Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
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Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) (LIHEAP) in Texas
Texas runs LIHEAP as the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which helps pay heating and cooling bills all year through local agencies covering all 254 counties.
Depending on income, a household may get up to $1,200 to $1,800 a year in bill help and the same again in crisis help, plus help repairing or replacing a heating or cooling unit. Households with someone 60 or older are among those served first.
How to apply in Texas
- In person
- Apply through the local CEAP provider for your area. On TDHCA's Help for Texans page, choose utility bill payment help and enter your city or county to get a list of providers. Providers may be out of funds; if so, the state suggests checking with your city or county.
Who may qualify in Texas
| Yearly income limit, one person (Program Year 2026 guidelines, effective Jan. 26, 2026) | $23,940 a year for one person (150% of the federal poverty level) |
|---|---|
| Yearly income limit, two people (Program Year 2026 guidelines) | $32,460 a year for two people (150% of the federal poverty level) |
Source: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (source 2)
What you may get
| Most utility bill help in a year (FY 2027 plan) | Up to $1,800 if income is at or under 50% of poverty, $1,500 at 51% to 75%, and $1,200 at 76% to 150%. There is no minimum. |
|---|---|
| Crisis help (FY 2027 plan) | A separate crisis component with the same income-based maximums, $1,200 to $1,800 a year |
| Heating and cooling units | Up to $9,000 to buy, repair or replace a heating or cooling unit, or for a portable or window unit |
| Most a household can get in a year (FY 2027 plan) | $12,600 in all |
Source: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (source 3)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| When to apply (FY 2027 plan) | Year-round; heating, cooling and crisis help all run from Oct. 1, 2026, with no set season |
|---|---|
| Priority for older adults | Local providers must have a written procedure to serve households with someone 60 or older, disabled, or a young child, and those with high energy bills, first |
Source: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (source 3)
How Texas is different
Where Texas's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Heating, cooling and crisis help are combined in one year-round program.
- Households with someone elderly, disabled or a young child have no limit on the number of payments, though the same yearly caps apply.
- Help can include buying or repairing heating and cooling units, up to $9,000.
Source: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (source 3)
Good to know
- CEAP also includes energy education to help lower future bills.
Source: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Texas
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Texas
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
- 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
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Community Affairs Income Guidelines (Program Year 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 2027 LIHEAP State Plan (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Help for Texans (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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