Montana Energy Assistance Benefits 2026-2027: LIHEAP and Weatherization

Montana Energy Assistance Benefits 2026-2027: LIHEAP and Weatherization

Montana’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households pay part of their winter energy costs. Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) also operates a Weatherization Assistance Program, which can fund approved improvements that make a home more energy efficient. The state’s current materials identify the 2026–2027 program year. LIHEAP applications are accepted during the heating season, October 1 through April 30; weatherization applications are accepted year-round.

Applicants can request both programs using Montana’s combined application. The page below explains what the programs do, how benefits are set, the current income and resource rules, and how to submit a complete application. Always use the official Montana energy assistance page and the current application linked there for final instructions, since the state can update forms and limits.

Program at a glance

What LIHEAP can provide

LIHEAP helps with part of the household’s heating costs. It is not a guaranteed flat payment, and the benefit chart’s base amount should not be treated as a promise of what an applicant will receive. Montana calculates the benefit using the dwelling category, number of bedrooms, main heating fuel, household income level, and heating district. The DPHHS award matrix groups housing as single-family, multi-family, mobile home, or non-traditional dwelling and lists fuel types including natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, wood, and coal.

For context, the current matrix has single-family base amounts from $462 for a one-bedroom coal-heated home to $3,362 for a four-bedroom home using fuel oil. The multi-family chart ranges from $328 to $1,949 across the listed bedroom and fuel combinations. Mobile-home amounts range from $463 to $3,347. Non-traditional dwellings have a listed $150 base amount for each fuel type. These figures are starting points in the official matrix, not a range that every household can expect to receive. Income and heating-degree-day (HDD) multipliers then adjust the base amount. The state’s chart includes multipliers across poverty-level income bands and heating districts.

LIHEAP may also be able to assist with furnace emergencies for eligible households. Emergency help is conditional; the program page does not promise that every repair or replacement request will be paid. Contact the local eligibility office or the appropriate Tribal LIHEAP office promptly if a furnace problem puts the home’s heat or safety at risk. Staff can explain whether the case fits the program’s emergency rules and what documentation is required.

Weatherization assistance

Weatherization is a separate service focused on improving a home’s energy efficiency. The state describes potential measures such as insulation for walls, floors, ceilings, attics, and foundations; blower-door testing and air sealing; repairs or replacement of primary windows and doors; storm windows or doors; and some efficient lighting or motor controls. Work is selected for the home after an energy assessment. The auditor determines the cost-effective measures, and available funds and program limits may constrain the work. DPHHS does not guarantee that any specific improvement will reduce a particular home’s bill or provide another result.

Safety is part of the assessment. Depending on the house, work may include combustion appliance testing, vent repairs, ventilation, smoke or carbon-monoxide alarms, mold and moisture evaluation, or incidental safety repairs. These are examples of measures described by the state, not an entitlement to every item on the list.

The weatherization income ceiling is separate from LIHEAP. Montana publishes it at 200% of the federal poverty level. Households approved for LIHEAP are also eligible for weatherization and energy education, but actual timing depends on the state’s priority process and available services. DPHHS says approved LIHEAP applications are ranked by degree of need and gives special priority to older adults and people with disabilities. If a household is approved but has not received service within a year of its application, the state advises reapplying.

Who may qualify

The applicant’s physical address and primary residence must be in Montana. The official application says that this location requirement applies to LIHEAP and Weatherization benefits. Both homeowners and renters may apply; owning the home is not a prerequisite. Eligibility is determined from the household’s circumstances when it applies, including income and resources. The program form asks for information about the people living at the address and directs applicants to list everyone who resides in the dwelling, regardless of relationship or whether the applicant considers that person part of the household.

2026–2027 income limits

The DPHHS income table lists a 60%-of-state-median-income upper limit for households of one through eight. For example, the published LIHEAP limits are $33,719 for one person, $64,846 for four people, and $89,487 for eight people. The table also publishes limits for larger households, and its accompanying rule states that households of ten or more use 150% of the poverty threshold, with an additional $8,250 for each household member above ten. Because the table and calculation depend on household size, use the current DPHHS chart or ask the eligibility office to assess a larger household rather than extrapolating from an example.

Montana also says that households receiving SNAP, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may qualify automatically for assistance. The current application narrows how this works: it says all household members receiving SNAP, or qualifying individual circumstances involving SSI or TANF during the application month, may qualify, and tells applicants to contact their local office. Receiving one of these benefits is a reason to ask about streamlined eligibility, but it does not replace following current agency instructions.

Resource limits

The state has a non-business resource limit in addition to its income test. For 2026–2027, DPHHS lists $14,717 for a one-person household and $22,515 for two people, then adds $1,502 for each additional member until the household maximum of $31,524 is reached. Non-business resources include examples such as cash, savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, and rental properties. The application checklist asks for a full month of statements for open bank accounts and verification of other resources, including online accounts and prepaid or payroll cards. Ask an eligibility worker how a particular asset should be reported instead of assuming it is excluded.

The public program materials do not make citizenship or immigration status a simple universal eligibility summary. The application checklist requests Social Security number copies for household members; if a member does not have an SSN, the form requests proof of citizenship or lawful entry into the United States with intent to establish permanent residency. Follow the current form and ask the local office about a household member’s specific situation.

How to apply

Montana offers a combined LIHEAP and Weatherization application. The current DPHHS page links both to online services at apply.mt.gov and to a fillable application. The form says that applicants can complete it online, but the current application instructions also direct them to submit the completed application in person or by mail to the local eligibility office. Read the latest page and form before submitting, especially if applying online, so the application is routed as the agency currently requires.

1. Choose the correct office. Use the county list in the application or DPHHS’s Local Eligibility Offices page. Applicants who live on a reservation other than Crow and are Native American, enrolled tribal members, or direct descendants are instructed to contact their Tribal LIHEAP office about heating assistance. Native American household members living on the Crow Reservation should contact District 7 HRDC in Billings. The application includes contact details for local and Tribal offices.
2. Complete the current combined application. Fill in all sections, including the current physical and mailing address, all people who live in the dwelling, income, and resources. The form says eligibility reflects circumstances at the time of application. If the household moves, it instructs applicants to reapply at the new address.
3. Sign and date the authorization. The application checklist says an incomplete or unsigned packet cannot be processed. Include copies rather than originals because the instructions state originals will not be returned.
4. Attach required verification. The current checklist asks for photo identification for adults and photo identification or birth certificates for minors; Social Security numbers or the specified alternative documentation; recent heating and electric bills; gross income verification from all sources for household members age 18 or older; and a full month of statements for open bank accounts plus verification of other resources. It also asks applicants paying health, dental, or optical insurance premiums to provide proof so a possible income reduction can be considered. The application requires verification for the month before the month of application.
5. Send the completed packet to the listed office. The state’s fillable application is designed to be returned in person or by mail to the local eligibility office. Use the address table in the current form, since an office is assigned by county and Tribal routing differs. Keep a copy of the completed application and proofs for your own records.
6. Respond to requests and watch for a decision. The application says additional requested information must be submitted within 30 days. It also says applicants should receive a letter within 45 days of applying that explains whether they qualify or whether more information is needed. If no letter arrives within that period, contact the local office.

The form specifically warns that missing information or verification can delay an eligibility decision and may result in denial. It is useful to review every section and compare the answers with the attached records before mailing the packet. Report all household members and income sources accurately, even where a person is not related to the applicant or income varies from month to month. If a requested document does not fit your situation, contact the office for instructions instead of silently omitting it.

Timing and what to expect

LIHEAP follows the heating season: applications are accepted from October 1 through April 30. The deadline field above reflects the closing date for the currently listed 2026–2027 cycle. Households that need heating assistance should not wait until a shutoff or fuel emergency to seek guidance, because time is needed to assemble verification and correct an incomplete application. Emergency furnace assistance may be available, but applicants should contact the office directly to confirm the process for their circumstances.

Weatherization can be requested at any time during the year. An energy auditor may arrange a home visit to assess needs and identify cost-effective measures. Approval does not mean that every possible improvement will be installed immediately; the state ranks approved applications, gives special priority to older adults and disabled people, and operates within program funding and per-home limits. Ask the office what status updates or reapplication steps apply to your household.

Practical preparation checklist

Before submitting, make sure the application reflects the address where the household currently lives and includes everyone residing there. Assemble the income records requested for the month before the application month, the current heat and electric bills, identification and Social Security information or the alternative records described in the form, and the bank/resource documents requested for every household member. Include proof of health, dental, or optical premium payments if applicable. Sign and date the authorization, make copies for your records, and verify the receiving office’s address using the current official form.

If you need help completing the paperwork and you or another household member is over age 60 or has a disability, the current form lists a toll-free assistance number, 1-800-551-3191. The local eligibility office can answer questions about income, resources, documents, emergency heating cases, and the correct route for an application. Applicants who may qualify through SNAP, SSI, or TANF should mention that status when they contact the office.

Official links

• Montana DPHHS Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: current cycle dates, income and resource tables, benefit matrix, program details, and application links.
• Montana DPHHS local and Tribal eligibility offices: office contacts and service areas.
• Montana online services: online application access listed by DPHHS.

This guide summarizes the state’s published 2026–2027 information. The official DPHHS page and current form govern eligibility decisions, award calculations, required proof, and the correct application route.