for three eligible members.
Asset Limits Are a State Choice
Federal law does not impose an asset test for LIHEAP. There’s no nationwide rule requiring you to hold less than a certain amount in savings or other resources. States have discretion to add their own asset limits, and some do. Among the states that impose a resource test, caps range from about $3,000 to $25,000. Many states skip the asset test entirely. Check with your local LIHEAP office to find out whether your state considers bank balances, vehicles, or other property when evaluating eligibility.
Priority Among Eligible Households
Meeting the income limits gets you in the door, but not every eligible household receives the same benefit. Federal law requires states to give the highest level of assistance to those with the lowest incomes and the greatest energy costs relative to income, accounting for family size.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8624 – Applications and Requirements The statute also requires targeted outreach to households with elderly members (60 and older), people with disabilities, and families with young children. If you belong to one of those groups, note it on the application; the agency uses that information to size your benefit and to contact you about available assistance.
The same income rules apply across heating help, cooling help, crisis assistance, and weatherization, with a handful of states setting slightly different thresholds for specific components.6LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Eligibility If you qualify for one, you almost certainly qualify for the others your state offers.