LIHEAP income limits: the federal ceiling in your state
For a household of four, the federal ceiling runs from $54,015 a year in Mississippi to $121,200 in District of Columbia for fiscal year 2027.
Federal LIHEAP income ceiling, Pennsylvania, household of 3
$65,359 a year
| 60 % of state median income (FY2027) | $65,359 |
| 150 % of the 2026 poverty guideline | $40,980 |
| Monthly equivalent of the ceiling | $5,447 |
| Floor: no state may refuse on income below | $30,052 |
The greater of the two lines (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B)). Each state sets its own limit between $30,052 and $65,359 for this size and checks it with its agency.
Compiled by Radif Partners · Where the prices come from · EIA weekly survey of October 19, 2026, excluding taxes · no dealer listed
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps households pay heating bills, including heating oil and propane deliveries. Federal law sets the highest income a state may use: the greater of 150 % of the HHS poverty guideline and 60 % of the state's median income (42 U.S.C. 8624). For 2026 the poverty guideline is $15,960 for one person plus $5,680 for each additional person in the 48 contiguous states and DC, so 150 % of it is $49,500 for a household of four. Sixty percent of state median income, from the federal table for fiscal year 2027, is higher in every state but none, so it usually sets the ceiling. States can choose a lower limit, but not below 110 % of the poverty guideline. The calculator gives the federal ceiling for your state and household size and, if you type your income, the gap to it. Apply through your state's LIHEAP office: it decides.
The rule in two lines
Under 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B), a state may serve households whose income does not exceed the greater of 150 % of the poverty level and 60 % of the state median income. It may not refuse a household on income alone if the income is under 110 % of the poverty level. Households receiving TANF, SSI, SNAP or certain veterans' benefits can also be eligible by that fact, if the state chooses.
The two lines come from two federal tables. The poverty guidelines are published each year by HHS (HHS poverty guidelines). The state median incomes for LIHEAP are published by the Administration for Children and Families for each fiscal year, already multiplied by 60 % and adjusted for household size (ACF table for FY2027), using the factors of 45 CFR 96.85: 52 % for 1, 68 % for 2, 84 % for 3, 100 % for 4, 116 % for 5, 132 % for 6, 135 % for 7, 138 % for 8 people, relative to a family of four.
Ceiling by state, households of 1 to 6
| State | 1 person | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,941 | $41,769 | $51,597 | $61,426 | $71,254 | $81,082 |
| Arizona | $35,238 | $46,081 | $56,924 | $67,767 | $78,609 | $89,452 |
| Arkansas | $29,523 | $38,607 | $47,691 | $56,776 | $65,860 | $74,944 |
| California | $41,502 | $54,272 | $67,042 | $79,812 | $92,581 | $105,351 |
| Colorado | $45,295 | $59,232 | $73,169 | $87,106 | $101,042 | $114,979 |
| Connecticut | $48,714 | $63,703 | $78,692 | $93,681 | $108,669 | $123,658 |
| Delaware | $40,380 | $52,804 | $65,229 | $77,654 | $90,078 | $102,503 |
| District of Columbia | $63,024 | $82,416 | $101,808 | $121,200 | $140,592 | $159,984 |
| Florida | $33,733 | $44,113 | $54,493 | $64,873 | $75,252 | $85,632 |
| Georgia | $35,916 | $46,967 | $58,018 | $69,070 | $80,121 | $91,172 |
| Idaho | $34,030 | $44,501 | $54,972 | $65,443 | $75,913 | $86,384 |
| Illinois | $41,290 | $53,995 | $66,700 | $79,405 | $92,109 | $104,814 |
| Indiana | $34,635 | $45,292 | $55,949 | $66,607 | $77,264 | $87,921 |
| Iowa | $38,147 | $49,885 | $61,623 | $73,361 | $85,098 | $96,836 |
| Kansas | $36,733 | $48,035 | $59,338 | $70,641 | $81,943 | $93,246 |
| Kentucky | $32,489 | $42,485 | $52,482 | $62,479 | $72,475 | $82,472 |
| Louisiana | $31,398 | $41,059 | $50,720 | $60,381 | $70,041 | $79,702 |
| Maine | $38,070 | $49,784 | $61,498 | $73,213 | $84,927 | $96,641 |
| Maryland | $49,354 | $64,540 | $79,726 | $94,912 | $110,097 | $125,283 |
| Massachusetts | $53,585 | $70,073 | $86,561 | $103,049 | $119,536 | $136,024 |
| Michigan | $37,372 | $48,872 | $60,371 | $71,871 | $83,370 | $94,869 |
| Minnesota | $46,156 | $60,358 | $74,560 | $88,763 | $102,965 | $117,167 |
| Mississippi | $28,087 | $36,730 | $45,372 | $54,015 | $62,657 | $71,299 |
| Missouri | $35,298 | $46,159 | $57,020 | $67,882 | $78,743 | $89,604 |
| Montana | $36,120 | $47,234 | $58,348 | $69,463 | $80,577 | $91,691 |
| Nebraska | $38,015 | $49,712 | $61,409 | $73,106 | $84,802 | $96,499 |
| Nevada | $32,768 | $42,850 | $52,933 | $63,016 | $73,098 | $83,181 |
| New Hampshire | $48,713 | $63,702 | $78,691 | $93,680 | $108,668 | $123,657 |
| New Jersey | $51,273 | $67,049 | $82,825 | $98,602 | $114,378 | $130,154 |
| New Mexico | $28,854 | $37,732 | $46,610 | $55,489 | $64,367 | $73,245 |
| New York | $42,759 | $55,916 | $69,073 | $82,230 | $95,386 | $108,543 |
| North Carolina | $35,257 | $46,106 | $56,954 | $67,803 | $78,651 | $89,499 |
| North Dakota | $41,356 | $54,081 | $66,806 | $79,532 | $92,257 | $104,982 |
| Ohio | $36,756 | $48,066 | $59,376 | $70,686 | $81,995 | $93,305 |
| Oklahoma | $30,116 | $39,382 | $48,649 | $57,916 | $67,182 | $76,449 |
| Oregon | $40,326 | $52,734 | $65,142 | $77,550 | $89,958 | $102,366 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,460 | $52,910 | $65,359 | $77,809 | $90,258 | $102,707 |
| Rhode Island | $43,410 | $56,767 | $70,124 | $83,481 | $96,837 | $110,194 |
| South Carolina | $33,218 | $43,439 | $53,660 | $63,882 | $74,103 | $84,324 |
| South Dakota | $36,816 | $48,144 | $59,472 | $70,801 | $82,129 | $93,457 |
| Tennessee | $32,861 | $42,973 | $53,084 | $63,196 | $73,307 | $83,418 |
| Texas | $35,018 | $45,793 | $56,568 | $67,343 | $78,117 | $88,892 |
| Utah | $38,190 | $49,941 | $61,692 | $73,444 | $85,195 | $96,946 |
| Vermont | $42,221 | $55,212 | $68,203 | $81,195 | $94,186 | $107,177 |
| Virginia | $44,776 | $58,554 | $72,331 | $86,109 | $99,886 | $113,663 |
| Washington | $45,806 | $59,900 | $73,994 | $88,089 | $102,183 | $116,277 |
| West Virginia | $30,603 | $40,019 | $49,435 | $58,852 | $68,268 | $77,684 |
| Wisconsin | $39,863 | $52,129 | $64,395 | $76,661 | $88,926 | $101,192 |
| Wyoming | $35,858 | $46,892 | $57,925 | $68,959 | $79,992 | $91,025 |
Your household against the federal ceiling
Federal LIHEAP income ceiling, Maine, household of 2
$49,784 a year
| 60 % of state median income (FY2027) | $49,784 |
| 150 % of the 2026 poverty guideline | $32,460 |
| Monthly equivalent of the ceiling | $4,149 |
| Floor: no state may refuse on income below | $23,804 |
What the ceiling is not
It is not a promise of help. LIHEAP is funded by a yearly federal grant to each state, and each state writes its own plan within the federal rules: it can set a lower income limit, and the statute lets it give priority to the households with the highest home energy costs or needs in relation to income. The amount of a benefit follows the state's own formula. Heating oil and propane households are covered like households on any other fuel.
The state also defines which income counts and over what period. The calculator compares the yearly figure you type with the yearly federal ceiling; your state's application says how to compute yours.
Where to apply
Apply through the LIHEAP office of your state or the local agency it designates. Expect to show proof of income for the household, a recent heating bill or delivery ticket and identification. If you heat with oil or propane and the tank is low, say so when you apply, so the agency can tell you how fast it can act.
And the heating bill itself
Knowing what your winter will cost helps when you apply. The winter budget gives the gallons and dollars for your state at this week's price, and the tank fill calculator the cost of the next delivery.