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Utilities and phone
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) (LIHEAP) in Kansas
Kansas calls its LIHEAP the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, or LIEAP.
It pays a one-time benefit each year toward winter heating bills, and you apply during a short window in late winter, online or on paper through the Department for Children and Families. If everyone in your home is 62 or older and your only income is Social Security or KPERS, you may stay eligible for three years without reapplying.
How to apply in Kansas
- In person
- During the application period, ask your local DCF Service Center for a paper application. DCF usually holds in-person LIEAP application events around the state for people who need help filling out the form, and posts the locations when the next period is set.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Kansas
| Monthly gross income limit, one person (table on the DCF page in October 2026; the page doesn't name the season) | $1,995 a month for one person (150% of the federal poverty level) |
|---|---|
| Monthly gross income limit, two people (same table) | $2,705 a month for two people |
| Whose name must be on the bill | An adult in the home must be named on the bill for the main heating source. Renters whose heat is included in the rent, or owed on top of it, may also qualify. |
| What to send | Proof of income for everyone in the home, copies of all fuel bills, and your rental agreement if you live in subsidized housing or your heat is in the rent. All adults in the home must sign the application. |
Source: Kansas Department for Children and Families (source 1)
What you may get
| Heating benefit (FY 2026 state plan; 2026–27 amounts not posted) | $130 to $4,301, based on income, household size, type of home and heating fuel, and how much federal money arrives |
|---|---|
| Winter crisis help (FY 2026 state plan) | Up to $4,301 during the application period, for homes with a shut-off notice, less than 15% fuel left in the tank, or no heat |
Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 2)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Application period | The 2026 period has ended and DCF had not announced the 2027 dates when we checked. In 2026 it ran Jan. 20 to March 31. Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 2) |
|---|---|
| Older adults | No early sign-up; Kansas treats everyone who applies during the period the same. Homes where everyone is 62 or older and the only income is Social Security or KPERS may stay eligible for three years, and DCF tells them when to reapply. Source: Kansas Department for Children and Families (source 1) |
How Kansas is different
Where Kansas's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Homes where everyone is 62 or older and the only income is Social Security or KPERS may stay eligible for three years without a new application
- Benefits are spread so that everyone who applies and qualifies during the period gets one; DCF says Kansas has never run out of LIEAP money before processing every application received in the season
- If money is left, DCF may send a second, supplemental payment at the end of the season to people who already got a benefit
Source: Kansas Department for Children and Families (source 1)
Good to know
- If you still need help after LIEAP, try United Way's 211 or 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373).
- The state's Cold Weather Rule helps keep electric and gas service on in winter if you make payment arrangements with a utility regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission (1-800-662-0027).
Source: Kansas Department for Children and Families (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Kansas
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Kansas
Help with heating and cooling bills in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- 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
- Kansas Department for Children and Families, Energy Assistance (LIEAP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, Kansas LIHEAP Plan, FY 2026 (copy posted by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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