ENERGY ASSISTANCE · WINTER 2026-27
LIHEAP 2026-2027 Open Dates by State
Each state opens LIHEAP heating help on its own date, and no national table for this winter has been published yet. New Jersey opened on October 1, 2026. Pennsylvania is scheduled to open on November 2, 2026. Virginia’s Fuel Assistance window is open now and closes on the second Friday of November (November 13, 2026). Below are the states we have confirmed on the agency’s own page; we add more as states post their dates.
States with confirmed 2026-27 dates
| State | When you can apply | Apply, check status, phone |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Open now: October 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, first come, first served (NJ DCA FFY 2027 fact sheet). The same application covers the Universal Service Fund (USF). | energyassistance.nj.gov or a local agency in your county; 1-800-510-3102 |
| Pennsylvania | Opens November 2, 2026 (PA DHS: “scheduled to open”). PA DHS says households that got LIHEAP last season are sent a notice to apply early. | Apply on COMPASS; status at trackmybenefits.pa.gov; hotline 1-866-857-7095 (TTY 711) |
| Virginia | Fuel Assistance open now, closes soon: second Tuesday of October to second Friday of November (VDSS), which is October 13 to November 13, 2026. Crisis Assistance: November 1 to March 15 for equipment and security deposits; January to March 15 for fuel and utility bills. Cooling: June 15 to August 17. | CommonHelp, a paper form, or 855-635-4370 |
| Wisconsin | Year-round applications; the heating season for the one-time regular payment is October 1 through May 15 (Wisconsin Home Energy Plus). Applications outside the season are considered for other help if funds are available. | energybenefit.wi.gov |
| Florida | No 2026-27 season dates posted. Florida’s LIHEAP site, run for FloridaCommerce, says to apply online, that eligibility for crisis awards resets on October 1, and that you may be able to apply more than once a year depending on your county’s funds (Florida LIHEAP FAQ). | Apply and check status at floridaliheap.com, or through your county’s local provider |
A date on this page is the date the agency gives. Funding is limited and often first come, first served, so applying early matters. Benefits are usually paid to your utility or fuel company.
Your state is not listed?
We list a state only after reading its 2026-27 dates on the agency’s own page. Until then, use the LIHEAP Clearinghouse program dates table, but note it still shows last winter’s (FY 2026) planned dates and was last updated November 25, 2025. Your state agency or local community action agency has the current dates. ACF’s LIHEAP page explains that states, tribes and territories run the program.
To see who may qualify and what LIHEAP pays for, read our LIHEAP guide.
What we could not verify
- New York: OTDA’s HEAP page did not load for us on October 15, 2026, so New York’s dates are not listed yet.
- Closing dates for Pennsylvania: PA DHS gives the 2026-27 opening date but not yet a closing date.
- Florida: we found no FloridaCommerce page with 2026-27 season dates.
- Federal funding: how much each state receives for this winter can change the length of the season.
Sources
- New Jersey DCA: LIHEAP/USF FFY 2027 fact sheet
- Pennsylvania DHS: Apply for LIHEAP
- Virginia DSS: Energy Assistance Program
- Wisconsin Home Energy Plus
- Florida LIHEAP (FloridaCommerce) FAQ
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse: state program dates (FY 2026, updated Nov. 25, 2025)
Each state page was read twice on October 15, 2026, once by direct download and once in a browser.
Check what else your household may qualify for
Energy help is one of several programs. See SNAP, Medicaid and more in a few questions.
Open the benefits checker →