Most Iowa households can apply for winter heating assistance starting Nov. 1. Applications are already open for older adults, people with disabilities and households facing an energy crisis.
By Hola Iowa
Updated Oct. 15, 2026.
IOWA — Iowa’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has new income limits for the 2026–27 heating season, with households of four eligible under the income standard if their gross annual income is $66,000 or less.
Applications opened Oct. 1 for households with a resident age 60 or older, a person with a disability, or an energy crisis. All other eligible Iowa households can apply beginning Nov. 1, 2026. The regular application period ends April 30, 2027.
LIHEAP helps qualifying homeowners and renters pay a portion of their residential heating costs. Assistance generally takes the form of a one-time payment to the utility company or heating fuel vendor, and the amount depends on factors including household income, size, housing type and heating fuel.
The program is not designed to cover a household’s entire winter heating bill. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to eligibility requirements and available funding.
LIHEAP income limits for 2026–27 range from $31,920 to $111,440 for households of one to eight
Iowa LIHEAP eligibility generally requires total household income at or below 200% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. The new limits apply from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services LIHEAP income guidelines establish the following maximum annual gross income amounts:
| Household size | Maximum annual gross income |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $31,920 |
| 2 people | $43,280 |
| 3 people | $54,640 |
| 4 people | $66,000 |
| 5 people | $77,360 |
| 6 people | $88,720 |
| 7 people | $100,080 |
| 8 people | $111,440 |
For households with more than eight members, the annual limit increases by $11,360 for each additional person.
Income is annualized when determining eligibility. Depending on the household’s circumstances, agencies may use income information from the most recent 30 days, the previous 12 months or the most recent calendar year.
Meeting the income limit does not automatically guarantee assistance. Applicants must also satisfy the program’s other eligibility and documentation requirements, including an eligible household energy expense and verification of required household information.
Applications opened Oct. 1 for priority households; others begin Nov. 1
Iowa uses different opening dates for the LIHEAP heating season:
- Oct. 1, 2026: Households with at least one resident age 60 or older or a person with a disability may apply.
- October 2026: Households experiencing an energy crisis may also apply through their local Community Action Agency.
- Nov. 1, 2026: Applications open to all other eligible households.
- April 30, 2027: The regular application period closes.
Both homeowners and renters may qualify. Households experiencing an energy crisis, including a threatened utility disconnection, should contact their local Community Action Agency to determine which assistance options apply.
Applicants need income records and current heating and electric bills
The state’s 2026–27 LIHEAP application guidance identifies the documents households should prepare:
- Proof of household income: Depending on the income source, this may include recent pay stubs, benefit statements or a federal tax return.
- Social Security number verification: Documentation for eligible household members, or other documentation accepted under Iowa LIHEAP rules.
- Current heating bill: The most recent bill or account information from the heating utility or fuel provider.
- Current electric bill: The most recent electric utility statement.
- Additional household documentation: Renters whose heating or electricity costs are included in rent may need landlord verification.
Community Action Agency staff may request additional documentation based on income type, household composition or other circumstances. An application cannot be approved until the required information has been received.
LIHEAP applications are available through local agencies and the state portal
Iowa has 16 Community Action Agencies serving all 99 counties. Applications are handled by the agency responsible for the household’s county of residence.
The Iowa Community Action Association county locator provides local agency names, office locations, contact information and operating hours.
Iowa also offers an online LIHEAP application portal. State guidance identifies Nov. 1, 2026, as the date the portal becomes active for the general public. Households eligible for October applications can work directly with their local Community Action Agency.
For help locating the correct agency, Iowa HHS lists the Community Action Agencies Unit at 515-776-8871.
LIHEAP certification protects eligible customers from winter utility shutoffs
Iowa’s winter utility disconnection moratorium runs from Nov. 1 through April 1. During that period, households certified as eligible for LIHEAP or qualifying weatherization assistance are protected from electric and natural gas disconnections for nonpayment.
Submitting an application is not the same as receiving final certification. However, the Iowa Utilities Commission states that customers who notify their electric or natural gas provider that they are applying for LIHEAP receive a 30-day stay of disconnection to allow the application to be processed.
Households facing a shutoff notice should contact both their utility company and local Community Action Agency before the scheduled disconnection date.
For utility disconnections caused by nonpayment, Iowa generally requires at least 12 days’ written notice. Customers who have defaulted on a payment agreement may receive 24 hours’ notice.
The Iowa Utilities Commission’s 2026–27 LIHEAP guidance explains the winter protections and application dates.
The moratorium does not cancel unpaid utility charges. Households remain responsible for energy costs not covered by LIHEAP, including balances accumulated during the protected period.
Spanish-language assistance is available through Iowa HHS
The Iowa Spanish Helpline provides information and assistance in Spanish at 515-344-3936.
Residents may also dial 211 for assistance locating community resources related to utilities, housing and other household needs.
LIHEAP applicants should use the state application portal or their designated Community Action Agency rather than submitting personal or utility account information through an unsolicited message or link.
Related: Iowa Benefits 2026: SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Rent and Child Care Deadlines
For households outside the October priority groups, applications for the 2026–27 Iowa LIHEAP heating season open Nov. 1, 2026, and remain open through April 30, 2027.
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