Last updated: November 10, 2026
Bottom line
Montana has more than one way to get help with utility bills. LIHEAP may pay part of an eligible household’s main winter heating cost. Emergency LIHEAP may help with a serious heating crisis. Energy Share of Montana looks at one-time energy emergencies. Your utility, a local Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), a Tribal office, a city, or a charity may have other help. Single mothers, two-parent families, and other eligible households can apply.
The 2026–27 Montana LIHEAP heating application period is open now. It began October 1, 2026, and normally runs through April 30, 2027. The state has posted new 2026–27 income and resource limits. You can use the Montana online benefits portal or contact the office that serves your county or Tribal community. Weatherization and eligible heating-crisis help may be available outside the regular season.
Start with the official Montana energy page, then call your utility before a shutoff. The ASMOM LIHEAP help guide explains the national program, while the Montana help page lists other state support.
If shutoff or loss of heat is close
Call the utility or fuel vendor today. Ask for a payment arrangement, an extension, a temporary hold, budget billing, and the exact amount needed to stop disconnection or restore service. Tell the company if a household member receives public assistance, is age 62 or older, has a disability, or has an urgent medical need. These facts do not guarantee a hold, but they can affect the rules or options.
- NorthWestern Energy: Its payment assistance page lists 888-467-2669 for Montana customers.
- Montana-Dakota Utilities: Its low-income help page lists 800-638-3278.
- Local help: Dial 2-1-1. Montana 211 is free, anonymous, and available all day, every day.
- Regulated utility dispute: Call the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) at 800-646-6150 after trying to resolve the problem with the utility. The PSC assistance form explains its limits.
If the bill is part of a larger crisis, use the ASMOM Montana emergency guide while applications are pending.
What changed for 2026–27
- Heating applications reopened on October 1, 2026. The old article said the regular season had closed; that was true for summer 2026, not now.
- The state published new income and resource limits. The 2025–26 dollar amounts in the prior version no longer apply to a 2026–27 application.
- Online filing is available. Use the current Montana benefits portal, or ask your local office for paper and in-person options.
- Winter shutoff rules have a separate date. The special PSC period runs November 1 through April 1; it is not a promise that every winter shutoff will stop.
Where to start
Heat is off
Call the local LIHEAP office and say you need an emergency review. Also call the utility or fuel vendor and ask what can restore safe heat.
Shutoff is scheduled
Call the provider before the date on the notice. Ask whether it can hold the account while LIHEAP, Energy Share, or another pledge is reviewed.
You need the 2026–27 heat benefit
Apply now through the state portal or contact your local LIHEAP office. Ask which proof you need and how to check the status. If you need crisis help, say that right away.
Water or phone is behind
Contact the provider and 211. Water aid is mostly local. Lifeline may lower an eligible household’s phone or internet bill.
Keep a photo of each bill and notice. Save the case number, the time you applied, any upload receipt, and the name of the person you spoke with. Store copies of income proof, heating bills, and notices in one safe folder.
Quick reference
| Problem | Best first step | What may help | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter heating costs | Local or Tribal LIHEAP office | Payment toward the primary heat source | Regular applications normally run October 1 through April 30. |
| No heat or unsafe furnace | Emergency LIHEAP office | Fuel, temporary heat, or qualifying repair | The crisis must meet state rules and the household must qualify. |
| Energy bill emergency | Local HRDC | Energy Share or another local fund | Local committees review need and available money. |
| Regulated utility dispute | Utility, then PSC | Consumer assistance with the dispute | PSC does not regulate every provider. |
| Phone or internet cost | Lifeline | Monthly service discount | Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household. |
Montana LIHEAP status and eligibility
Montana LIHEAP helps eligible homeowners and renters pay part of the cost of their primary heating source. Funds are generally paid to the utility or fuel vendor. LIHEAP is not a full-bill payment plan, and it does not cover every charge on an electric, water, or phone bill. The amount can change based on income, family size, home type, fuel, region, and heating costs.
Applications for regular 2026–27 heating help opened October 1, 2026. Montana’s normal deadline is April 30, 2027. The official state LIHEAP page explains the season, and its online portal can accept heating applications. If you use a printed LIHEAP/Weatherization form from the state website, follow that form’s delivery instructions. Do not use the old 2025–26 application for a new season.
The chart below uses Montana DPHHS 2026–27 LIHEAP/CRF limits, not the older 2025–26 values. Income is an annual figure. The resource limit is a separate test for assets the program counts, such as money in some accounts. The state also lists different Weatherization-only income limits. This table is for LIHEAP screening, not a promise of approval.
| Household size | Annual income limit | Resource limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $36,120 | $14,717 |
| 2 | $47,234 | $22,515 |
| 3 | $58,348 | $24,017 |
| 4 | $69,463 | $25,518 |
| 5 | $80,577 | $27,019 |
| 6 | $91,691 | $28,521 |
For households of one through eight people, the state’s LIHEAP upper income test is tied to 60% of Montana’s median income. Check the full state eligibility tables for households larger than six and for Weatherization. Some households in which all members meet the state’s SNAP, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or TANF categorical rules may be financially eligible without the usual full income test. A household with other people whose income was not counted under those benefits may still face a financial test. You must still apply and answer the office’s questions about who pays for heat.
Food and cash benefits have different rules. Check the ASMOM Montana SNAP guide and Montana TANF guide if those costs are pushing the utility bill behind.
Renters may qualify, even if heating costs are part of rent. Ask the local office how it counts your arrangement and whether it needs a landlord statement. Some homes and living settings have special rules. If a fuel vendor supplies your heat, tell the office whether you use natural gas, electricity, wood, coal, heating oil, pellets, or propane. LIHEAP does not require you to be a single parent.
Emergency LIHEAP is available year-round
Montana’s posted LIHEAP guidance provides year-round emergency heating help for qualified crises that threaten health or safety. Examples can include no safe heat, very low delivered fuel, disconnection of the main heat source, or a dangerous furnace. A high bill alone may not meet the crisis definition. Ask the local office to review your exact facts and current funding.
Montana’s posted LIHEAP policy manual (labeled 2025–26) calls for action within 18 hours for a qualifying life-threatening crisis and 48 hours for another qualifying heating crisis when the household is eligible. Ask the local office if any 2026–27 instructions change how it handles a crisis. The office may arrange safe temporary heat or other steps. These time frames do not promise that the full balance will be paid or a major furnace fixed at once. Ask the agency when its crisis clock starts for your case, what proof is still needed, and what it can do to keep the home safe.
Call your local LIHEAP office and say: “I need an emergency LIHEAP review.” State whether heat is off, the type of fuel, how much remains, the shutoff date, and whether a child or adult faces an added health risk. Tell the office if you are waiting for a repair. Do not heat a room with an outdoor grill, unvented appliance, or an oven. If there is an immediate danger, call emergency services.
How to apply and find the right office
Choose the right office. Montana uses county-based local agencies and separate Tribal LIHEAP offices. The state’s local office list shows which HRDC covers your county. The Tribal office list shows the Tribal contacts; under state instructions, the Crow Reservation uses District VII HRDC. Ask the office which rules and application form apply to your home.
- Pick a route. Apply at the state online application if it works for you. Or ask the local agency for a paper form and filing instructions. The state also offers a printable combined LIHEAP/Weatherization form.
- Apply for this season. Say “2026–27 LIHEAP” and make sure the form and limits match this program year. A move during the season may call for a new application.
- Send proof on time. Ask for a clear list of missing items, the due date, and how to upload, mail, or bring them. A partial application may be delayed.
- Tell the fuel or power company. Ask whether it can hold a shutoff or note a pending payment pledge while the case is reviewed. A pledge is not always cash on the account yet.
- Save a copy. Keep the application, bills, notices, proof of delivery, and each decision letter. Check mail and the portal for questions.
If the office is hard to reach, ask Montana 211’s resource service to help find a local HRDC or other nearby support. You can also call the utility and ask for a community-assistance referral. When using paper, check the return address before sending anything.
Montana shutoff rules and utility help
Montana does not ban every winter shutoff. From November 1 through April 1, a PSC-regulated gas, underground-propane, or electric utility generally must seek PSC approval before disconnecting residential service for nonpayment. If you get a notice, act before the date shown. The PSC’s current consumer FAQ explains the limits.
The PSC winter guide says it does not approve winter nonpayment shutoffs when the account holder is at or below the federal poverty guideline, receives public assistance, or the home has a person age 62 or older or a person with a disability, when the utility has been told and any requested proof has been provided. Tell your utility before the shutoff if one of these applies. Ask for the rule and how to show proof.
Children in the home do not, by themselves, stop a winter shutoff. A medical need can lead to extra steps, but not a permanent ban. The PSC medical-service FAQ says a health professional’s certification can trigger special handling for a limited time. Ask the utility for its medical form and payment terms. Get legal help if the rules are not being followed.
The PSC does not cover everyone
The PSC does not regulate every utility. Rural electric cooperatives, city-owned systems, phone and internet providers, cable firms, and delivered propane vendors may follow different policies. The PSC assistance page lists its limits. For an unregulated provider, ask for the written shutoff policy, a supervisor, and local help through 211.
Weatherization, furnaces, and lower bills
Weatherization is different from paying a past-due bill. After a home review, approved work may include air sealing, insulation, safety checks, or heating improvements. The goal is lower energy use and a safer home. Work depends on program rules, building needs, scheduling, and funds; it is not a same-day repair service.
Montana accepts Weatherization requests during the year through the same local or Tribal offices. Renters can apply, although some work needs the owner’s permission. Weatherization-only income rules can differ from regular LIHEAP. Ask for both programs if you have high bills and an unsafe heating system. Read the federal Weatherization overview for what an energy review can include.
If heating costs are part of a housing problem, the ASMOM Montana housing guide may help with rent, shelter, or local housing contacts. The Montana health guide may help when medical costs are taking money needed for utilities.
Water, phone, and internet help
Water and sewer bills
Water help is mostly local. Call the city, water district, landlord, or provider and ask about payment plans, hardship review, leak adjustments, and local charity pledges. Dial 2-1-1 if the provider has no assistance program.
Missoula is a local example, not a statewide promise. The city’s utility assistance page says some water customers enrolled in a low-income program through the Human Resource Council may qualify for a water discount. Each city or district sets its own programs; ask whether help covers current charges, past-due bills, or both.
Phone and internet
Federal Lifeline may reduce eligible internet or bundled service by up to $9.25 a month (and some phone-only plans by up to $5.25). Households on qualifying Tribal lands may receive up to $34.25. Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household, and you must meet the program’s rules. The Tribal benefit page explains the enhanced discount.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has ended. The FCC ACP page explains that monthly discounts stopped June 1, 2024. Do not give personal or payment details to a site that claims it can enroll you in ACP now. Ask your current provider about a low-cost plan instead.
To apply for Lifeline, check the official qualifying rules, then contact a participating company. Save any approval notice and ask what service costs remain after the discount.
Documents to gather
The local office may ask for more or different proof. Apply or call even when one item is missing, then ask what other record it can accept.
| What may be needed | Examples | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Photo ID or another accepted record | Shows who is applying. |
| Household members | Names, birth dates, Social Security information when required | Sets household size and eligibility. |
| Income | Pay stubs, benefit letters, child support, or no-income statement | Used for the financial test. |
| Resources | Bank records and other requested asset proof | Montana uses a resource limit. |
| Energy account | Full bill, account number, fuel vendor, shutoff or reconnect notice | Shows the cost and emergency. |
| Housing | Lease, rent receipt, or landlord statement | Shows where you live and who pays heat. |
| Health or disability | Provider form requested by the utility or office | May support an emergency or winter-rule claim. |
Ask the office if it can use other proof when a record is missing. Do not post Social Security numbers or full bank records in a public message. If you pay heat through rent or have a shared meter, explain that when you apply.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for shutoff day. Call the provider and assistance office as soon as the notice arrives.
- Using last season’s limits or form. The 2026–27 figures are now published. Use the current state application.
- Assuming the 2026–27 window is closed. It opened October 1, 2026. Apply during the current season; do not wait until the deadline.
- Mailing Energy Share to Helena. Applications go to the local HRDC.
- Assuming winter means no shutoff. The rules are limited and cover regulated providers.
- Paying a grant fee. Do not pay someone to “unlock” LIHEAP or a guaranteed utility grant.
If help is denied, delayed, or too low
Ask for the reason in writing. Check whether the office is missing a signature, income proof, resource record, utility account, or heating information. Ask whether the record can be corrected without starting over.
The state’s posted LIHEAP policy manual (labeled 2025–26) says claimants have a reasonable period, no more than 90 days, to request a fair hearing. This is not a reason to wait: read the deadline and instructions on your notice, ask if a written request is needed, and keep proof of submission. The local office should help prepare the request when you need help. Ask the office to confirm whether a newer 2026–27 rule changes any step.
If the problem is a bill or shutoff from a regulated provider, contact the company first. If it does not resolve the issue, ask the PSC for consumer assistance. For legal information, use MontanaLawHelp shutoffs. The ASMOM Montana legal guide lists other legal-aid paths.
Keep a timeline with the date you applied, the documents sent, any office calls, and your hearing request. If a shutoff date is near, call the utility and local emergency-help office at the same time as you challenge the decision. This article gives general information, not legal advice.
Backup options while you wait
- Ask for several pledges: A utility may accept LIHEAP, Energy Share, charity aid, and your payment together.
- Call 211 again: Local church, Salvation Army, county, Tribal, and nonprofit funds can open or close during the year.
- Lower other costs: The ASMOM Montana WIC guide may help pregnant mothers and families with children under 5.
- Plan transportation: Use the Montana transportation guide if travel to an HRDC or utility office is difficult.
- Protect the agreement: Ask for payment-plan terms in writing and do not promise an amount you cannot pay.
Phone scripts
Call the utility
“I received a shutoff notice for [date]. I can pay $____. I am contacting LIHEAP and Energy Share. What payment plan, extension, hardship option, or temporary hold can you offer?”
Call the LIHEAP office
“I want to apply for 2026–27 LIHEAP, but I also have [no heat, low fuel, a shutoff, or an unsafe furnace]. Should I file online or with you? Can you screen me for emergency LIHEAP and Weatherization, and tell me what proof is due?”
Call Energy Share
“I have an energy emergency and need the application for my county. What proof does the local committee need, and where should I return the form?”
Call the PSC
“I already contacted my utility about [billing or shutoff issue], but it is not resolved. Is this provider regulated by the PSC, and can Consumer Assistance review the dispute?”
Resumen en español
En Montana, LIHEAP puede pagar parte de la calefacción de hogares que cumplen las reglas. La temporada regular 2026–27 está abierta del 1 de octubre de 2026 al 30 de abril de 2027. Hay nuevos límites de ingresos y recursos. Puede solicitar ayuda en el portal estatal o hablar con la oficina local o Tribal. La ayuda para emergencias de calefacción y Weatherization puede estar disponible todo el año.
Llame primero a la compañía de servicios. Pregunte por un plan de pago, una extensión o una pausa mientras solicita ayuda. Después, contacte la oficina local de LIHEAP, la oficina Tribal o el HRDC de su condado. Para recursos locales, marque 2-1-1.
Energy Share puede ayudar en algunas emergencias, pero no garantiza el pago. Las solicitudes se entregan al HRDC local, no a la oficina estatal en Helena. Para teléfono o internet, Lifeline puede dar un descuento mensual a hogares elegibles.
Guarde copias de la cuenta, aviso de corte, ingresos, solicitud y nombres de las personas con quienes habló. Si le niegan LIHEAP, pida la razón por escrito y las instrucciones para una audiencia.
FAQs
Is Montana LIHEAP open now?
Yes. As of October 13, 2026, regular 2026–27 heating applications are open. Montana’s normal heating season runs October 1 through April 30. Use the state benefits portal or local or Tribal LIHEAP office.
What are Montana’s 2026–27 LIHEAP income limits?
The state lists an annual LIHEAP upper income limit of $36,120 for one person, $47,234 for two, and $69,463 for four. Resource limits are separate. See the full chart above and ask the local office about your household.
Can emergency LIHEAP help outside winter?
It may. Montana’s posted rules provide year-round help for eligible households with a serious heating crisis. Call the local LIHEAP office; not every overdue bill qualifies as an emergency.
Can LIHEAP pay my entire utility bill?
Not usually. Regular LIHEAP pays part of eligible primary heat costs. The size of the payment depends on household facts and state rules. Ask the utility for a plan for the remaining balance.
Can I get LIHEAP if I rent?
Yes. Renters and owners may apply. If heat is included in rent or the account is in another person’s name, ask the office what proof is needed.
Can the power company shut me off in winter?
Sometimes. From November 1 through April 1, some regulated utilities need PSC approval for nonpayment shutoffs. Special protections can apply, but they do not cover every provider or case.
Can Energy Share help if I already got LIHEAP?
Possibly. Energy Share reviews one-time energy emergencies separately. Apply through the HRDC for your county. Any award depends on the case and available funds.
How long do I have to appeal a LIHEAP decision?
Montana’s posted LIHEAP policy allows a reasonable time of no more than 90 days to seek a fair hearing. Follow the deadline on your notice, act promptly, and keep proof of the request.
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 10, 2026; next review February 8, 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 10, 2026 Next review: February 8, 2027