If your heating bill is hard to pay, there is probably a program for it. In the United States most states run the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, called LIHEAP. In Canada each province runs its own help. This page lists every program we have checked on an official page, with the status and dates. 6 are open today. Click a region for the full rules and how to apply.
United States
LIHEAP is paid for by the federal government and run by each state, so the dates, income limits and amounts differ. Most states open in the fall and close in spring or when the money runs out.
| Region | Program | Status | What it pays | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Illinois LIHEAP | Open | Set by the local agency | Priority groups Oct 1, 2026; everyone else Nov 1, 2026 |
| New Jersey | New Jersey LIHEAP and Universal Service Fund | Open | Heating benefit varies; $300 cooling | Oct 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 |
| Colorado | Colorado LEAP | Starts soon | Part of the winter heating bill | Apply Nov 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania LIHEAP cash grant | Starts soon | $200 to $1,000 cash grant | Season opens Nov 2, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts HEAP | Check first | $870 to $1,450 delivered fuel, $600 to $1,000 utility | Application dates not stated on the page we read |
| Vermont | Vermont Seasonal Fuel Assistance | Check first | Part of the heating bill | 2026-27 opening date not on the page |
| California | California LIHEAP | Info | Set by the local provider | No season dates on the page |
| Michigan | Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) | Info | Set by the local provider | No household application dates on the page |
| Washington | Washington LIHEAP | Info | Set by the local agency | No season dates on the page |
Canada
Canadian programs are provincial or utility programs. Some pay a one-time amount, some give a credit on your bill, and some help seniors.
| Region | Program | Status | What it pays | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | BC Hydro Customer Crisis Fund | Open | Up to $800 electric heat, $700 other heat | Open year round |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Home Heating Supplement Program (furnace and stove oil), Government of Newfoundland and Labrador | Open | $400 to $1,000 | Open for applications until January 15, 2027. Late applications are not accepted. Most applications processed within 10 weeks. |
| Ontario | Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) | Open | $35 to $75 a month by income and household size; $52 to $113 for higher-credit households | Open for new and renewal applications |
| Yukon | Yukon Pioneer Utility Grant | Open | Up to $1,382.58 Whitehorse, $1,466.50 elsewhere | Applications opened July 1, 2026; apply each year |
How to apply for any of them
- Check the income rule for your household size on the official page we link from each region.
- Gather proof of income, a recent bill and ID for everyone in the home.
- Apply early. Many programs run until the money is gone.
- If your heat is about to be shut off, call the agency and say so first. Many have emergency help.
- Never pay anyone for a grant. Illinois warns that LIHEAP does not charge a fee, and the same goes for the other programs here.
Not on this page yet
We list a program only after reading it on an official page. These are missing, and why:
- New York (HEAP): The state's HEAP page returned a blank page when we tried to read it.
- Minnesota (Energy Assistance Program): The state site showed a bot check, so we could not read it.
- Saskatchewan and the other provinces: We have not found and read an official program page yet.
- BC Climate Action Tax Credit: It has ended; see the BC page.
Help is for this winter. Rebates cut the bill for good.
Bill help covers a gap. Insulation, a heat pump or a smart thermostat lowers what you use every year, and some programs give them free to lower-income households. See the rebate calculator for your province or state, or the federal heat pump rebate checker in Canada.
Common questions
What is LIHEAP?
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is a federal program that helps lower-income households in the United States pay heating and cooling bills. Each state runs its own version.
Do I have to be on welfare to get help?
Not in most programs. Pennsylvania, for example, says you do not need to be on public assistance. Check the rules for your state or province.
When should I apply?
As soon as your program opens. Several run until funding is gone, and New Jersey processes applications first come, first served.
Is there help in Canada?
Yes. Examples are the BC Hydro Customer Crisis Fund, Ontario's Electricity Support Program, the Yukon Pioneer Utility Grant and Newfoundland and Labrador's Home Heating Supplement.
Does the federal government help pay heating bills in Canada?
Not through a program we have verified. The federal heat pump rebate and the Greener Homes Affordability upgrades lower future bills; they do not pay a current one.
By Sam Menard. Each program was read on its official page on October 21, 2026; the region pages list the sources.