[Last update: 12/10/2024]
In addition to determining eligibility on the basis of income under the FPG or SMI guidelines as detailed above, states may define a household as "categorically" eligible, (Section 2605(b)(2)(A)) also referred to as "automatically" eligible, if at least one person in that household receives assistance under any of the following programs: TANF, SNAP, SSI or "certain means tested veteran's programs." As shown in this table, 20 states and three territories implemented the categorical eligibility option in 2025.
State |
TANF |
SSI |
SNAP |
VA |
Other Qualifying Programs or Conditions |
|---|
| Alaska | X | X | X | When all household members are receiving federally funded assistance, such as TANF, SNAP, APA, or SSI the caseworker will use the income from the household's open public assistance case in the state’s Eligibility Information System (EIS) as their gross monthly income for the income portion of the heating assistance benefit calculation. Household members are considered categorically eligible if they have received federally funded assistance from the month prior to the submission of the heating assistance application (HAP1) through the month in which LIHEAP eligibility is determined. If only a portion of the household members are receiving federally funded assistance the caseworker may use the income in EIS to verify said member’s income but will still need to obtain proof of income for all other household members not on the public assistance case. Categorical eligibility streamlines the LIHEAP application process by removing the requirement to verify current income. It does not guarantee the household will be eligible to receive a benefit. | |
| American Samoa | X | A household is categorically eligible if one or more household member receive(s) SSI benefits, in addition to earned income from other household members. | |||
| California | X | X | |||
| Connecticut | X | X | X | A household may be determined categorically eligible for LIHEAP assistance if one person in the household is a recipient of another means-tested program, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), State Supplement to the Aged, Blind and Disabled, Refugee Cash Assistance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This makes the entire household categorically eligible for LIHEAP. The state’s community action agencies who support LIHEAP operations and process applications have authorization to access the Department’s eligibility management system to confirm a recipient’s enrollment in qualifying DSS-administered means-tested programs and use the income information provided by those programs to determine the LIHEAP benefit level. This reduces the need for additional verification requests related to income (thus reducing client and administrative burden), accelerates the eligibility determination timeline, and reduces duplicative paperwork. If there are additional members in the household listed on the LIHEAP application who are not recipients of these means-tested programs, their income must be verified to ensure that the household is awarded the correct LIHEAP benefit level. If the additional income brings the household above the income threshold, the household will not be denied assistance; instead, they will receive the lowest basic benefit and will remain eligible for crisis assistance. | |
| District of Columbia | X | X | X | A household where at least one member of the household receives a SNAP, TANF, or SSI benefit is categorically eligible for LIHEAP payment assistance. For the purposes of calculating the amount of the LIHEAP benefit, categorically eligible applicants must submit required LIHEAP application documentation to DOEE. DOEE calculates the LIHEAP benefit amount for a categorically eligible household according to the District of Columbia’s LIHEAP Benefit Matrix. Categorical eligibility for SNAP does not apply to the Emergency Mechanical System Program. |
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| Florida | X | X | X | X | A household is considered categorically eligible if any one member of their household is receiving TANF, SNAP, SSI or is in a MeansTested Veteran Program. Categorical eligibility removes the need for income verification, providing additional efficiency during the document collection and eligibility verification process. Subrecipients utilize Client’s award letters from appropriate agency demonstrating program enrollment. |
| Georgia | X | X | X | Family that receive pure public assistance are categorically eligible for LIHEAP. | |
| Hawaii | X | X | X | “Categorical recipient” means those individuals who are in receipt of assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and/or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)/Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families (TAONF) programs and shall include only: SSI recipients certified by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to be in SSI independent living arrangement and certified by the SSA to be eligible on the first day of the month of application. SNAP and TANF/TAONF recipients in the Department’s eligible computer files on the first day of the month of application. Households in receipt of Transitional Benefits Alternative (TBA) are not means-tested and are therefore not considered categorical recipients |
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| Idaho |
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X | X | X | Households having at least one member who receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the LIHEAP Program Year (October 1st September 30th); Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and/or Means-tested Veterans Programs are categorically eligible (CE) for services under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) |
| Illinois | X | X | The Department will continue considering households categorically eligible if one household member receives SNAP, TANF Cash and AABD Cash benefits in the previous month from the date of application. Although the Department indicates in the FY2025 LIHEAP State Plan that we consider households categorically eligible if one household member receives SNAP, TANF, Cash and AABD Cash benefits, we collect additional information to establish eligibility, such as household composition, household income, etc. This is because all persons in a residence are considered a household for LIHEAP and different individual and family compositions in a household make up different SNAP, TANF, and/or Medicaid cases at the State's Department of Human Services. When a household with mixed categorical eligibility applies for LIHEAP, we don’t say they are automatically eligible when we can’t determine the correct household income without further documentation. As a result, there is no difference given to categorically eligible households as all applicants are required to provide household income documentation. Categorical eligibility is used for the Weatherization program. Households receiving public assistance must meet the annual income guidelines of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. | ||
| Kansas | X | X | X | ||
| Maine | X | X | Maine utilizes the above categories of benefits to determine if a Household is Categorically Eligible. Households who enroll using Categorical Eligibility will have their benefit calculated based on the highest FPL allowable for each benefit type above. A Household may still choose to provide actual income documentation for benefit determination. From Chapter 24 Home Energy Assistance Program Rule: "Categorical Income Eligibility" means Household Members who are included on a Maine Deprtment of Health and Human Services ("Maine DHHS") Notice of Decision for TANF or SNAP assistancw will be considered income eligible for HEAP, as the Household Members' incomes have already been vetted. Household Members who are not included on the Notice of Decision must provide income documentation as outlined in this Rule and the HEAP Handbook. | ||
| Mariana Islands | X | Eligibility determination and benefit is determined based on a point system that is used for all household. Eligibility requirements are uniform among eligible households and categorically eligible household. | |||
| Maryland | X | X | X | X | In compliance with state legislation enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution—Chapter 207 of the 2023 legislative session established Categorical Eligibility and automatic enrollment into Maryland’s Energy Assistance programs for households that have received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other means-tested veterans’ benefits starting in January 2024. If a member of a household receives these benefits on an ongoing basis, the household is considered to be categorically income-eligible for LIHEAP and EUSP benefits. TANF and SNAP recipients who meet all other eligibility criteria and receive ongoing benefits will not need to complete a separate application to receive OHEP benefits. OHEP will use the TANF, SNAP, and SSI eligibility information from the Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E) system within the Maryland Total Human Services Integrated Network (MDTHINK) to determine eligibility for MEAP and EUSP benefits, as well as other eligibility criteria. If all necessary energy assistance factors, including vendor information, can be collected from E&E, a regular eligibility determination is made, and a payment amount is electronically issued to the appropriate vendor, landlord, or household. Applicants approved for a regular benefit through the Categorical Eligibility process receive an Eligibility Determination notice, confirming the OHEP benefits they have been screened for, the amount of their benefit, and their right to a fair hearing. If required MEAP eligibility factors beyond income eligibility cannot be retrieved from E&E, the application will be reviewed by the Local Administering Agency. In such cases, missing eligibility information will be requested from the applicant, and an eligibility determination will be made. |
| Massachusetts | X | Categorical eligibility exists only through the H-EAT. To be eligible for the H-EAT HEAP benefit, Applicants must be Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, not receive a HEAP benefit in the last 12 months, have a limited energy burden, and a recorded shelter cost. Eligibility is determined by household. This streamlines the application process by reducing the paperwork for eligible households that already have had their eligibility verified by a state agency. It also reduces the administrative burden on the Subgrantees and the involved state agencies. |
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| Michigan | X | X | X | Michigan defines categorical eligibility as one member of the household receiving either TANF, SSI or SNAP benefits. Categorical eligibility is only used with the Energy Direct Program. Energy Direct is streamlined using a cross match exchange between MDHHS and the four major energy providers. No application is needed. | |
| Montana | X | X | X |
SNAP Categorically Eligible Households: Households applying for LIHEAP who: 1. Are currently eligible for or receiving SNAP benefits. 2. Received or were approved to receive SNAP benefits during the month of the LIHEAP application. AND 3. When all members of the LIHEAP household are SNAP eligible, even if there are additional members in the SNAP household, they will be determined to be SNAP LIHEAP/SNAP Categorically Eligible households applying for LIHEAP must: 1. Be currently eligible for SNAP benefits. 2. Received or were approved to receive SNAP benefits during the month of the LIHEAP application. 3. Each household member must be SNAP eligible. SSI, and/or TANF Households: SSI, and/or TANF benefit amount(s) of a household will be used to determine the amount of the LIHEAP benefit. Income documentation of SSI, and/or TANF benefit showing eligibility for the month in which the LIHEAP application is submitted, must be in the client file CHIMES/Perceptive bank statement, SSI letter, etc.). |
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| New York | X | X | X | With the exception of HERR applications, any household that contains a member in active receipt of ongoing Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Federally Funded Temporary Assistance (TA), or Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (state and federal living arrangement code of “A”) is considered Categorically Income Eligible (CE) for HEAP. Not All household members need to be in receipt of Federally Funded TA, SNAP, or Code A SSI. If one household member is in receipt of one of these programs, the entire household is considered categorically income eligible. For a HERR household to be categorically income eligible, the homeowner must be the household member in receipt of SNAP, Federally Funded TA, or Code A SSI. There is no outside data exchange in place. TA and SNAP are determined through OTDA’s system of record, the Welfare Management System (WMS), and Code A SSI is declared by the applicant and verified by the social service district (district). Categorically Eligibility streamlines the application process by allowing households in receipt of TA, SNAP, and Code A SSI to apply for HEAP without providing additional income documentation. A household that has a member that is CE can have their HEAP benefit issued automatically through the HEAP Mass Authorization (Autopay) process without submitting a separate HEAP Application (LDSS-3421). | |
| Oregon | X | Categorical eligibility is only used for the $21.00 benefit provided by the Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Clients receiving a $21.00 nominal payment from SNAP are still eligible for a full standard and/or crisis payment from a sub-grantee. Oregon does not consider that to be a duplicate payment. | |||
| Puerto Rico |
X*
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|
X |
*TANF and SNAP households who have an active accounts with LUMA Energy, LLC., are automatically enrolled in the Cooling Assistance. This is done considering that TANF households are among the most needed families in Puerto Rico. Participants for Crisis Assistance have to submit an application requesting these benefits.
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| South Dakota |
X
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"Categorically income eligible," if all individuals on the low income energy assistance application receive supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, the household is deemed income eligible for the low income energy assistance program;
1) Households whose income has previously been verified and only receive these types of income, SSA, SSI, VA, and/or railroad retirement are automatically approved for the program. The COLA is applied to the previous years income and updated in our system. A letter is sent to these households with this updated information to inform them of the approval as well as to ask them to report any significant changes either to income or household composition.
2) A match is done with the previous years LIHEAP eligible household list and the SNAP eligibility file. The match is based on individual recipient id numbers to ensure the household composition is the same as the LIEAP composition. The Energy Assistance workers verify income, address, and household composition in the SNAP eligibility system and if eligible, approve their case.
3) All other households are sent a LIEAP application and are required to provide updated income verifications as well as verify that their household composition, heat and electric information is still accurate
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| Texas | X |
X
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X
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X
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Texas provides Categorical Eligibility for SSI and Means-Tested Veterans Programs into its program. State rules have a provision that there is to be no difference in the treatment of Categorically Eligible Households. The Department has a system for persons to submit complaints, and the monitoring reviews would also note any differences in treatment of persons that are or are not Categorically Eligible.
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| Vermont | X |
Households that submit an application for SNAP and Heating Assistance will be considered categoricallyeligible for LIHEAP. Households that receive categorical eligibility for LIHEAP will have a certification period set based on the SNAP certification period, which will be 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months. SNAP certification periods are set based on the composition of the household. When multiple SNAP households exist within one LIHEAP household, the certification period will be set at the shortest SNAP certification period within that household. If not all individuals in the heating assistance household are in receipt of SNAP, the household will not be categorically eligible for LIHEAP. All other LIHEAP program requirements must be met in order to receive a heating assistance benefit.
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| West Virginia |
X
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X
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X
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WV integrated eligibility system automatically applies the benefits to the household and not just a member. By using the integrated eligibility it automatically streamlines all programs. |
Source: FY 2025 LIHEAP Model Plans.
