Utility & Energy Assistance Calculators
Four free tools for keeping the lights, heat and phone on: LIHEAP, weatherization assistance, Lifeline discounts, and your shutoff protection rights.
Utility assistance programs do two different jobs. Some help pay a bill you cannot afford now. Others lower the bill in future. Both matter to people on fixed incomes, because heating and cooling costs rise and fall with the weather and a monthly check does not.
Paying the Bill: LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households pay heating and cooling costs, and many states offer crisis assistance to households facing a shutoff. States run the program within federal guidelines, so the benefit amount and the application period depend on where you live. Funding is limited, so apply early in the season. The LIHEAP Eligibility & Benefit Estimator checks your household against your state's limits.
Reducing the Bill: Weatherization
The Weatherization Assistance Program does not pay the bill. It pays for improvements to the home, such as insulation, air sealing, and repair or replacement of the furnace and appliances, that lower energy use for years. It is generally done once per home, and many households use it together with LIHEAP. The Weatherization Assistance Checker covers eligibility.
Phone and Internet: Lifeline
Separate from energy costs, the FCC's Lifeline program provides a monthly discount on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households. Seniors already enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP typically qualify automatically without a separate income review. The Lifeline Phone/Internet Discount Checker confirms eligibility either way.
Already Facing a Shutoff?
If you already have a disconnection notice, the programs above may not act fast enough. The Utility Shutoff Protection Guide covers the protections found in most states, including winter moratoriums, medical certificates and rules for seniors, and links to your state's utility regulator and crisis assistance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between LIHEAP and weatherization assistance?
LIHEAP helps pay current heating and cooling bills and sometimes gives one-time crisis assistance for shutoffs. Weatherization assistance is a separate program that pays for home improvements, such as insulation, air sealing and furnace repair, that lower energy use for years.
Can I get LIHEAP every year?
Yes. Eligible households can reapply each program year. Funding is limited and each state distributes it, so apply early in the season.
What is Lifeline and how much does it save?
Lifeline is an FCC program that provides a monthly discount on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households, including many seniors already enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP, who typically qualify automatically.
Can my power or gas be shut off in winter?
Many states restrict winter shutoffs in some form, but the rules differ by state and utility company and there is no national rule. Contact your utility and ask about payment plans, medical certificates and any winter moratorium now in effect.
This page is for general educational purposes and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the FCC, or any state energy assistance office. See our Data Sources page for how we source figures.