LIHEAP does not start on the same date everywhere. The federal government releases funding to states at the beginning of each fiscal year on October 1, and from there each state picks its own opening date for heating and cooling assistance. Across the country for fiscal year 2026, heating applications open as early as August in a few northern states and as late as January in others, while cooling applications generally open between March and July. If you need to know exactly when your state starts, you have to check with the agency that runs LIHEAP where you live — but the patterns below will tell you roughly what to expect.
Why There Is No National Start Date
The federal fiscal year begins October 1, and that date triggers the process that eventually puts LIHEAP dollars into applicants’ hands. Congress authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute block grants to all 50 states, U.S. territories, tribes, and the District of Columbia based on a formula that accounts for low-income energy costs and other factors.1Office of Community Services. LIHEAP Fact Sheet Once a state receives its allocation, the state agency running the program decides when to open applications and how to divide the money between heating, cooling, and crisis assistance.
Federal appropriations don’t always arrive on a clean schedule. When Congress passes a continuing resolution instead of a full budget, funding may be released in smaller increments. The Administration for Children and Families publishes each release on its funding page so states know exactly how much they have to work with.2Administration for Children and Families. LIHEAP Funding Releases These delays rarely prevent states from opening their programs on time, but they can affect how much money is available in the early weeks.
When Heating Assistance Opens
Heating assistance is what most people mean when they ask about LIHEAP, and it’s the component with the widest variation in start dates. For fiscal year 2026, application windows open as early as August in a handful of northern states and as late as January in others. The largest cluster of states begins accepting applications on October 1 or November 1, which lines up with the start of the federal fiscal year and the onset of colder weather.3The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. State and Territory LIHEAP Program Duration: Heating, Cooling, and Crisis
Some states stagger their intake. A common approach is opening applications a few weeks early for households that include elderly members, people with disabilities, or young children, then opening to the general public afterward. Others run year-round intake and simply process heating claims during the colder months. Your state’s window is not something you can guess from the calendar. Check directly.
When Cooling Assistance Opens
Not every state offers cooling assistance, but for those in hot climates it can matter as much as heating help. Cooling programs for fiscal year 2026 generally open between March and July, with most falling in the April-to-June range. Southern and southwestern states tend to start earliest and keep their windows open through September or later.3The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. State and Territory LIHEAP Program Duration: Heating, Cooling, and Crisis A few states with extreme year-round heat run cooling assistance continuously.
Cooling benefits work much the same way as heating benefits. The program pays your energy provider directly to help cover air conditioning costs. In some states, cooling assistance can also cover the purchase or repair of a fan or air conditioning unit if your home doesn’t have one. Cooling assistance is often smaller than heating assistance and runs out faster, so the opening date matters even more.
Crisis Assistance Doesn’t Wait for a Window
If your heat or electricity has already been shut off, or you’re facing imminent disconnection, you don’t need to wait for a regular application window. Federal law requires every LIHEAP program to provide crisis assistance with much tighter deadlines than the standard process. Once you apply and the agency verifies your eligibility, it must resolve the crisis within 48 hours. If the situation is life-threatening, such as when a household member depends on powered medical equipment, that deadline drops to 18 hours.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8623 – State Allotments
Crisis programs also have to accept applications at locations that are accessible to everyone in the service area, and they must give homebound individuals a way to apply without leaving their residence.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8623 – State Allotments This is one of the few parts of LIHEAP where the federal government sets hard timelines rather than leaving everything to state discretion. If you’re in an energy emergency, call your local community action agency or the national hotline at 1-866-674-6327 immediately. Don’t wait to gather paperwork first.
Why the Opening Day Matters
LIHEAP is not an entitlement program. Meeting the income requirements doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive a benefit. Most states operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and once the allocated funding for a given period is gone, the program stops accepting new applications regardless of how many eligible households still need help.3The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. State and Territory LIHEAP Program Duration: Heating, Cooling, and Crisis
Some states set a hard end date for their program but include the caveat “or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first.” In practice, programs in high-demand areas can run out of money weeks or even months before the official closing date. The practical takeaway: apply the first day your state’s window opens. Waiting until your bill is overdue means competing with every other household in the same situation, and by then the money may already be committed.
How to Find Your State’s Exact Date
The dates that matter for your application are set by the local agency that administers LIHEAP where you live, usually a community action agency or a county human services office. You can find your local office through the LIHEAP Clearinghouse search tool at liheapch.acf.gov, or by calling the National Energy Assistance Referral hotline at 1-866-674-6327.5Administration for Children and Families. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Ask three things: the exact date the current heating or cooling window opens, whether there is a priority intake period for older adults, people with disabilities, or households with young children, and how you can submit on day one, whether by mail, in person, or online. That gives you the earliest realistic chance at a benefit before funding thins out.
Once you submit a complete application, expect to wait roughly 30 to 60 days for a decision on standard heating or cooling assistance. The agency will notify you by mail or email with the benefit amount and payment details. If your application is denied, the notification should explain the reason and how to appeal. Crisis applications move on the much faster 48-hour or 18-hour track described above.