LIHEAP Heating Assistance 2026: Senators Urge HHS to Release Funds Before Winter

A bipartisan group of senators is asking the Trump administration to release LIHEAP funding as early as possible in October, ahead of the winter heating season.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in leading the effort. Sen. Angus King of Maine was also among the lawmakers who signed the letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
 

Why the funding matters

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. The program can also provide emergency energy assistance and support home weatherization projects that lower long-term utility costs.

About 6.2 million households received LIHEAP help with heating and cooling expenses last year. In Maine, households received a combined $41.6 million in LIHEAP funding.

The senators said releasing the money early would help states and tribal organizations prepare before temperatures drop and utility bills rise.

Read: Housing Assistance for Seniors: 5 Ways to Get Help With Rent, Utilities and Housing Costs
 

Senators cite November 1 deadline

In their letter, the senators pointed to the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027, also known as P.L. 119-103.

The law requires HHS to distribute at least 90% of the total LIHEAP allocation by November 1, 2026. The senators are asking the administration to release the money before that deadline so states do not face delays in starting their programs.

“October marks the start of the heating season for many states,” the lawmakers wrote, noting that low-income families and seniors are already under pressure from rising household expenses.
 

What LIHEAP can help pay for

Depending on the state, LIHEAP may help with:

• Heating bills.

• Cooling and electricity costs.

• Emergency utility assistance.

• Past-due energy bills.

• Fuel deliveries.

• Home weatherization.

• Energy-efficiency improvements.

Each state or tribal program sets its own application rules, income limits and benefit amounts.

People seeking help should contact their local LIHEAP office or use the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services LIHEAP information page.

Previous funding delays

This is not the first time Collins and other senators have urged the federal government to speed up LIHEAP funding.

In 2025, Collins, Reed and Murkowski led a similar effort after a government shutdown delayed the distribution of heating assistance.

In April 2026, Collins also announced the release of more than $427 million in LIHEAP funding, including about $4.4 million for Maine.
 

What households should do now

Families should not wait until the coldest months to look for assistance. You can:

1. Contact your state LIHEAP office.

2. Ask about application dates and income limits.

3. Gather utility bills, identification and proof of income.

4. Ask whether emergency help is available if your service is at risk of being shut off.

5. Contact your utility company about payment plans or shutoff protections.

Funding availability and application deadlines vary by state.
 

Bottom line

Sen. Susan Collins and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are urging HHS to release LIHEAP funding in October, before the winter heating season intensifies.

The program helps millions of low-income households pay energy bills and improve home efficiency. While federal law requires at least 90% of the funding to be distributed by November 1, the senators want the money released sooner so state agencies and tribes can begin providing assistance without gaps.

-

Overwhelmed by bills? Subscribe now and discover financial help to lighten the load!