Note: The table below, based on information from state LIHEAP plans and additional research by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, lists planned FY 2021 opening and closing dates for each state's LIHEAP components. Generally, the states take and process LIHEAP applications during the time periods cited, although the actual application period can vary depending on the amount of funding available. Receipt of LIHEAP emergency contingency funds can also affect the duration of application periods.
| State | Heating | Cooling | Crisis | Comment |
|---|
|
Alabama
|
10/1 - 5/31 | 6/1 - 9/30 | year-round | Crisis Heating Assistance-10/1/2019-5/31/2020; Crisis Cooling Assistance-6/1/2020-9/30/2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alaska
|
10/1 - 4/30 | 11/01 - 04/30 | ||
|
American Samoa
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | |
|
Arizona
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | Arizona has identified date ranges for heating and cooling, and has assigned a date range to each county for FFY 2019. 1)HEATING (November 1-March 31) and COOLING (April 1-October 21) for counties: Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, Apache, Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, and Santa Cruz. 2)HEATING (December 1-March 31) and COOLING (April 1-November 30) for counties: Mojave, La Paz, Yuma, Maricopa, Gila, Pinal, and Pima. |
|
Arkansas
|
year-round | year-round; | year-round | Please note that AR provides payments on a seasonal basis. Although the agencies start preparation in October, the public applies in January for the Winter Program and July for the Summer Program. |
|
California
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | |
|
Colorado
|
11/1 - 4/30 | year-round | The year round Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) allows for the repair or replacement of inoperable primary fuel heating systems. The State contracts with Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), a local non-profit agency, to manage this program. EOC coordinates with local weatherization agencies, which has provided the opportunity to repair and/or replace inoperable systems prior to the start of the cold weather season ensuring the health and safety of vulnerable households. | |
|
Connecticut
|
11/13 - 3/16 | 11/13 - 3/16 | ||
|
Delaware
|
10/1 - 4/30 | 5/1 - 8/31 | year-round | Heating assistance application process is 1 July - 31 March, Cooling (Air Conditioning) assistance application process is 1 April - 15 August. Crisis assistance application process is ongoing but dependent on the weather conditions. |
|
District of Columbia
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | |
|
Florida
|
10/1 - 3/31 | 4/1 - 9/30 | year-round | Florida operates a year-round heating, cooling and crisis assistance program. Subrecipient program year starts from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. However, Department of Economic Opportunity is in process of implementing an Umbrella Agreement within 90 days. There by bringing all three programs CSBG, LIHEAP and WAP aligned with federal fiscal cycle starting from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. |
|
Georgia
|
11/1 - 3/31 | 4/1 - 6/31 | 11/1 - 3/31 | The contract to the Community Action Agencies for the LIHEAP program is from October 1, 2019 until September 30, 2020. The Heating and Crisis assistance is seasonal from November 1, 2019 until April 30, 2020. A cooling program is seasonal from April 1, 2020 until June 30, 2020. The weatherization program is operated from October 1, 2019 until September 30, 2020. |
|
Hawaii
|
3/2 - 9/30 | 3/2 - 9/30 | year-round | LIHEAP Program Timeline Late September – Distribute policy and forms to CAP agencies for new FFY. October 1, 2019 – New LIHEAP year begins with year-round Weatherization and Crisis assistance. February to March 2020 – Finalize training materials (presentations, handouts). CAP agency preparation begins including hiring seasonal staff. April 2020 – Training for year-round staff of CAP agencies that elect to do early outreach in May. CAP agencies schedule outreach sites and appointments. May 2020 – Year-round staff conduct early outreach for Heating and Cooling Assistance. Training done for seasonal staff. June 1-30, 2020 – LIHEAP Applications accepted from the general public for Heating and Cooling Assistance. Applications for Heating and Cooling are done in the same period because the application period for these programs is only done in May (early outreach) and June. Benefit determination and issuance is not done until later, possibly November or December. Also, because of differing altitudes and geographical climates, some residents need heating and others need cooling. |
|
Idaho
|
10/1 - 6/30 | year-round | ||
|
Illinois
|
10/1 - 5/31 | 10/1 - 5/31 | The heating assistance program is scheduled to start October 1, 2019 beginning with a priority for seniors and disabled applicants utilizing 2020 HHS funds. The Weatherization program started July 1, 2019 utilizing 2019 HHS funding. Due to funding availability, a cooling program will not be offered in FFY2020. In the event contingency funds are released by HHS, the Department will set a portion of the funding and may administer a summer cooling program. | |
|
Indiana
|
10/1 - 5/15 | *6/1 - 8/21 | 11/1 - 8/21 | Indiana allows for mail-in applications to begin August 1. On October 1, LSPs may begin to schedule appointments to begin on November 1. Crisis starts on November 1 because by starting crisis November 1, clients will be able to qualify for moratorium. The summer crisis program will be offered only if funds are available. We have attempted to adjust our matrix to expend the vast majority of LIHEAP funds during the winter. In 2020 we are allocating up to 9% to Weatherization. We anticipate allocating 7% initially, with the potential to allocate a further 2% based upon need. Any unused Weatherization funding will be realloted. |
|
Iowa
|
10/1 - 4/30 | year-round | ||
|
Kansas
|
12/16 - 3/31 | 12/16 - 3/31 | ||
|
Kentucky
|
11/4 - 12/13 | 1/6 - 3/31 | *Cooling assistance is offered only when the state receive emergency cooling funds, or it is determined that weather climate dictates that a cooling program is necessary for the health and safety of the citizens of the commonwealth. | |
|
Louisiana
|
11/15 - 3/31 | 3/15 - 9/30 | year-round | |
|
Maine
|
10/1 - 7/15 | 11/1 - 4/30 | Heating Assistance: For FFY 2020, Subgrantees will begin taking applications on September 4, 2019 and will continue taking applications through July 15, 2020. Weatherization Assistance Component: End date 09/30/2020 unless MaineHousing extends beyond 09/30/2020. | |
|
Mariana Islands
|
Year-round | Year-round | ||
|
Maryland
|
10/1 - 5/31 | 5/1 - 9/30 | 11/1 - 5/31 | Customers do not apply separately for crisis assistance in Maryland and there are no separate fuel benefits provided. Crisis assistance is provided as expedited assistance as defined by Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 07.03.21.10. Crisis assistance funds are also provided to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development through and Inter-Agency Agreement for emergency heating and/or cooling system repair and replacement. |
|
Massachusetts
|
11/1 - 4/30 | 11/1 - 4/30 | An application received on April 30th must be completed by the applicant no later than May 31st. If April 30th falls on a weekend, the last business day in April will serve as the final date to apply for fuel assistance. After consideration of the circumstances, which may include a particularly inclement winter, increases in fuel prices, lower than expected application numbers, an extension of the statewide moratorium, etc., DHCD may extend the application date from the end of April into the month of May. Pursuant to Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2019, Massachusetts obligated $30 million for the purpose of assisting LIHEAP eligible low-income elders, working families and other households with assistance paying a portion of winter heating bills. Any unexpended funds from FY2019 will be appropriated to the FY2020 LIHEAP program. DHCD will explore increasing the program's online presence which may include online appointment booking, prescreening tools, online application, and/or other related resources. | |
|
Michigan
|
1/1 - 9/30 | year-round | ||
|
Minnesota
|
10/1 - 5/31 | 10/1 - 6/30 | Energy Related Repair (ERR) Crisis assistance Start date: 10/01 or when funds are available, whichever is later. End date: 06/30 When a date of operation falls on a weekend or holiday the effective date will be the first business day following the listed date with the exception of 09/30. The last date of operation for the Federal Fiscal year is 09/30 or the last business in September if 09/30 is on a weekend. • Applications must be received or postmarked by 05/31; heating assistance payments must be obligated by July 15. • Crisis assistance will begin on 10/01 or when funding is available, whichever is later. • Emergency (Crisis) benefits and Energy Related Repair (ERR) benefits may be approved through 06/30, if funding is available. Funding for Weatherization Assistance will be available to the Weatherization Assistance Program in the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Commerce) after receipt of 100% of the expected regular LIHEAP federal allocation and the approval of the EAPWX State Annual Plan. | |
|
Mississippi
|
10/1 - 4/30 | 5/1 - 9/30 | year-round | |
|
Missouri
|
11/1 - 3/31 | 11/1 - 9/30 | ||
|
Montana
|
10/1 - 4/30 | year-round | ||
|
Nebraska
|
10/1 - 3/31 | 6/1 - 8/31 | year-round | Nebraska provides heating assistance to eligible households during the heating season (October through March). In addition, Nebraska may determine a household's eligibility for heating assistance after the heating season, if a household applied for LIHEAP assistance during the heating season and eligibility was not determined and/or a household had a current application (an active Economic Assistance program) during the heating season and eligibility was not determined. Nebraska currently provides a year round crisis assistance program. For each program year (October through September), Nebraska accepts and processes applications and crisis assistance requests according to the earliest application date until Nebraska determines that pending payments will exhaust available funds for the program year. Upon making this determination, Nebraska will accept no more applications for crisis assistance for the program year. Nebraska contracts with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (formerly known as the Nebraska Energy Office) to administer the weatherization assistance program. The availability of the cooling assistance program and the variables used to determine eligible households will depend on the LIHEAP funding received for the current fiscal year. For heating and/or cooling eligible households, an extra payment may be made in the form of a supplemental payment or an increase in the regular season's payment during the current energy year. The supplemental payments may be processed and issued at any time during the current LIHEAP program year (October through September). The need for a supplemental payment for households that received heating and/or cooling assistance may be identified during or following the heating or cooling season, as the reason for the supplemental issuance may be due to circumstances including but not limited to high energy costs, extreme weather, excess or additional funding, etc. For example, a supplemental payment may be issued in the month following the end of the cooling season for households that received cooling assistance, if it is identified excess funds exist. Processing and issuing the supplemental at this time, allows Nebraska to determine the number of households that will receive the supplemental payment. These payments may be issued to either a provider or to the household. Supplemental payments are typically issued to the utility provider; however, below are some situations in which a supplemental payment would be isued to the household: • The utility provider does not cooperate with DHHS in accepting payments; or • An economically vulnerable household's utilities are included in rent. |
|
Nevada
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | Nevada has a combined year-round heating and cooling program. |
|
New Hampshire
|
year-round | year-round | ||
|
New Jersey
|
10/1 - 8/31 | 10/1 - 8/31 | 10/1 - 8/31 | Program end dates are contingent upon availability of funds. Request for Cooling Assistance is part of the general applicaiton for LIHEAP Assistance which starts 10/01 and ends 08/31 of the following year. However, the Program starts issuing Cooling payments the first week of May through August. |
|
New Mexico
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | |
|
New York
|
11/12 - 3/16 | 5/1 - 8/31 | 1/2 - 3/16 | The Heating Assistance component may be extended beyond the 3/16/2020 closing date if New York State receives additional funding. This Plan is based on an assumption of flat federal funding. The Cooling Assistance component will run until 8/31/2020 or until funding allocated to this component is exhausted, whichever comes first. The Crisis Assistance component may be extended beyond the 3/16/2020 closing date if New York State receives additional funding, This Plan is based on an assumption of flat federal funding. New York State will operate a Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement component from 11/4/2019 until 9/30/2020 or until funding allocated to this component is exhausted, whichever comes first. New York State will operate a Clean and Tune Program under the Heating Assistance component from 11/4/2019 until 9/30/2020 or until funding allocated to this program is exhausted, whichever comes first. Weatherization assistance in New York State is administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Income guidelines, maximum income eligibility for the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program is set at the higher of 60% of the State Median Income or 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. |
|
North Carolina
|
12/1 - 3/31 | year-round | ||
|
North Dakota
|
10/1 - 5/31 | year-round | year-round | North Dakota's regular heating season program runs from 10/1/19 - 5/31/20. Applications for North Dakota's emergency (year-round crisis) program are accepted from 10/1/19 - 9/30/20. The North Dakota State LIHEAP does not routinely include a cooling program. However, the State reserves the option to implement a temporary cooling program in the event of unusual cooling needs due to weather aberrations, contingent upon available funding. |
|
Ohio
|
year-round | 11/1 - 3/31 winter crisis; 7/1 - 8/31 summer crisis | The Winter Crisis program dates are indicated above. The Summer Crisis program dates are 07/01/2019 - 08/31/2020 | |
|
Oklahoma
|
10/15 - 2/14 | 6/1 - 8/31 | year-round | Weahterization is managed by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and subcontracted to Community Action agencies throughout the state. DHS offer heating assistance, cooling assistance, and ECAP during Open Enrollment period on the dates above. Application are accepted until allocated funding is encumbered. End dates above are estimates. DHS accept application for ECAP assistance year round from households with a household member that has a medical condition and would become life threatening without the use of the utility. Regular ECAP is also accepted intermittance between Heating and Cooling season. |
|
Oregon
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | |
|
Pennsylvania
|
11/1 - 4/10 | 11/1 - 4/10 | ||
|
Puerto Rico
|
3/2 - 9/30 | 3/2 - 9/30 | ||
|
Rhode Island
|
year-round | year-round | ||
|
South Carolina
|
10/1 - 4/30 | 5/1 - 9/30 | 1/1 - 9/30 | South Carolina will operate the LIHEAP program based on the calendar year, January 1 - December 31, 2020. Therefore, heating assistance will also be provided October 1 – December 31, 2020. South Carolina utilizes the SC Enterprise Information System (SCEIS) to ensure the proper tracking of federal grant awards by the appropriate year. |
|
South Dakota
|
year-round | year-round | ||
|
Tennessee
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | We have transitioned to the Federal Fiscal Year and will begin running the program on the federal fiscal year starting 10/1/19. We run a year round program as long as funding is available. THDA reserves the reallocate LIHEAP funds as needed to ensure that funds can be utilized before the end of the obligation period. THDA reserves the ability to increase client benefit amount across fuel types, as needed, in order to reduce the energy burden for LIHEAP Households. |
|
Texas
|
year-round | year-round | 10/1 - 8/30 | |
|
Utah
|
10/1 - 4/30 | year-round | Applications for the households with members of a target group (elderly, disabled, children under 6 years of age) will be processed beginning October 1 of each year. The program will open to the general public on November 1 of each year. | |
|
Vermont
|
year-round | year-round | Applications for heating assistance are processed year-round by the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), Economic Services Division (ESD). Applications for winter crisis assistance are processed by Vermont's five Community Action Agencies under grant agreements with ESD, beginning the last Monday in November up to and including the last business day in April, or until crisis funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first. Vermont also operates a year-round, limited-funded, crisis fuel tank replacement program for fuel tanks that have been "red-tagged," or are at imminent risk of failure. The crisis tank replacement program is operated under an interagency agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation and a second smaller agreement is in place with the DCF Office of Economic Opportunity. In addition, DCF Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) also operates under our Crisis program a year round furnance repair and replacement program. Weatherization assistance operates year round and is conducted by the the DCF Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), Weatherization Program. | |
|
Virginia
|
10/8 - 11/8 | 6/15 - 8/17 | 11/1- 3/16 | The above dates for Heating Assistance, Cooling Assistance, and Crisis Assistance represent application dates. |
|
Washington
|
year-round | year-round | year-round | |
|
West Virginia
|
10/1 - 3/31 | 5/1 - 9/30 | year-round | If funding permits, crisis assistance, which includes the Emergency Repair and Replacement progam, will end no earlier than March 31, 2020 and it will run the length of the program. The Agency will primarily use funds for heating assistance and crisis assistance; if there are funds remaining a cooling services program will be offered. It is anticipted that the Agency will request a waiver in March 2020 to increase the funding for Weatherization services. |
|
Wisconsin
|
10/1 - 5/15 | year-round | ||
|
Wyoming
|
10/1 - 5/31 | 10/1 - 4/15 | Applications for heating assistance are accepted through 02/29/2020; however, heating bill payments for approved applications are paid November 1 through May 31 for those submitting applications by the 2/29/2020 deadline until the recipient exhausts their benefit amount or the season end date is reached, which ever comes first. Crisis assistance is available through 04/15/2020; applications for Weatherization assistance are accepted year round. Wyoming is a cold weather state with very few months of hot weather. Because of limited funding and long winters, Wyoming does not provide Cooling assistance. Season begin and end dates are: Heating assistance regulated utilities (seasonal benefit) November 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020; Crisis assistance (Special Situations) October 1, 2019 - April 15, 2020 (Wyoming exercises a contingency plan allowing an extension of the Crisis season beyond 04/15 if Wyoming experiences a severe and prolonged winter season, or in the event prices for deliverable fuels increase significantly mid-season); Weatherization assistance (LIEAP WAP) October 1, 2019- September 30, 2020; Unregulated deliverable fuels heating assistance (seasonal benefit) October 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020. Wyoming uses a centralized application intake and processing procedure so having an application deadline for heating assistance applications ensures that we have enough time to follow up and process incomplete applications before the season end date. The heating assistance benefit is retroactive to the heating season start date and benefits will be paid out til the benefit is exhausted or the season end date is passed, which ever comes first. Our outreach efforts ensure that applicants and the public are aware of the heating assistance application submission deadline. |
