Behind on your utility payments?

The governor’s moratorium preventing electricity, natural gas and water shut-offs ended September 30, 2021.
If you’ve fallen behind on your utility payments, you have time to start looking for utility assistance. First, read the information below about LIHEAP, then visit our Utility Assistance page for more resources.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Providing funds from a federal block grant program to help low-income households in Washington maintain affordable, dependable utility services and avoid disconnection.

Program overview

LIHEAP provides energy assistance to households in Washington through a network of community action agencies and local partners. These local organizations will help determine your eligibility and how much assistance you might receive. If you qualify, your local LIHEAP agency will send a payment directly to your energy utility on behalf of your household.

LIHEAP primarily assists households by making an energy assistance grant directly to the energy provider on behalf of the eligible household. LIHEAP may also help repair or replace an unsafe, dysfunctional, and inoperative heating or cooling system in some situations. Households eligible for LIHEAP may also qualify to have their homes made more energy efficient through the Weatherization Program.

Scam warning

A LIHEAP scam in Oregon contacts people and informs them they were randomly selected to benefit from LIHEAP, and all they have to do is follow the link provided. The link asks for personally identifying information, copies of a photo ID and social security number. Once submitted, a call follows and asks for bank and routing information to make the payment. 

LIHEAP in Washington will never ask customers for their banking and routing information. Instead, LIHEAP in Washington makes payments directly to customer accounts with the utility.

Help us strengthen the program integrity of Washington State LIHEAP. Please report suspected fraud to the Department of Commerce LIHEAP administrators by calling 360-725-2857.

Program eligibility

Eligibility is based on several factors, including household income, size, and heating costs. Contact your local LIHEAP agency by clicking on the map below to apply for financial help from LIHEAP.

How to apply

To apply for LIHEAP, you must schedule an appointment with the organization that offers services in your area.

A map of Washington state with county outlines. Clicking the map opens a drop-down menu to select the county you live in.

This map shows agency contact information in all Washington counties. It also has instructions for scheduling a LIHEAP appointment.

Note: Commerce does not determine eligibility or award grants to households.

Air conditioner and air purifier

To be eligible for an air conditioner or air purifier unit, you must apply and qualify for LIHEAP. To apply for LIHEAP, please contact your local LIHEAP agency in your county by clicking on the map in the “How to Apply” section. Air purifiers are only offered in connection with a state of emergency declared by Gov. Inslee for wildfire emergencies and are only offered in those counties named in the declaration.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you reside in Washington, your household has not received a LIHEAP grant during the current program year (October-September), and your household meets the income guidelines for the program, then you may be eligible for LIHEAP. The income limits are set at 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and may be located on the Eligibility Guidelines (PDF) page. The eligibility information provided on this site is only a guide. Eligibility has to be determined through your local LIHEAP provider. Find the provider in your area on the map in the “How to apply” section above, and schedule an appointment today.

LIHEAP is primarily used to assist households with a one-time heating grant made directly to the energy provider. In addition, the program now includes cooling services. In some cases, our program may also assist you in repairing or replacing an unsafe, inoperative, and dysfunctional heating or cooling system. 

No, LIHEAP is not the only energy assistance program available in Washington. Many energy providers across the state administer their own energy assistance programs and offer special rate discounts for qualified customers. Some of these programs are designed similarly to the LIHEAP program and are provided through the same agencies that provide your local LIHEAP program.

To apply for LIHEAP, you must schedule an appointment through the LIHEAP provider in your community. Each agency has its own process for scheduling appointments. You’ll have to follow the scheduling procedures specific to the agency in your area. The Department of Commerce does not schedule appointments. You will find the LIHEAP provider in your area in the “How To Apply” section above.

You can apply for LIHEAP once each program year. The program year runs from October 1 through September 30.

No, it doesn’t matter what your heat source is. Our program awards energy assistance grants regardless of fuel type. We assist households with electric, gas, propane, oil, coal and wood.

Yes, you will need to provide documentation to receive a LIHEAP grant. The documentation requested may vary by LIHEAP provider. Typically, you’ll be asked to document your identity, residence, heat costs and income. Make sure to find out what documentation you’ll need before your scheduled appointment. 

The amount of money awarded to your household will depend on multiple factors. For example, each household’s size, income and annual heat cost will affect the amount of their LIHEAP grant. You’ll have to schedule a LIHEAP appointment with the provider in your community to find out how much you could receive.

No, in most cases, you won’t receive payment directly. LIHEAP almost always pays grants directly to the energy utility. Sometimes, a LIHEAP grant may be awarded directly to a household instead of the energy provider, but that is uncommon.

To be eligible for an Air Conditioner or Air Purifier unit, you must be eligible for LIHEAP. To apply, please contact your local LIHEAP agency by clicking on the map in the “How to Apply” section. Please note: Air purifiers are only offered in connection with a State of Emergency declared by the Governor for Wildfire Emergencies and are only offered in those counties named in the declaration.

Contact

LIHEAP@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-2857

Program information

Program documents and resources

Documents

Resources