Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
Single mothers in Pennsylvania may be able to get help with heat, electric, gas, water, sewer, phone, or internet bills. The fastest starting points are your utility company, PA 211 utilities, and Pennsylvania’s LIHEAP page when the heating season is open.
As of May 20, 2026, Pennsylvania says the 2025-2026 LIHEAP season is closed. The state still lists the current income limits and usually opens LIHEAP again for a new winter season. If your heat is off, you have a shutoff notice, or your furnace is broken, do not wait for a new LIHEAP season. Call your utility, ask about emergency programs, and contact 211 for local help.
If your service is off or about to be shut off
Call your utility company first. Ask the company to mark your account as having a child in the home, a shutoff notice, or a heating emergency. Ask for every program on your account: Customer Assistance Program, hardship fund, payment agreement, CARES, LIURP, medical certificate, and any local fund.
If you received a termination notice from a regulated utility and cannot resolve it with the company, contact the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380. The PUC says customers with a termination notice should call instead of filing online first.
If someone is in immediate danger because of no heat, unsafe heat, no electricity for medical equipment, carbon monoxide, fire risk, or a health emergency, call 911. If you are in mental health crisis, call or text 988.
Where to start
Utility help in Pennsylvania depends on the bill type, the season, your income, and your utility company. Use the path that fits your problem today.
Heat bill or heating crisis
Check the official Pennsylvania LIHEAP page. When applications are open, you can apply online, by paper, or through your local County Assistance Office.
Electric or gas shutoff
Call your utility and ask for CAP, hardship funds, CARES, LIURP, and a payment arrangement. If you have a termination notice, call the PUC consumer line.
Broken furnace or high bills
Ask about the state Weatherization Program and your utility’s LIURP program. These may lower future bills, not just pay one bill.
Not sure who helps
Call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211. PA 211 can search local programs for electric, gas, water, fuel, rent, food, and other needs.
Quick help table
| Problem | First place to contact | What to ask for | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating bill | DHS LIHEAP or County Assistance Office | Cash grant, crisis grant, furnace help | LIHEAP is seasonal and may be closed. |
| Electric or gas shutoff | Your utility company | CAP, hardship fund, payment plan, CARES | Call before the shutoff date if you can. |
| High monthly bills | Your utility and WAP agency | LIURP, weatherization, budget billing | These programs may take time to schedule. |
| Water or sewer bill | Water provider and PA 211 | Payment plan, local fund, discount program | The old federal LIHWAP program was temporary. |
| Phone or internet | Phone or internet company | Lifeline, low-cost plan, local help | Not every provider offers the same help. |
Pennsylvania LIHEAP: heating bill help
LIHEAP is Pennsylvania’s main heating assistance program for low-income households. It can help renters and homeowners. You do not have to receive other public benefits, and you do not need an unpaid heating bill to qualify for a regular cash grant.
The regular cash grant is paid to your utility company or fuel provider. For the 2025-2026 season, Pennsylvania listed cash grants from $200 to $1,000, based on household size, income, and fuel type. The season is now closed, so check the official page again before the next heating season.
During an open season, you can apply through COMPASS, submit a paper application, or contact your county assistance office. If you already applied, use Track My Benefits to check your status.
When LIHEAP crisis help may apply
LIHEAP crisis help is for heat-related emergencies. Examples include a shutoff notice, service already shut off, broken heating equipment, leaking lines, no fuel, or less than a 15-day supply of deliverable fuel such as oil, propane, coal, or wood.
If LIHEAP is open and you already received a LIHEAP benefit for the season, contact your County Assistance Office to report the heating emergency. If the season is closed, still call your utility company and PA 211 because local emergency funds may exist.
LIHEAP income limits listed by Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s DHS page lists these income requirements as effective February 1, 2026, for 2026-2027. Program rules can change before the next season, so confirm before applying.
| Household size | Maximum annual income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,940 |
| 2 | $32,460 |
| 3 | $40,980 |
| 4 | $49,500 |
| 5 | $58,020 |
| 6 | $66,540 |
| Each extra person | Add $8,520 |
Ask your utility company for these programs
Many Pennsylvania electric and natural gas utilities have their own low-income or hardship programs. These programs are not all the same. Some reduce your monthly bill. Some help with a past-due balance. Some help lower your use through repairs or energy upgrades.
Start with your utility’s customer service number on your bill. You can also use the PUC’s utility assistance page for general program information.
| Program | What it may do | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| CAP | May set a lower monthly payment based on income and household size. | “Can you screen me for the Customer Assistance Program?” |
| Hardship fund | May give one-time help for a past-due bill when funds are available. | “Is there a hardship grant or local fund for my account?” |
| CARES | May refer customers with special hardship to extra help. | “Can a CARES worker review my case?” |
| LIURP | May provide energy-saving upgrades for high-usage, low-income homes. | “Do I qualify for LIURP or a home energy audit?” |
| Budget billing | May spread expected yearly costs into steadier monthly payments. | “Would budget billing help, or make things worse?” |
Tip for renters
If utilities are in your name, ask the utility directly. If heat or water is included in rent, ask the landlord how the utility is billed and whether your rent includes a heating charge. For rent or eviction issues connected to unpaid utilities, this Pennsylvania housing help guide can point you to related options.
Shutoff notices, medical certificates, and complaints
A shutoff notice is urgent, but it is not the same as being out of options. Call the utility before the shutoff date, ask for assistance programs, and ask whether a payment agreement can stop termination.
If a serious illness in the home would be harmed by shutoff, ask the utility about a medical certificate. The PUC says a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner may provide the certificate. A medical certificate does not erase the bill, but it may delay termination or help restore service for a limited time.
Winter rules can add protection for some low-income customers of regulated utilities, but do not assume every bill or provider is covered the same way. If you are not sure, ask the PUC, your utility, or PULP termination help for consumer information.
If the company will not fix a billing problem, refuses to screen you for programs, or you cannot get a clear answer, use the PUC complaints page. If there is an active termination notice, call the PUC first at 1-800-692-7380.
Weatherization and lower-bill help
If your bills stay high every month, bill payment help may not be enough. Pennsylvania’s Weatherization Assistance Program can improve energy use in eligible homes. The state says the program serves low-income households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, with priority for higher-risk residents such as families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, and high energy users.
Weatherization may include air sealing, insulation, heating system work, minor repairs needed for safe weatherization, and education on lowering energy waste. Find the agency for your county through the WAP agency list. Renters may need landlord permission for some work.
Also ask your electric or gas utility about LIURP. The Pennsylvania Utility Law Project explains that LIURP may include a home energy audit and improvements such as insulation, weatherproofing, appliance changes, or safety-related repairs, depending on the utility and the home.
Local help when state programs are closed
Utility assistance often changes by county, city, and funding. Some help is run by Community Action agencies, local United Ways, churches, Salvation Army locations, county human services offices, or utility hardship partners. PA 211 is the best statewide search tool because it can filter by your zip code.
When you contact 211, be clear about the bill type, shutoff date, household size, children in the home, income, and whether you already tried LIHEAP or the utility company. You can start at PA 211, dial 211, or text your zip code to 898-211.
For more single-mother support paths, use the Pennsylvania help guide for a broader list. For a national starting point, see help with bills and the local resource guide for more search tips.
Water, sewer, phone, and internet
The federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program was temporary and is not a year-round Pennsylvania application path in 2026. If your water or sewer bill is overdue, call the provider and ask for a hardship plan, customer assistance program, leak adjustment, payment arrangement, or local charitable fund. Then check PA 211 for local water help.
For phone service, check the federal Lifeline program and ask your phone or internet company about low-cost plans. If internet is needed for school, work, benefits, or telehealth, also ask your child’s school, library, or local nonprofit about device and connection help. This technology help guide may help with related needs.
Documents and information to gather
Having documents ready can keep a call or application from stalling. Do not skip asking for help just because you are missing one paper. Ask what can be submitted later.
| Item | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Photo ID | Confirms who is applying. |
| Utility bill | Shows account number, provider, balance, and shutoff notice. |
| Proof of income | Used for LIHEAP, CAP, hardship funds, and weatherization. |
| Lease or mortgage info | Shows address and whether heat is included in rent. |
| Household list | Shows adults and children living in the home. |
| Medical certificate info | Needed if shutoff would harm a seriously ill person. |
| Case numbers | Helps the utility, CAO, and PUC find prior applications. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until the shutoff day to call the utility.
- Only asking for LIHEAP and not asking the utility about CAP, hardship funds, CARES, or LIURP.
- Assuming a medical certificate cancels the bill. It may delay shutoff, but the bill still matters.
- Sending money to a person online who promises a utility grant. Use official agencies, utility companies, or known local nonprofits.
- Ignoring letters after applying. A missed proof request can delay or close a case.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Ask for the decision in writing. If you applied for LIHEAP, check the status and ask the County Assistance Office what proof is missing. If your utility account is at risk, tell the utility you applied and ask whether the shutoff can be paused while your case is reviewed.
If the problem is a bill dispute, meter issue, wrong balance, or refusal to offer a payment arrangement, contact the PUC. For legal questions about shutoff, public benefits, eviction, domestic violence, or unsafe housing, contact legal aid. The Pennsylvania legal help guide can help you find a starting point.
If the utility bill is part of a larger crisis, also look at Pennsylvania emergency help, Pennsylvania SNAP help, Pennsylvania TANF help, and Pennsylvania child care. Freeing up money in one part of the budget can help keep utility payments current.
Phone scripts
Call your utility company
“Hi, I am behind on my bill and I have children in the home. My account number is _____. Can you screen me for CAP, hardship funds, CARES, LIURP, budget billing, a payment agreement, and any program that can stop shutoff?”
Call the County Assistance Office
“I need to ask about LIHEAP or heating crisis help. My heat is [off/about to be shut off/not working], and my household has _____ people. What can I apply for now, and what proof do you need?”
Call PA 211
“I am a single mother in ZIP code _____. I need help with a [gas/electric/water/fuel] bill. My shutoff date is _____. Can you search local programs and tell me what to call first?”
Call the PUC
“I received a utility termination notice and I already contacted the company. I need help understanding my options and whether I can file a complaint. My utility is _____ and my shutoff date is _____.”
Resumen en español
Si vive en Pennsylvania y necesita ayuda con la luz, gas, calefacción, agua, teléfono o internet, empiece llamando a su compañía de servicios. Pregunte por CAP, fondos de emergencia, plan de pago, CARES y LIURP. También puede llamar al 211 o enviar su código postal por texto al 898-211 para buscar ayuda local.
LIHEAP ayuda con la calefacción, pero es un programa por temporada. En mayo de 2026, la temporada 2025-2026 está cerrada. Revise la página oficial del estado antes del próximo invierno. Si tiene aviso de corte, llame de inmediato a la compañía y, si no le ayudan, llame a la PUC al 1-800-692-7380.
FAQ
Is Pennsylvania LIHEAP open right now?
As of May 20, 2026, Pennsylvania says the 2025-2026 LIHEAP season is closed. Check the official Pennsylvania LIHEAP page before the next heating season because dates and rules can change.
Can single mothers get special utility grants in Pennsylvania?
Most utility help is based on income, bill status, household size, crisis status, or utility company rules, not single-mother status alone. Having children in the home can still matter for priority, safety, or local program screening.
What should I do first if I have a shutoff notice?
Call the utility company right away and ask for CAP, hardship funds, CARES, LIURP, a payment agreement, and medical certificate options if a serious illness is involved. If you cannot resolve it, call the PUC at 1-800-692-7380.
Does a medical certificate erase my utility bill?
No. A medical certificate may delay shutoff or help restore service for a limited time when a serious illness is involved, but the household is still responsible for the bill.
Can renters apply for LIHEAP or weatherization?
Renters can apply for LIHEAP if they meet program rules. Renters may also qualify for weatherization, but some work may require landlord permission.
Where can I find local utility help near me?
PA 211 is the best statewide starting point for local programs. Dial 211, text your zip code to 898-211, or search online by ZIP code.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org with updates.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.