Last updated: November 6, 2026
Bottom line
If you are behind on electricity, natural gas, propane, wood, or another home-energy bill in Mississippi, start with your utility company and the Mississippi Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is managed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) through local Community Action Agencies.
Start a Community Services pre-application through the official Access MS application portal. Choose “Community Services.” Your local Community Action Agency (CAA) will contact you about an appointment and documents. You can also call 800-421-0762 or use the MDHS LIHEAP county finder to reach the agency for your county.
Applying does not automatically stop a disconnection. Call the utility before the shutoff date and ask about a delayed payment plan, extension, medical protection, hardship fund, and the proof it needs from LIHEAP. ASMOM’s national LIHEAP guide explains the program, while the Mississippi assistance guide covers other household needs.
Important: The pre-application is not the same as a completed or approved LIHEAP case. It will not, by itself, stop a shutoff. Ask the utility exactly what payment, written pledge, or other proof it needs today.
If shutoff is close or service is already off
- Call the utility now. Ask for the exact amount required to stop disconnection or restore service. Request a payment arrangement, extension, medical certificate process, and any company assistance fund.
- Apply for LIHEAP. Mark Community Services when applying. Tell the local agency that you have a shutoff notice, empty fuel tank, unsafe temperature, or disconnected service.
- Call Mississippi 211. Dial 211 for referrals to local charities, churches, food programs, shelter, and other crisis services. The Mississippi 211 page explains the statewide service.
- Use emergency services when needed. Call 911 when a loss of power, heat, cooling, or medical equipment creates immediate danger.
The Mississippi emergency guide may help when the utility crisis is connected to food, housing, transportation, or family safety.
Keep a short record: write down the shutoff date, minimum payment, name of the utility employee, CAA contact, whether a written LIHEAP pledge has been sent, and when the utility will review it. For an emergency due to electrical equipment or unsafe indoor temperature, ask a clinician or emergency service for help; do not rely on a pending aid application for health protection.
What this update changes
MDHS now directs LIHEAP applicants to the Access MS common portal. Some older utility-company instructions still point to the former Virtual ROMA address. Follow the current MDHS Community Services instructions if a link does not work.
The posted income amounts below come from MDHS’s 2026 material, which uses an October 2025 income chart. Federal income guidance can change for a new program year. Ask your CAA to check the rate in force for your application date rather than treating a past chart as a promise of eligibility. Mississippi Power also now highlights its Single Stop benefits screener alongside its energy aid programs.
Where to start in Mississippi
Electric or gas shutoff
Call the utility and apply for LIHEAP on the same day. Ask what proof of an agency pledge the company will accept.
Propane, wood, or fuel
Tell the local agency how much fuel remains and whether the household has another safe heating or cooling source.
High bills every month
Ask about weatherization, budget billing, an energy review, and repairs that may lower long-term energy use.
Water or phone bill
Contact the provider directly. LIHEAP is mainly for home energy, while water help is local and Lifeline covers eligible phone or internet service.
Your local Community Action Agency may also have Community Services Block Grant help for rent, education, work, or other basic needs. Use the official Community Services page to identify the agency serving your area. ASMOM’s Mississippi community guide lists more local starting points.
Quick reference
| Problem | Best first contact | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past-due energy bill | LIHEAP and utility | Can I get regular bill help and a payment plan? | Funding and appointment space can be limited. |
| Shutoff or no service | Utility and local agency | Can my case be screened as an energy crisis? | An application alone may not stop shutoff. |
| Life-threatening medical need | Utility and doctor | What written medical certification is required? | The protection delays shutoff; it does not erase the bill. |
| High energy use | Weatherization provider | Can my home receive an energy assessment? | Eligible households may wait for service. |
| Water bill | Local water provider | Is there a payment plan, leak adjustment, or hardship rate? | No single statewide water program covers every system. |
| Phone or internet | Lifeline | Do I qualify through income or another benefit? | Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household. |
Mississippi LIHEAP energy assistance
LIHEAP helps eligible Mississippi households with home energy costs. The program may pay an energy vendor for electricity, natural gas, propane or butane, wood, kerosene, coal, and other approved energy needs. Depending on the household and available funds, help may also include deposits, reconnection fees, heating or cooling equipment, fans, blankets, or other energy-related items.
MDHS says LIHEAP operates in all 82 counties when funds are available. Payments are generally made directly to the utility or energy vendor, not issued as unrestricted cash to the applicant.
Priority goes to qualifying vulnerable households, including those with an older adult, a person with a disability, or a child age 5 or younger. Priority does not guarantee assistance or immediate service.
Regular and crisis help
Mississippi’s current LIHEAP policy allows assistance throughout the year when funds are available. A crisis can include disconnected service, a threatened shutoff, recent income loss, an unexpected major expense, unsafe heating or cooling conditions, or another documented emergency.
The state policy distinguishes life-threatening and non-life-threatening crises. The timing standard begins after a complete application is approved, not when the pre-application is first submitted. Give the agency all requested records quickly and keep calling the utility while the decision is pending.
Appointment timing
MDHS says households with an older adult, a person with a disability, or a child age 5 or younger should generally receive an appointment within 30 business days of the pre-application. Other applicants should generally receive an appointment within 45 days. Verified emergencies have faster appointment standards.
LIHEAP is not a special grant just for single mothers. Renters may qualify, but if the bill is in a landlord’s name, MDHS asks for proof that the renter is responsible, such as the lease or a notarized landlord statement. The MDHS site also lists citizenship or legal-permanent-resident rules for applicants. Ask the local CAA how household-member status, a child’s status, or a mixed-status household affects a case; do not guess from a chart.
Urgent case vs. routine appointment: Tell the CAA right away if there is an immediate risk to life or health. The agency must first review the case under its current crisis rules. Do not read routine appointment windows as the response deadline for an approved, documented crisis.
2026 LIHEAP income limits
Mississippi sets its regular LIHEAP income test at 60% of state median income. The amounts here are from MDHS’s posted 2026 figures, based on a chart effective October 2025. They are reference figures, not confirmed new-year limits for October 2026 or later. Ask your CAA for the rule and income period used on the day you apply. The agency counts gross household income under program rules, which may differ from a family’s take-home pay.
| Household size | MDHS published 2026 annual ceiling | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $26,740 | Report income for everyone the agency counts in the household. |
| 2 | $34,968 | Bring current proof, even when income recently changed. |
| 3 | $43,196 | Do not subtract expenses before the agency reviews them. |
| 4 | $51,424 | Ask how irregular or self-employment income is calculated. |
| 5 | $59,651 | Ask the local agency for the limit for a larger household. |
| 6 | $67,879 | Confirm larger-household figures and the current program year with the CAA. |
The MDHS utility flyer shows these figures and separate 200%-of-poverty weatherization and 125%-of-poverty Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) benchmarks. Those programs do not have the same income test. Do not use the LIHEAP number to decide whether you qualify for SNAP, TANF, or child care help.
How to apply for LIHEAP
- Submit the pre-application. Use Access MS and select Community Services. If you cannot apply online, call 800-421-0762 or your county CAA to ask for help submitting it.
- Watch for the appointment notice. MDHS says the local agency sends the appointment date by mail or email. Keep your address, email, and phone current.
- Complete the full application. Attend the agency appointment and provide the required household, income, residence, and energy records.
- Ask about crisis status. Show the shutoff notice, proof that service is off, empty-fuel information, or medical documentation.
- Get the decision in writing. Save the approval, denial, pledge, and any follow-up request.
- Check the utility account. Confirm that the payment or pledge is posted to the correct account.
Do not assume the utility knows you applied. Call both your provider and CAA, especially when a disconnect date is near. MDHS says an appointment letter comes by mail or email. The normal target is within 30 business days for a household with an older adult, disability, or child age 5 or younger, and within 45 days for others. These are appointment targets, not payment promises; urgent cases need separate screening. If you do not get a notice or cannot use the website, call the CAA.
MDHS asks for ID for adults, Social Security information for household members, proof of income, address, and bills. If a bill is in your landlord’s name, bring the lease or ask what landlord statement the CAA accepts. Keep the agency letter, the completed application date, your account number, and proof of any payment. After approval, confirm the provider posts the credit to the right account.
Documents to gather
Requirements can differ by agency and household. Apply even if one item is missing, then ask what substitute proof is accepted. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help you organize the file.
| Information | Possible proof | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Photo ID or another accepted record | Confirms the adult applicant |
| Household | Names, ages, Social Security information, school or custody records | Establishes household size and priority status |
| Income | Pay stubs, award letters, unemployment, self-employment records | Used to determine financial eligibility |
| Residence | Lease, mortgage record, deed, shelter letter, or host statement | Shows where the household lives |
| Energy account | Full bill with account number, service address, and balance | Lets the agency verify the vendor and amount |
| Crisis | Shutoff notice, no-service record, low-fuel proof, medical statement | Supports a request for crisis processing |
| Bill in landlord’s name | Lease showing you pay energy, or accepted landlord statement | Shows household energy responsibility when the account is not yours |
If the household has no current income, ask the agency whether an affidavit and proof of the recent income loss are required. Do not create or alter documents.
Mississippi shutoff protections
The Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) publishes a Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights for residential customers of utilities under its jurisdiction. The protections may not apply in exactly the same way to every municipal provider, cooperative, water association, or other utility.
- Five-day written notice: Covered utilities must generally give written notice at least five days before disconnection.
- Delayed payment plan: Electric and natural gas customers may ask to negotiate a delayed payment plan under the company’s terms.
- Medical protection: A licensed doctor’s written notice that disconnection would create a life-threatening situation can protect service from nonpayment shutoff for 60 days.
- Weather protection: Covered electric or natural gas service cannot be disconnected for nonpayment on certain freeze-warning days. Electric service also has protection on qualifying excessive-heat-warning days.
- Approved LIHEAP pledge: Service may be protected when LIHEAP has approved an amount equal to the delinquent balance, payment is due within 30 days, and the utility receives notice of the approval.
- Third-party notice: A customer may name another person to receive past-due and disconnection notices. That person does not become responsible for the bill.
Call the utility first and record the representative’s name, date, and answer. If the issue is not resolved, use the PSC utility complaint form. For legal questions about a shutoff or unsafe housing, see ASMOM’s Mississippi legal guide.
Other PSC rights that may matter
- Mid-winter protection: The PSC describes a special December 1–April 1 mid-winter rule for participating electric and gas customers. This is not a ban on all winter shutoffs. Ask the regulated utility how to enroll and which payments are required.
- Medical letter: The 60-day rule calls for written certification by a medical doctor licensed in Mississippi or an adjoining state that shutoff would cause a life-threatening situation. Send it to the utility and confirm receipt before the disconnect date.
- Extreme weather: The PSC rules use a National Weather Service freeze warning or excessive heat warning for the county as of 8 a.m. on the scheduled shutoff day; heat applies to electricity.
- Restoration: After paying the required balance, covered customers normally have a right to prompt restoration by the first business day, subject to the PSC’s stated exceptional conditions.
PSC rules apply to utilities under PSC regulation. Municipal systems, electric co-ops, and other providers may use different rules. Ask the provider for its own written shutoff policy. If it says the PSC does not regulate your account, ask which board, city office, or state body handles complaints.
Utility company payment programs
Company programs have their own rules and may change. Ask the provider to review every option available on your account.
| Provider | Current options | Contact step |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Power | Project SHARE, Bill Discount, Bill Extender, LIHEAP referral, and Single Stop screening | Use the financial assistance page or call 800-532-1502 |
| Entergy Mississippi | Payment extensions, deferred arrangements, LIHEAP referrals, and Power to Care for eligible older or disabled customers | Use the Entergy bill toolkit or call 1-800-ENTERGY |
| Atmos Energy | Payment solutions, LIHEAP referrals, and Sharing the Warmth through partner agencies | Use the Atmos assistance page |
| Co-op or municipal provider | Local payment plan, due-date change, hardship fund, medical process, or charity referral | Ask customer service for the written hardship and disconnection policies |
Mississippi Power says Project SHARE may provide up to $500 in annual help to eligible residential customers with demonstrated financial need. Its Bill Discount may help customers who receive Supplemental Security Income or TANF. Availability and approval are not guaranteed.
Entergy’s Power to Care is mainly for eligible older adults and people with disabilities. Other Entergy customers should still ask about extensions, deferred arrangements, LIHEAP, and local assistance.
For Mississippi Power Project SHARE, the current company page directs applicants to Catholic Charities at 228-701-0555 and lists up to $500 per year for eligible residential customers with financial need. Bill Extender moves the due date to the fifth of the month for qualifying accounts; it is not a bill waiver. The Single Stop announcement explains the company’s newer screening tool.
Entergy’s customer contact page lists 800-368-3749 for billing support. Its Mississippi bill toolkit says eligible customers can request an extension or a deferred plan that may spread the balance over as many as four monthly bills. Missing the agreed due date can end the protection, so get the terms in writing. The Power to Care program helps qualifying older or disabled customers through partner nonprofits, not all customers.
For Atmos, its bill assistance page explains interest-free installment options and Sharing the Warmth referrals. Call your gas provider about the plan available in your Mississippi service area rather than assuming a program offered in another state applies.
Weatherization can lower future bills
Mississippi’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps eligible households reduce energy waste and improve health and safety. Possible work includes insulation, air-sealing measures, heating duct improvements, furnace repair or replacement, and energy education. The work depends on an assessment of the home.
The MDHS weatherization page shows a 200%-of-poverty income standard and posted annual figures of $31,300 for one person, $42,300 for two, $53,300 for three, and $64,300 for four. These figures reflect the posted 2025-based chart. Ask the local CAA whether the limits have been revised for 2026–27 before relying on them.
Weatherization is not a quick shutoff program. Approved households may wait for an audit and available crews. Renters can ask whether the property is eligible and what landlord permission is needed. The Mississippi housing guide may help when poor housing conditions are part of the utility problem.
Weatherization may give preference to households with an adult age 60 or older, a disability, a young child, or high energy bills. A household may still have to wait for an inspection or contractors. It is separate from emergency bill help; ask about both if you need assistance now and lower bills later.
Water, phone, internet, and disaster help
Water bills
Mississippi does not have one permanent statewide water-assistance program for every household. Call the water provider and ask about an installment plan, leak adjustment, hardship rate, due-date change, and local charity referral.
JXN Water says a Jackson account holder receiving SNAP may qualify for reduced rates. Use the JXN Water SNAP form or call 601-500-5200. Rules for other water systems differ.
Phone and internet
The federal Lifeline program offers a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on eligible phone, internet, or bundled service. A household may qualify through income or participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or qualifying housing assistance. Only one discount is permitted per household. Apply through Lifeline Support.
Storm or disaster costs
After a federally declared disaster, use Disaster Assistance to check whether Individual Assistance is open. Disaster aid is separate from LIHEAP and depends on the event and location. Local agencies may also use LIHEAP for certain energy-related disaster needs when program rules and funding allow.
The rural Mississippi guide may help when reaching an office or finding a provider is difficult. For food costs that compete with utility bills, use the Mississippi SNAP guide.
JXN Water’s published rate schedule lists lower availability charges for its SNAP customer classification. This is for qualifying JXN Water account holders, not every Mississippi water system. JXN Water’s customer care line is 601-500-5200; ask how to submit proof and when the reduction takes effect.
For Lifeline, the program FAQ distinguishes an ordinary discount of up to $9.25 for internet or bundled service from up to $5.25 for phone-only service. Eligible Tribal households may receive a higher amount. Do not confuse Lifeline with the former Affordable Connectivity Program, whose discounts are no longer funded.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until shutoff day. Some payment arrangements must be made before service is disconnected.
- Assuming the pre-application is complete. The local agency still needs an appointment and supporting documents.
- Thinking an application stops shutoff. Ask what formal pledge or approval the utility requires.
- Missing the appointment. Contact the agency immediately when you need to reschedule.
- Using only one program. Combine LIHEAP with a utility payment plan, 211 referrals, and other household benefits.
- Paying an application fee. LIHEAP and legitimate public-benefit applications do not require a fee to reveal assistance.
Do not give a caller your payment card, account login, or Social Security number just because they claim they can “release a grant.” Use the utility number printed on your bill or its official site. Keep personal documents in the official application system or with the CAA, not a random social-media form.
If LIHEAP is denied, delayed, or out of funds
Ask for the decision and reason in writing. Mississippi’s January 2026 LIHEAP policy gives applicants the right to challenge a denial, delay, cancellation, or other adverse decision.
The January 2026 MDHS policy gives a usual 30-calendar-day window for an agency-level appeal after a denial or adverse action. The policy mentions the older Virtual ROMA portal for appeal filing, while the current public MDHS LIHEAP page links to Access MS for applications. Because the filing routes differ, contact the CAA immediately and ask where and how to file an appeal now. Do not miss the 30-day deadline while waiting for a website to work. Ask for written filing instructions and proof of receipt. The policy also describes a separate MDHS fair-hearing step after agency review.
Lack of available county funding is not treated the same as an eligibility denial and is not subject to a fair hearing under the current policy. The agency should refer applicants elsewhere and maintain a list for possible future funding. Ask whether you are on that list and when to check back.
Use ASMOM’s benefits problem guide to organize notices and calls. If the household needs temporary cash or child care while waiting, also check Mississippi TANF help and Mississippi child care.
If you are turned away, ask whether the reason is missing records, income, a rule affecting your household, or exhausted county funds. Those are different problems. An appeal may help correct an error, but it cannot create funds. If you need legal help with a benefits dispute, seek qualified assistance and bring the written notice. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Phone scripts
Calling the utility
“Hi, I have a shutoff notice dated [date]. I can pay [amount] today, and I am applying for LIHEAP. Please check whether I qualify for an extension, delayed payment plan, medical protection, hardship fund, or another option. What must happen today to keep service on?”
Calling the Community Action Agency
“Hi, I submitted a Community Services pre-application on [date]. My service is [off or scheduled for shutoff on date]. Can you confirm my status, tell me what documents are needed, and screen the case for crisis processing?”
Calling Mississippi 211
“I live in [county or ZIP code]. I need help with [electric, gas, propane, or water] by [date]. I already contacted the utility and LIHEAP. Which local organizations have utility funds or other help open now?”
Calling the PSC
“I tried to resolve a billing or disconnection problem with [utility]. The company said [answer]. Can you explain whether the provider is under PSC jurisdiction and how I can file a complaint?”
Resumen en español
Para solicitar ayuda con la electricidad, gas, propano u otro costo de energía en Mississippi, use el portal de Servicios Comunitarios de MDHS, llame al 800-421-0762, o contacte la agencia de acción comunitaria de su condado. También llame a la compañía antes de la fecha de corte.
Pregunte por un plan de pago, una extensión, protección médica y fondos de emergencia. Una solicitud de LIHEAP no detiene automáticamente el corte. Guarde la factura completa, el aviso de desconexión, comprobantes de ingresos y todos los números de confirmación.
Si le niegan LIHEAP, pida la razón por escrito. La apelación inicial normalmente debe presentarse dentro de 30 días. Para ayuda local adicional, marque 211.
Los montos de ingresos publicados por MDHS pueden cambiar. Confirme el límite vigente con su agencia local. Una solicitud pendiente no suspende por sí sola el corte del servicio. Si recibe una carta de rechazo, revise la fecha límite de apelación y pida ayuda para presentarla.
FAQs about Mississippi utility help
Does Mississippi LIHEAP give cash directly to families?
LIHEAP assistance is generally paid directly to the energy vendor on behalf of an approved household. The applicant usually receives the help as a credit, pledge, fuel delivery, or approved energy-related service.
Can applying for LIHEAP stop a shutoff?
Applying alone may not stop disconnection. Contact the utility and ask what approval or pledge it requires. PSC rules may protect service after LIHEAP approves enough to cover the delinquent balance and notifies the provider.
What is the LIHEAP income limit for a family of three?
MDHS’s posted 2026 chart lists $43,196 a year for three people. It was based on figures effective October 2025. Ask your Community Action Agency for the income limit used on your application date; do not treat the older chart as final for a new program year.
Can renters receive utility assistance?
Renters may qualify when they meet program rules. When the bill is included in rent or is not in the applicant’s name, ask the Community Action Agency what landlord or account documentation is accepted.
What medical shutoff protection is available?
For covered utilities, a licensed doctor’s written certification that disconnection would create a life-threatening situation can delay a nonpayment shutoff for 60 days. The unpaid balance remains due.
Is there help with Mississippi water bills?
Water assistance is mainly local. Ask the provider about payment plans, leak adjustments, hardship rates, and charities. JXN Water has a reduced-rate process for qualifying SNAP account holders.
How do I appeal a LIHEAP denial?
Ask for the written notice and file promptly. The January 2026 policy generally allows 30 calendar days for an agency-level appeal. Contact your CAA for the current submission route because some policy instructions still name the older portal. Ask about MDHS fair-hearing rights if the first appeal fails.
Where do I apply for Mississippi LIHEAP now?
Start with the current Access MS Common Web Portal and select Community Services. You still need a local CAA appointment and documents to finish the application. Call 800-421-0762 if you cannot get started.
Does Mississippi stop all utility shutoffs in winter?
No. PSC-regulated electric and gas customers may have weather protections and a special mid-winter rule with conditions. Those protections are not a statewide ban for every utility. Ask your provider which rules apply to your account.
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 November 6, 2026; next review February 4, 2027.
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.
Last updated: November 6, 2026 Next review: February 4, 2027