[Last updated: 4/1/2024]
Note: The LIHEAP statute (Section 2605(b)(2)(b) of Public Law 97- 35) established 150 percent of the poverty guidelines (FPG) as a maximum income level allowed in determining LIHEAP eligibility, except where 60 percent of a state's median income (SMI) is higher. Effective in FY 1995, income eligibility criteria for LIHEAP may not be set lower than 110 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines, but priority may be given to households with the highest energy costs or needs in relation to income. The federal government sets the poverty guidelines in February of every year and publishes them in the Federal Register.
States may adopt the year's new guidelines at any time between the date of publication in the Federal Register and the first day of the next fiscal year or by the beginning of the grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later. For LIHEAP, the majority of states use the prior year guidelines until the first day of the next fiscal year in order to avoid changing guidelines in the middle of their program year. Most states start their new fiscal year October 1; however, a few states start theirs July 1 and those states, along with several that operate summer cooling programs, adopt the most recent guidelines in June or July.
Tables: Income guidelines, optional in FFY 2024 and mandatory in FFY 2025.
- LIHEAP FPG State Tables
- LIHEAP FPG Tables for Puerto Rico
- LIHEAP SMI Estimates for States and Puerto Rico
The Percent of Poverty Table below shows the percent of federal poverty guidelines (FPG) or state's median income (SMI) used by states in determining eligibility for LIHEAP components in FY 2024. Although states can have a different poverty level for each component (crisis, cooling and weatherization) the majority use the same poverty level for all components.
State | Heat | Cool | Crisis | Wx | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
||
Alaska
|
|
150 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
||
American Samoa | 150 FPG | ||||
Arizona
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
For Heating, Cooling, and Crisis: 150 FPG for households with 9+ members | ||
Arkansas
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
For Heating, Cooling, and Crisis: 150 FPG for households with 7+ members. There is also an asset test. | ||
California
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Colorado
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Connecticut
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Delaware
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Dist. of Columbia
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Florida
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
For Heating, Cooling, and Crisis: 150 FPG for households with 9+ members | ||
Georgia
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Hawaii
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
|||
Idaho
|
|
60 SMI
|
For Heating and Crisis: 150 FPG for households with 8+ members | ||
Illinois
|
|
200 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
For Heating, Cooling, and Crisis: 60 SMI for households with 11-14 members; 150 FPG for households with 15+ members | |
Indiana
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Iowa
|
|
200 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
||
Kansas
|
|
150 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
||
Kentucky
|
130 FPG
|
130 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
||
Louisiana
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Maine
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
For all program components: 150 FPG for households with 11 or more members | |
Maryland
|
175 FPG
|
175 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
For Heating, Cooling, and Crisis: 200 FPG for households with 1+ members aged 67+ | |
Massachusetts
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Michigan
|
|
200 FPG
|
|||
Minnesota
|
|
50 SMI
|
50 SMI
|
For Wx: 200 FPG for households with 7+ members | |
Mississippi
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|
||
Missouri
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Montana
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
For Heating & Crisis: 150 FPG for households with 9+ members For Wx: 200 FPG for households with 3+ members |
|
Nebraska
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
|||
Nevada
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
||
New Hampshire
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
New Jersey
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
New Mexico
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
||
New York
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
For all program components: 150 FPG for households with 13+ members | |
North Carolina
|
150 FPG
|
||||
North Dakota
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Ohio
|
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Oklahoma
|
130 FPG
|
130 FPG
|
200 FPG
|
Households that received other LIHEAP benefits receive Wx first | |
Oregon
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Pennsylvania
|
|
150 FPG
|
|||
Rhode Island
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
South Carolina
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
200 FPG
|
||
South Dakota
|
|
200 FPG
|
|
SD's eligibility criteria differ for each household size between 1 and 10 members: see table below. | |
Tennessee
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Texas
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
For all program components: TX uses the greater of either 60 SMI or 150 FPG depending on household size. Currently, 150 FPG exceeds 60 SMI for households with 9+ members. | |
Utah
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
||
Vermont
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Virginia
|
150 FPG
|
150 FPG
|
|||
Washington
|
|
125 FPG
|
For Wx: WA uses the greater of either 60 SMI or 200 FPG depending on household size. Currently, 200 FPG exceeds 60 SMI for households with 8+ members | ||
West Virginia
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
|||
Wisconsin
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
||
Wyoming
|
|
60 SMI
|
60 SMI
|
Source: FY 2024 State LIHEAP Plans
2023/2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines for a Family Size of Four | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poverty Level |
100%
|
110%
|
125%
|
150%
|
175%
|
200%
|
48 contiguous states and D.C. | $30,000 | $33,000 | $37,500 | $45,000 | $52,500 | $60,000 |
Alaska | $37,500 | $41,250 | $46,875 | $56,250 | $65,625 | $75,000 |
Hawaii | $34,500 | $37,950 | $43,125 | $51,750 | $60,375 | $69,000 |