Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Idaho. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Utilities and phone
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Idaho
Idaho's LIHEAP makes one payment a year toward your heating bill, and a separate crisis payment if your utilities are about to be shut off or you have less than two days of fuel left.
Homes with someone elderly or disabled can apply starting in October, a month before everyone else. Community action agencies take applications in every county.
How to apply in Idaho
- In person
- Contact the community action agency that serves your county; the Department of Health and Welfare's heating assistance page has a 'Find an agency' list. You can download the state's Application for Energy Assistance from the same page.
Who may qualify in Idaho
| Monthly income limit, one person (effective Oct. 1, 2025; 2026–27 figure not posted) | $2,736.25 a month for one person |
|---|---|
| Monthly income limit, two people (effective Oct. 1, 2025) | $3,578.17 a month for two people |
| Other rules | Live in Idaho, have at least one household member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, show proof of identity, and show proof of your heating costs |
What you may get
| Seasonal heating payment (FY 2026 range from the LIHEAP Clearinghouse) | $122 to $1,285, one payment per program year Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 3) |
|---|---|
| Crisis heating payment | One payment to keep service on or restore it, for homes facing disconnection, with a past-due bill, or with less than 48 hours of bulk fuel. Agencies aim to resolve a crisis within 48 hours. Only one crisis payment in 12 months. |
| Crisis payment, maximum (FY 2026, from the LIHEAP Clearinghouse) | Up to $1,500 Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 3) |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| When to apply for seasonal heating help | October for homes with an elderly or disabled member or a child under 6; November for everyone else. Funding is first come, first served. |
|---|---|
| Crisis help | Year-round, while funds last |
| Early sign-up for older adults | Homes with an elderly member can apply starting in October, a month before the general sign-up in November |
How Idaho is different
Where Idaho's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Homes with an elderly or disabled member, or a child under 6, can apply a month early, in October
- Crisis help is available all year, limited to one crisis payment in 12 months
Good to know
- The seasonal payment depends on household income, where you live in the state, who is in your family, and what you pay for heat.
- The program year runs October to September, and each household can get one seasonal payment a year.
- Payments go straight to your utility or heating bill.
Free help
Free help with this in Idaho
Idaho Commission on Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Idaho
Help with heating and cooling bills in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, About Heating Assistance (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Apply for Heating Assistance (page last updated April 9, 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, Idaho state profile (last updated April 20, 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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