State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Mississippi. 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 Mississippi
Mississippi's LIHEAP helps pay heating bills from October through April and cooling bills from May through September, and its Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) helps with energy emergencies all year.
You start with a short application online at Access MS, then finish it at an appointment with your local community action agency. Households with someone 60 or older get appointments sooner and can handle later requests by phone.
How to apply in Mississippi
- By phone
- 1-800-421-0762
- In person
- Submit a pre-application on Access MS and check "Community Services." Your local community action agency then mails or emails you an appointment, and you finish the application in person there. MDHS's LIHEAP page has a county lookup for your agency.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Mississippi
| Income limit (FY 2027 state plan; dollar amounts not posted on the state site) | At or below 60% of state median income for your household size |
|---|---|
| Who pays the bill | You must have an energy bill due to an energy company or landlord |
| What to bring | Photo ID for everyone over 18, Social Security numbers for everyone in the home, and proof of income, where you live and your utility bill. Your appointment notice lists exactly what to bring. |
What you may get
| Heating or cooling benefit (FY 2027 state plan) | Up to $1,500, based on income, household size and heating fuel. A household can't get more than $1,500 in a program year. |
|---|---|
| Crisis help, ECIP (FY 2027 state plan) | Up to $1,500, all year, for households that had an energy crisis in the last 30 days. A life-threatening crisis must be resolved within 18 hours of an approved application. |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Heating help (FY 2027) | Oct. 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, while funds last |
|---|---|
| Cooling help (FY 2027) | May 1 to Sept. 30, 2027 |
| Crisis help (FY 2027) | Year-round |
| Older adults (FY 2027 state plan) | Homes with someone 60 or older are prioritized for appointments. They are seen in person once a year and can make later requests by phone, and agencies may send them December appointment notices to be seen in January, after new Social Security letters arrive. |
How Mississippi is different
Where Mississippi's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Households with someone 60 or older get appointments within 30 business days instead of 45
- After one in-person visit a year, older and disabled applicants can make later requests by phone
- Crisis help (ECIP) is available all year
Good to know
- Funding is limited and help is offered in all 82 counties while funds last. If you are approved, the agency pays your energy company and you see a credit on your next bill.
- Older and disabled applicants may use an expired photo ID.
Free help
Free help with this in Mississippi
Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Mississippi
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
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- 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
- Mississippi Department of Human Services, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Mississippi Department of Human Services, FY 2027 LIHEAP State Plan (final) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Mississippi Department of Human Services, 2026 LIHEAP Policy Manual (revised January 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Was this page helpful?
Report an error on this page
Newsletter
Get an email when the rules change
Benefit figures, deadlines and rules change every year. We'll tell you what changed and what to check, about twice a month.
- Free, about twice a month
- One-click unsubscribe in every email
- We never sell or share your email