Last updated: July 16, 2026
Bottom line
Pennsylvania has several real utility-help paths, but they do different jobs. LIHEAP helps with home heating during its open season. Electric and natural gas companies may offer Customer Assistance Programs, hardship funds, CARES case support, payment agreements, and energy-saving services. Water, sewer, phone, and internet programs depend on the provider.
As of July 16, 2026, the 2025–2026 LIHEAP season is closed. Cash and crisis applications ended May 8, 2026. Pennsylvania says LIHEAP usually opens again in November, but confirm the new dates before applying.
If you have a shutoff notice now, do not wait for LIHEAP to reopen. Call the utility, ask for every assistance program on the account, and contact PA 211. The national LIHEAP guide explains the federal program, and the Pennsylvania help page covers other benefits.
If service is off or may be shut off
- Call the utility today. Ask for a payment agreement, Customer Assistance Program screening, hardship funds, CARES, LIURP, and a medical certificate when serious illness is involved.
- Write down the shutoff date. Ask what amount or agreement would stop termination and request the answer in writing.
- Call PA 211. Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. The utility resource search lists local electric, gas, fuel, water, and internet help.
- Call the PUC when needed. If a PUC-regulated utility has issued a termination notice and the company did not resolve the problem, call the Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380.
Call 911 for an immediate medical, fire, carbon-monoxide, or life-support emergency. Use Pennsylvania emergency help when the utility problem is part of a larger housing, food, or safety crisis.
Where to start
Heating bill
Check LIHEAP dates, then call the heating provider. When LIHEAP is closed, ask the provider and 211 about local crisis funds.
Electric or gas shutoff
Ask the company for CAP, hardship funds, CARES, LIURP, a payment agreement, and medical-certificate information.
Water or sewer
Call the company or municipal billing office. Ask for a discount program, arrearage help, leak review, or payment plan.
Phone or internet
Check Lifeline and provider low-cost plans. The federal Affordable Connectivity Program is no longer active.
If food, cash, rent, or child care costs are making the utility bill harder to pay, also check Pennsylvania SNAP help, Pennsylvania TANF help, and Pennsylvania child care.
Quick help table
| Problem | First contact | What to request | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating bill | LIHEAP or heating provider | Cash grant, crisis grant, or local fund | State LIHEAP is closed in July 2026. |
| Electric or gas arrears | Utility company | CAP, hardship fund, CARES, LIURP | Programs have separate income and payment rules. |
| Active termination notice | Utility, then PUC | Payment agreement and complaint review | Call before the termination date. |
| Water or sewer debt | Water provider | Discount, grant, debt relief, or payment plan | Programs differ by provider and municipality. |
| High future bills | WAP or LIURP | Energy audit and home improvements | Weatherization is not an immediate bill payment. |
| Phone or internet | Lifeline or provider | Monthly discount or low-cost service | Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. |
Pennsylvania LIHEAP
LIHEAP is Pennsylvania’s main seasonal heating-assistance program. Renters and homeowners can apply when the season is open. A household does not need to receive another public benefit or have an unpaid bill to qualify for a regular cash grant.
For the 2025–2026 season, cash grants ranged from $200 to $1,000. The payment went directly to the utility or fuel provider. Crisis grants helped with heating emergencies such as a shutoff, broken heating equipment, leaking lines, no fuel, less than a 15-day fuel supply, or danger of termination.
The season ran from December 3, 2025, through May 8, 2026. The official LIHEAP information page now lists the season as closed. The public page says the program typically opens in November each year.
Current income screening table
Pennsylvania has posted the following 2026–2027 income limits, effective February 1, 2026. These figures help with planning, but they do not mean applications are open now.
| Household size | Maximum annual income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,940 |
| 2 | $32,460 |
| 3 | $40,980 |
| 4 | $49,500 |
| 5 | $58,020 |
| 6 | $66,540 |
| 7 | $75,060 |
| 8 | $83,580 |
| Each extra person | Add $8,520 |
How to prepare for reopening
When the next season opens, families can usually apply through COMPASS, by paper, or through a County Assistance Office. The LIHEAP helpline is 1-866-857-7095. After applying, use Track My Benefits to check the case.
Do not wait for November to address a current shutoff. Ask the utility and local agencies for help now, then apply for LIHEAP when the state announces the new season.
Electric and gas company programs
PUC-regulated electric and natural gas companies must offer several low-income support programs. The PUC assistance page explains the main options.
| Program | What it may do | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| CAP | Sets an affordable payment and may include arrearage treatment | “Please screen me for CAP.” |
| Hardship fund | Provides a grant when other help is not enough | “Which hardship fund serves my account?” |
| CARES | Connects customers with special hardship to case support | “Can a CARES worker review my case?” |
| LIURP | Reduces energy use through home improvements and education | “Do I qualify for LIURP?” |
| Payment agreement | Spreads a past-due balance over time | “What plan prevents termination?” |
The 2026 CAP screening limits are based on 150% of the federal poverty guideline. Monthly limits are $1,995 for one person, $2,705 for two, $3,415 for three, and $4,125 for four. Add $710 for each additional person. LIURP, CARES, hardship funds, and some company programs may use higher limits.
CAP is not always the lowest possible short-term payment for every customer, and a payment agreement does not erase debt. Ask the company to compare options and explain how missed payments would affect enrollment.
Shutoff notices and medical certificates
A termination notice is time-sensitive. Contact the utility before the date on the notice. Ask which payment, agreement, or assistance enrollment would stop the shutoff. Keep the notice, account history, confirmation numbers, and worker names.
Income-qualified customers of PUC-regulated electric, gas, and certain heat-related water utilities may have extra winter protections from December 1 through March 31. These protections are not a blanket ban for every account or provider. Municipal systems and Philadelphia Gas Works can follow different rules, so confirm your case with the company or PUC.
If termination would harm a seriously ill person in the home, ask about a medical certificate. The medical certificate guide says a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can certify the need. The first certificate can protect service for up to 30 days, with an extension of up to 60 more days in some cases.
A certificate does not erase debt
You must keep working on the bill during the protection period. If service has already been off for more than 30 days, the utility may treat the household as a new applicant rather than an existing customer.
The consumer protection guide summarizes current payment, termination, restoration, and medical rules.
Water and sewer bill help
The temporary federal LIHWAP program is not a current statewide application path. Start with the provider shown on the bill. Ask about customer assistance, debt forgiveness, leak repair, hardship grants, and payment agreements.
| Provider or area | Program to check | What it may offer |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania American Water | H2O Help to Others | Bill discounts, grants up to $500, and arrearage support |
| Aqua Pennsylvania | Aqua CAP | Monthly water or wastewater discounts and related support |
| Philadelphia | Tiered Assistance Program | Income-based monthly bills and debt forgiveness over time |
| Pittsburgh Water | Customer assistance programs | Bill discounts, hardship help, winter protection, and case support |
If your provider is not listed, call the billing office and search PA 211. If water is included in rent, ask the landlord for the bill and account history. Use Pennsylvania housing help when utility debt is tied to eviction or unsafe housing.
Phone and internet discounts
The Affordable Connectivity Program ended in 2024. The official ACP page confirms that households no longer receive the monthly ACP discount.
Lifeline remains available. Eligible households can receive up to $9.25 per month toward phone, internet, or bundled service. A household may qualify by income or through programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension.
Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. The phone and internet guide explains applications, annual recertification, and low-cost provider plans.
Weatherization and lower future bills
Pennsylvania’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps eligible households reduce energy use and improve safety. It may include air sealing, insulation, heating-system work, minor repairs needed for weatherization, and energy education.
The state weatherization program serves households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Priority can go to families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, and high energy users.
Apply through the local weatherization agency serving your county. Renters can apply, but the landlord may need to approve work. Weatherization does not provide same-day shutoff money.
If medical equipment, disability, or a child’s health raises household energy use, also review Pennsylvania health help for coverage and care-coordination paths.
Documents to gather
Call for help even when one paper is missing. Ask what substitute proof is accepted and the exact deadline.
| Document | Why it matters | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Full utility bill | Shows account, address, provider, balance, and usage | Send every page. |
| Termination notice | Shows the shutoff reason and date | Photograph it immediately. |
| Household list | Programs count adults and children in the home | Include unrelated household members when requested. |
| Income proof | Used for LIHEAP, CAP, hardship funds, and WAP | Collect wages, benefits, child support, and self-employment records. |
| Housing proof | Connects the household with the service address | Use a lease, mortgage, shelter letter, or other official mail. |
| Medical information | Supports a medical certificate request | Ask the provider to contact the utility quickly. |
| Application records | Shows what was submitted and when | Keep screenshots, fax receipts, and case numbers. |
The documents checklist can help you organize account numbers, notices, proof, and call notes.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for LIHEAP. The state program is closed in July, so use utility and local help now.
- Asking only for a payment plan. Also request CAP, hardship funds, CARES, and LIURP screening.
- Assuming winter rules apply now. July shutoff rules differ from winter protections.
- Thinking a medical certificate clears debt. It gives limited protection while the bill remains due.
- Using old LIHWAP pages. Water help now comes mainly through providers and local programs.
- Paying an application fee. Official public-benefit and utility-assistance applications do not require a fee to unlock help.
If help is denied, delayed, or disputed
Ask for the decision and reason in writing. For LIHEAP, follow the appeal instructions and deadline on the notice. Contact the County Assistance Office when the case is missing proof or has not been processed correctly.
For a utility billing, service, termination, or payment-agreement problem, contact the company first. If the problem remains, use the PUC complaint process. Customers with an active termination notice should call 1-800-692-7380 instead of waiting for an online response.
The denied benefits guide can help you track deadlines and documents. Use Pennsylvania legal help when the issue involves an improper shutoff, landlord-controlled utilities, benefits, disability access, or housing safety.
Backup options when funds are closed
- Ask the utility to compare CAP, a payment agreement, budget billing, and hardship funds.
- Call PA 211 and give the exact shutoff date, bill type, provider, county, and programs already tried.
- Contact the local agency listed in the Community Action guide for current emergency and weatherization services.
- Ask the child’s school, clinic, food pantry, or faith community about small local funds that pay the utility directly.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling the utility
“I have a termination notice dated ____. Please screen me for CAP, hardship funds, CARES, LIURP, a payment agreement, and medical protection if it applies. What must happen today to stop shutoff?”
Calling PA 211
“I live in ZIP code ____. My [electric, gas, fuel, water, or sewer] bill is past due, and the shutoff date is ____. Which local programs are accepting applications now?”
Calling the PUC
“I contacted my utility about a termination notice, but the issue is not resolved. My utility is ____, the shutoff date is ____, and I need help understanding my complaint and payment options.”
Preparing for LIHEAP
“I know LIHEAP is closed now. When the next season opens, what proof should I gather, and how can I confirm that my application and heating emergency were received?”
Resumen en español
La temporada 2025–2026 de LIHEAP en Pennsylvania cerró el 8 de mayo de 2026. Si tiene un aviso de corte ahora, llame primero a la compañía y pregunte por CAP, fondos de emergencia, CARES, LIURP y un plan de pago.
Llame al 211 o envíe su código postal al 898-211 para buscar ayuda local. Si una compañía regulada no resuelve un aviso de corte, llame a la PUC al 1-800-692-7380.
Guarde la factura completa, aviso de corte, prueba de ingresos, lista de personas en la casa, documentos de vivienda y números de caso. Un certificado médico puede retrasar el corte, pero no elimina la deuda.
FAQs
Is Pennsylvania LIHEAP open now?
No. The 2025–2026 cash and crisis season ended May 8, 2026. Pennsylvania says LIHEAP typically opens again in November, but confirm the new dates.
What should I do with a shutoff notice?
Call the utility immediately and ask for CAP, hardship funds, CARES, LIURP, a payment agreement, and medical protection. Call the PUC if the company does not resolve it.
Does a medical certificate erase the bill?
No. It may delay termination or help restore service for a limited period when serious illness is involved, but the customer remains responsible for the balance.
Can renters receive utility help?
Yes. Renters can qualify for LIHEAP and other programs when they meet the rules. Weatherization work may require the landlord’s permission.
Is there help with water bills?
Yes, but programs depend on the provider. Pennsylvania American Water, Aqua, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other systems have separate discounts, grants, or payment plans.
Is ACP still paying internet benefits?
No. The Affordable Connectivity Program ended in 2024. Lifeline may still provide an eligible household with a monthly phone or internet discount.
Review dates
Last updated: July 16, 2026
Next review: October 16, 2026
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 July 16, 2026, next review October 16, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.