What Is the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program?
The Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program is the state’s implementation of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by Florida Commerce (formerly DEO) and delivered locally through participating county Community Action Agencies. For FY 2026, Florida received $121.6 million in federal funding. Eligible households can receive $400 to $1,350 per 12-month period for heating or cooling costs, plus up to $2,000 in Crisis Assistance for emergency situations. Eligibility is 60% State Median Income or 150% Federal Poverty Level, with automatic qualification for SNAP, SSI, and TANF recipients. Apply through your county’s LIHEAP provider, floridaliheap.com, or by calling 2-1-1.
Why the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program Matters in 2026
Florida’s hot, humid summers and the increasing intensity of hurricane-season heat waves make cooling not a luxury but a public health necessity. For low-income households, summer electric bills routinely exceed $300 per month, and a single broken AC unit or a billing dispute can spiral into a disconnect notice within weeks. The Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program exists precisely for this reason: to keep electricity flowing to households that would otherwise be forced to choose between cooling and groceries.
This guide walks through every aspect of the program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, who qualifies, how much you can receive, exactly how to apply, and what to do if your county doesn’t participate or local funds run out. As a Florida resident facing high utility costs, this is your roadmap to getting the bill credit, crisis aid, and weatherization help available through the program in 2026.
Key Elements of the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program
The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is the funding source for Florida’s program. HHS distributes block grants to states, which then administer locally.
Florida Commerce (renamed from the Department of Economic Opportunity on July 1, 2023) administers LIHEAP statewide and contracts with local agencies to deliver services.
County-level Community Action Agencies and non-profits actually process applications, verify eligibility, and apply credits directly to your utility account. Find yours at floridaliheap.com.
The standard ongoing benefit, providing a one-time credit toward your electric or gas bill. $400 to $1,350 per 12-month period, applied directly to your utility account.
Year-round emergency aid for households facing shutoff notices, broken HVAC equipment, or weather emergencies. Up to $2,000 per household per crisis. Available October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.
2-1-1 Florida is the centralized statewide referral service. Dial 2-1-1 from any Florida phone to be connected with your county’s LIHEAP provider and other assistance resources.
Eligibility for the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program
Florida LIHEAP uses 60% of State Median Income or 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, whichever is higher, to determine eligibility. There is no asset limit. Both renters and homeowners can apply, and approved households can apply up to three times per 12-month period as long as the cumulative benefit stays within the program maximum.
2026 income guidelines
For the 2025-2026 program year, your household’s gross monthly income (before taxes) must be at or below these limits:
Add approximately $748 per month ($8,976 per year) for each additional household member. Income limits are updated annually by Florida Commerce based on state median income data. Confirm current figures at floridaliheap.com or with your local agency.
Automatic categorical eligibility
You are automatically income-eligible if your household receives benefits from:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / food stamps)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
Categorical eligibility skips the full income paperwork, though you’ll still need to provide proof of enrollment in the qualifying program.
Priority groups
Florida LIHEAP gives preference to:
- Households with members age 60 or older
- Households with members who have disabilities
- Households with children under age 6
- Households with a high energy burden (energy costs as a share of income)
Florida received $121,578,634 in FY 2026 federal LIHEAP funding (including $5,707,205 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). In FY 2024, the program served 21,685 heating households, 28,957 cooling households, 44,964 crisis cases, and 253 weatherization homes.
Benefits Available Through the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program
Florida LIHEAP provides three distinct types of help, each with its own application and seasonal availability.
1. Home Energy Assistance (Heating)
Heating assistance is available October 1 through March 31 each program year. Eligible households receive a one-time credit toward their electric or gas bill, ranging from $400 minimum to $1,350 maximum, depending on household income, household size, and presence of priority members. The benefit is paid directly to your utility provider (Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, TECO, Gulf Power, or local municipal utility), not to you.
2. Home Energy Assistance (Cooling)
Cooling assistance runs April 1 through September 30. Same income limits, same benefit ranges ($400-$1,350), but specifically targets the high-cost summer months. Florida is one of the relatively few states that funds substantial summer cooling benefits, reflecting how high cooling costs run in the state.
3. Crisis Assistance
Crisis Assistance is available year-round (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026) for households facing immediate energy emergencies. Qualifying crises include:
- Utility shutoff notice (typically delivered within 5-10 days)
- Service already disconnected for non-payment
- Broken heating or cooling equipment
- Weather emergencies (heat waves, hurricane-related power loss)
- Empty propane or fuel tanks with no money to refill
The Crisis Assistance maximum is up to $2,000 per household per crisis event. In severe documented cases, some providers can deliver up to $5,000 in stacked benefits. Crisis applications are typically prioritized and processed within 48 hours when a disconnect notice is on file.
Maximum cumulative benefit
Across all three categories, an eligible household can apply up to three times per 12-month period, but the maximum cumulative regular benefit is $1,350. Crisis Assistance up to $2,000 is separate from the regular benefit cap. Stacking is allowed where both program funds remain available.
Comparing Benefits Under the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program
Author’s Pro TipApply at the start of each season, not when you’re already behind. Florida LIHEAP funds are first-come, first-served and several county providers have publicly exhausted funds mid-cycle in recent years. The smart move is to apply on or near April 1 for the cooling season and on or near October 1 for the heating season, before your bill becomes past due. Standard Home Energy Assistance does NOT require a past-due balance, so you don’t have to wait for trouble to apply. If a Crisis develops later, you can still apply for Crisis Assistance on top of the regular benefit. Also: confirm your county participates, because not all 67 Florida counties offer LIHEAP services in any given year.
— Editorial Team, UtilityAssistanceOnline
Facing a Disconnect Notice in Florida?
Crisis Assistance applications with active shutoff notices are typically processed within 48 hours. Call 2-1-1 or visit floridaliheap.com to start now.
How to Apply for the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program
Step 1: Find your county’s LIHEAP provider
Florida LIHEAP is delivered locally, not centrally. Visit floridaliheap.com to look up your county’s provider, or dial 2-1-1 from any Florida phone for free, multilingual routing assistance. Not every Florida county participates, so confirm before scheduling.
Step 2: Schedule an appointment
Most county LIHEAP agencies require an appointment, not walk-ins. Call the agency directly to schedule. Online applications are available in some counties through the LIHEAP Online Customer Application portal; others use the Uniform Application or the Florida Commerce Energy Form.
Step 3: Gather required documentation
Gather these documents before your appointment to avoid delays:
- Photo ID for the head of household
- Social Security numbers (or cards) for all household members
- Proof of income for the last 30 days for all household members 18 and older (pay stubs, SSI/SSA award letters, unemployment statements, child support documentation)
- Your most recent electric or gas utility bill
- Proof of residency (lease, mortgage, or utility bill at your Florida address)
- If categorically eligible: SNAP, SSI, or TANF award letter
- If applying for Crisis: disconnect notice, repair estimate, or other documentation of the emergency
Step 4: Submit your application and wait for approval
After the appointment, your application is processed and (if approved) the benefit is paid directly to your utility provider as a credit. Standard Home Energy Assistance typically takes 2-4 weeks to process. Crisis Assistance is generally processed within 48 hours. You’ll receive a notification letter regardless of approval status.
Step 5: Apply again as needed
You can apply up to three times per 12-month period, as long as your cumulative regular benefit stays under $1,350. Crisis Assistance is separate from the regular cap. Re-applications often require updated income documentation.
Beyond the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program
If your county’s LIHEAP funds are exhausted, or you don’t quite qualify, several adjacent programs help Florida households cover utility costs.
Florida Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
WAP provides free permanent home energy upgrades (insulation, air sealing, HVAC repairs, duct sealing) at no cost to qualified households. Eligibility is more generous than LIHEAP at 200% Federal Poverty Level. Apply through your local Community Action Agency or county housing authority. See our companion guide on Florida weatherization assistance for more.
Utility hardship programs
Florida’s major investor-owned utilities operate their own income-qualified hardship and bill-discount programs alongside LIHEAP:
- FPL Care to Share: Customer-funded emergency bill assistance via Heartland for Children and other partners
- Duke Energy Share the Light: Emergency assistance through Salvation Army partners
- TECO Share: Customer-donor-funded emergency relief
Call your utility company’s customer service line and specifically ask about “hardship” or “share” programs.
Project SHARE and other charity funds
Many local charities, faith-based organizations, and community groups operate one-time emergency utility assistance grants. The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and county-level “Project SHARE” funds are commonly available. Dial 2-1-1 to identify which charities currently have funding in your county. For broader strategies, see our guides on mastering your utility bills, how weatherization works, and national weatherization assistance programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program
Who qualifies for the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program?
Households with gross monthly income at or below 60% of Florida’s State Median Income or 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines qualify. SNAP, SSI, and TANF recipients are automatically income-eligible. Both renters and homeowners can apply. There is no asset limit. Priority is given to seniors 60+, persons with disabilities, families with children under 6, and households with a high energy burden.
How much can I receive from Florida LIHEAP in 2026?
Heating and cooling Home Energy Assistance benefits range from $400 minimum to $1,350 maximum per 12-month period. Crisis Assistance is available year-round up to $2,000 per crisis event. Eligible households can apply up to three times in a 12-month period, but the cumulative regular benefit cannot exceed $1,350. The actual amount depends on household income, size, fuel type, and presence of priority members.
When can I apply for LIHEAP in Florida?
Heating Assistance runs October 1 through March 31. Cooling Assistance runs April 1 through September 30. Crisis Assistance is available year-round. Funds are first-come, first-served and several counties have exhausted allocations mid-cycle in recent years, so apply as close to season open as possible.
Where does the LIHEAP money go?
LIHEAP funds are never paid directly to applicants. Approved benefits are sent directly to your utility provider (FPL, Duke Energy, TECO, Gulf Power, or your municipal utility) as a credit on your account. Crisis Assistance funds for fuel deliveries (propane, oil) are paid directly to the fuel vendor.
Does my Florida county participate in LIHEAP?
Not all 67 Florida counties offer LIHEAP services in any given year. Coverage depends on whether a local agency has contracted with Florida Commerce to deliver the program. Check floridaliheap.com or call 2-1-1 to confirm participation in your county. If your county doesn’t participate, ask 2-1-1 about adjacent counties’ programs and other charity funds available locally.
Can I apply if I’m a renter or have utilities included in rent?
Yes. Both renters and homeowners can apply for Florida LIHEAP. If your utilities are billed separately, the credit is applied directly to your utility account. If utilities are included in your rent, you may still qualify for a smaller LIHEAP benefit. Renters with utilities in rent should explicitly ask the LIHEAP intake worker about the “indirect utility cost” provision.
Apply for the Florida Low-Income Utility Assistance Program Today
- Up to $1,350 in heating or cooling credit
- Up to $2,000 in Crisis Assistance
- Free WAP weatherization upgrades
- Free 2-minute eligibility check