How Do You Apply for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's 2026 to 2027 LIHEAP season opens Monday, November 2, 2026 and runs through Friday, April 23, 2027, according to the Department of Human Services. You can apply online through COMPASS at www.compass.state.pa.us, through your County Assistance Office by phone or in person, or by calling the LIHEAP Client Helpline at 1-866-857-7095. Households that received LIHEAP last season will get an application or a COMPASS postcard with a registration number by mail, so they can apply before the season starts.

The program covers more than heating bills. The state's final LIHEAP plan for fiscal year 2027 sets the income limit at 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, which is $23,940 a year for one person and $49,500 for a family of four. It also describes an Emergency Services Program, run with the Department of Community and Economic Development, that can repair a broken heating system or replace one that cannot be repaired, with the emergency addressed within 48 hours, or 18 hours when it is life-threatening. This guide covers who qualifies, how much each grant pays, how to get help with a broken furnace, and where to apply in Somerset, Cambria, Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. All dates and amounts are as published by the state in October 2026.

Who Qualifies for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania?

LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federally funded program that helps households pay for heat. Pennsylvania's fiscal year 2027 plan uses an income limit of 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for both Cash and Crisis grants:

Household size	Annual income limit
1	$23,940
2	$32,460
3	$40,980
4	$49,500
5	$58,020
6	$66,540
7	$75,060
8	$83,580

For each additional person, add $8,520. The state's Weatherization Assistance Program uses a higher limit of 200% of the guidelines.

The plan budgets about $238 million for the program, with $182 million set aside for benefits and 15% sent to DCED for weatherization. DHS estimates the money could serve about 393,356 households with Cash grants and 100,424 with Crisis grants this season.

How Much Is a LIHEAP Cash Grant?

DHS sets Cash grants between $200 and $1,000. The amount depends on where you live, your income, your heating type and your household size. Households get one regular Cash grant per season.

Location matters because the state divides counties into heating regions. Somerset and Cambria Counties are in Region 2, Westmoreland is in Region 3, and Fayette is in Region 4.

DHS also notes that the $100 supplement some LIHEAP customers received in July or August 2026 came from last season's funds and does not affect eligibility this season.

The guide to lowering your heating bills this winter covers ways to make a grant go further.

What Is a LIHEAP Crisis Grant?

A Crisis grant is emergency help for a household that is out of heat or close to it. DHS says a household qualifies when it is without heat, or within 15 days of being without heat, because it has run out of fuel or its utility service is being shut off.

Here is how Crisis works under the 2026 to 2027 rules:

• Grants run from $25 up to a season maximum of $1,000.

• All Crisis requests go through the County Assistance Office.

• Any fuel credits on your account are applied first.

• The amount is based on what resolves the emergency, such as filling an oil tank one time.

• You can receive several Crisis authorizations, up to $1,000 total.

• If you already applied for a Cash grant, you do not need a separate application unless you moved or added a household member.

Heating oil is expensive this fall. The U.S. Energy Information Administration put Pennsylvania's residential price at $5.833 a gallon on October 5, 2026, up from $3.265 a year earlier, which raises the cost of each fill-up a Crisis grant may need to cover.

Can LIHEAP Help Repair or Replace a Broken Furnace?

Yes. The fiscal year 2027 state plan describes the LIHEAP Emergency Services Program for no-heat situations, heating system safety hazards and homes in imminent danger of losing heat. Services may include repairing a heating system, repairing gas or other fuel lines, replacing a heating system that cannot be repaired, and thawing frozen pipes.

The plan says DCED addresses the emergency within 48 hours, or within 18 hours if it is life-threatening or an immediate health risk. Requests go through the County Assistance Office. DHS's customer sheet adds that weatherization services could include repairing broken heating equipment, and tells customers to contact their County Assistance Office.

If your household does not qualify, the guide to furnace replacement financing options explains other ways to spread the cost.

Where Do You Apply in Somerset and Nearby Counties?

You can apply online at any time during the season, or contact your County Assistance Office. Here are the offices for the counties Van Bremen's serves in Pennsylvania, as listed by DHS:

County	Office address	LIHEAP phone
Somerset	164 Stayrook Street, Somerset, PA 15501	814-443-3683
Cambria	729 Goucher Street, Johnstown, PA 15905	814-533-2253
Fayette	41 West Church Street, Uniontown, PA 15401	724-439-7125
Westmoreland	587 Sells Lane, Greensburg, PA 15601	724-832-5524

The Somerset County Assistance Office is open from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its main line is 814-443-3681, and its toll-free number is 1-800-248-1607. The statewide LIHEAP Client Helpline is 1-866-857-7095.

Crisis requests always go through the County Assistance Office, and DHS says the office must contact the fuel or utility vendor to authorize each one. Calling early in a heating emergency gives the office time to reach your vendor.

Can Your Utility Shut Off Heat in Winter?

The state plan notes that utility companies regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission may not terminate service to low-income households from December 1 through March 31 without the PUC's approval.

The rule applies to PUC-regulated utilities. For delivered fuels such as oil and propane, the Crisis grant is the help DHS describes, sized to resolve the emergency. If your heat goes out for any reason, the guide to what to do when your heat goes out in winter covers the first steps.

FAQ

When does LIHEAP open in Pennsylvania for 2026 to 2027?

DHS says the season opens Monday, November 2, 2026 and continues through Friday, April 23, 2027. DHS may shorten or extend it depending on funding.

Can I apply for LIHEAP online?

Yes. Apply through COMPASS at www.compass.state.pa.us, or contact your County Assistance Office or the helpline at 1-866-857-7095.

Do I have to reapply every year?

Yes, but last season's recipients will get an application or a COMPASS postcard with a registration number so they can apply before the season begins.

What if I am about to run out of heating oil?

Ask your County Assistance Office about a Crisis grant. A household within 15 days of being without heat because of a lack of fuel can qualify.

Does West Virginia have LIHEAP?

West Virginia runs its own Low Income Energy Assistance Program, LIEAP. In 2026 the state opened applications on February 2 and closed them early, on February 9, after regular funding ran out. As of October 12, 2026, the next application period had not been announced. Applications go through www.wvpath.wv.gov.

Can LIHEAP pay for a new furnace?

Through the Emergency Services Program, the state plan allows replacement of a heating system that cannot be repaired. Requests go through the County Assistance Office.

Van Bremen's Heat & Air Keeps Heating Systems Running

Van Bremen's Heat & Air repairs, maintains and replaces furnaces, gas and oil boilers and heat pumps from its office at 214 Stoystown Rd in Somerset, serving Somerset, Fayette, Cambria and Westmoreland Counties and Morgantown, WV. For repairs outside LIHEAP, financing is available through Synchrony. See the heating services page and the financing page.

Visit Van Bremen's Heat & Air or call (814) 483-1735 today. Contact us for more information.