State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
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Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Alabama
Alabama's LIHEAP helps pay heating bills in winter and cooling bills in summer, with extra crisis help when the weather puts someone's health at risk.
You apply through the community action agency for your county, not the state office, and homes with someone 60 or older get early application times.
How to apply in Alabama
- In person
- Contact the community action agency that serves your county. ADECA's LIHEAP page has a map and a contact list of the 18 local agencies, with their phone numbers, and many of them let you book an appointment online. ADECA itself does not take applications or schedule appointments.
Who may qualify in Alabama
| Monthly income limit, one person (program year 2027, from the state's draft 2027 plan) | $1,995 a month for one person (150% of the federal poverty level) |
|---|---|
| Monthly income limit, two people (rules in effect from Oct. 1, 2025; the 2027 figure is not posted yet) | $2,644 a month for two people |
| Which income counts | Gross income of everyone in the home for the month before the month you apply |
| Whose name must be on the bill | The head of the household or their spouse. Bring a recent heating or cooling bill that shows the account number. |
| What to bring | Proof of last month's income for everyone in the home, Social Security cards for everyone, and the applicant's photo ID |
Source: Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (source 2)
What you may get
| Heating help, estimated range (program year 2027 draft plan) | $280 to $580. Local agencies may add $50 for a home with high energy needs, such as one with an older adult. |
|---|---|
| Cooling help, estimated range (program year 2027 draft plan) | $320 to $520 |
| Crisis help, maximum (program year 2027 draft plan) | Up to $1,100 in winter and up to $990 in summer, when lack of heat or cooling would likely endanger someone's health (with a doctor's or nurse's statement), after a declared disaster, or for a home with a child under 18 |
Source: Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (source 2)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Heating season (the draft 2027 plan still shows last season's dates) | Oct. 1 to April 30 in 2025–26. Winter 2026–27 dates were not posted when we checked; ask your local agency. |
|---|---|
| Cooling season (2026 dates shown in the draft 2027 plan) | May 1 to Sept. 30 |
| Early sign-up for older adults | Homes with someone 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under 18 get early application periods and set times when only they may apply. Some agencies hold appointments for older adults on set days at senior centers. |
Source: Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (source 2)
How Alabama is different
Where Alabama's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Households with someone 60 or older get early application periods and set times to apply
- Local agencies may add $50 to the heating benefit for homes with high energy needs, including older members
Source: Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (source 2)
Good to know
- ADECA does not take applications. For help, the status of an application, or a complaint, contact the community action agency in your county.
- How much you get depends on available federal funds, your household's gross income and size, and the fuel you use. You pay any balance the benefit does not cover.
Source: Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Alabama
Alabama Department of Senior Services
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Alabama
Help with heating and cooling bills in another state
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Sources
- Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, FY 2027 LIHEAP State Plan (draft) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, LIHEAP Summarized Eligibility Requirements, effective October 1, 2025 (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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