Montana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Montana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Quick overview

Montana’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible residents pay part of their winter home energy costs and may assist with furnace emergencies. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) operates the program through local eligibility offices and Tribal LIHEAP offices. Its related Weatherization Assistance Program supports home efficiency improvements. Weatherization is separate from heating-bill assistance and accepts applications throughout the year.

The current DPHHS materials identify the 2026-2027 program year and provide the current application, income and resource limits, and benefit award matrix. The July 2026 application says LIHEAP applications are accepted October 1 through April 30; its instructions use an October 2026 application example, placing the current season’s close on April 30, 2027. This cycle is open. DPHHS also advises people seeking assistance at any time during the year to contact the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving their community. Ask that office what help is available outside the regular application window. Weatherization applications are accepted year-round.

LIHEAP pays part of eligible households’ energy costs; it does not promise to cover the full bill. Benefit base amounts vary by home type, bedroom count, and fuel. DPHHS then applies income and heating-degree-day multipliers. The current matrix lists base amounts from $150 for a nontraditional dwelling to $3,362 for a four-bedroom single-family home heated with fuel oil, before applicable multipliers.

At a glance

Who may qualify

The applicant’s physical address and primary residence must be in Montana. Both homeowners and renters may apply. Eligibility depends on household income and countable resources. The application asks about everyone living at the address regardless of relationship, and it records the dwelling, heating type, utility account, and the household’s circumstances. Local offices review the information and determine eligibility; the table values are limits, not an approval guarantee.

DPHHS publishes separate income limits for LIHEAP and Weatherization. The table below gives the 2026-2027 LIHEAP and Crisis Relief Fund upper income limits published by DPHHS. The online table also lists the federal poverty level and a separate Weatherization limit; those are different measures. Use the LIHEAP and CRF column for heating-bill eligibility, and confirm unusual income circumstances with the local office.

2026-2027 LIHEAP and CRF upper income limits

DPHHS describes the published LIHEAP and Crisis Relief Fund (CRF) limits as upper income limits. It states that household sizes one through eight use 60% of state median income and sizes ten and above use 150% of the poverty threshold, adding $8,250 for each member above ten. Because the page publishes a specific row for nine people too, use that row rather than trying to calculate a limit yourself. Follow the table for your household size and ask DPHHS about households larger than 15 or other edge cases. These are upper limits, not a guarantee of an award.

2026-2027 household resource limits

The application asks households to report resources for everyone who lives in the dwelling. Examples include cash, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, stocks and bonds, trusts, other real estate, burial accounts, business assets, oil and mineral rights, and other items of unusual value. It requests the most recent statement or other resource verification dated within 30 days of the application. The published table reaches the $31,524 household maximum at eight people, and DPHHS says the cap is not exceeded for larger households. Do not assume an asset is excluded because it is not in a bank account; ask the local office how to report it.

If all household members receive SNAP, or a member has qualifying individual circumstances in SSI or TANF during the application month, the form says the household may be exempt from some verification in the resource and income sections. This does not remove the need to complete the application or establish eligibility. Contact the local office to confirm which records still must be supplied.

How the benefit is calculated

LIHEAP is not a flat grant with one statewide award for every household. The DPHHS award matrix starts with a base amount that reflects dwelling type, bedroom count, and primary fuel, then uses income and heating-degree-day multipliers. The current matrix has separate sections for single-family homes, multifamily housing, mobile homes, and nontraditional dwellings.

Selected base values from the current matrix are shown below. These are starting amounts, not a prediction of an individual award:

Two households with the same income may start from different amounts if one lives in an apartment and the other in a larger single-family home, or if their main fuels differ. The final calculation also applies the program’s income and heating-degree-day factors. The matrix does not promise that an applicant receives the largest number shown as cash. Ask the local office how an approved benefit is credited and whether other energy charges remain the household’s responsibility.

LIHEAP may also help with furnace emergencies. The application asks about past-due notices, low deliverable fuel, disconnected heat service, whether the main heating source works, and health conditions relevant to Weatherization. Answer those questions accurately. If heat is disconnected or fuel is nearly depleted, contact the local office promptly and explain the urgency; an emergency response is not guaranteed simply by submitting the regular form.

Application steps

1. Use the current DPHHS instructions

Begin at the Montana DPHHS Energy Assistance page. It publishes the current income and resource tables, benefit matrix, office directory, and combined LIHEAP and Weatherization application. The application may be completed online at apply.mt.gov, but DPHHS says it must then be printed and mailed or delivered to the local eligibility office listed in the application. You can also complete a paper copy. Download the current form from DPHHS so you do not rely on an older version. The combined form covers LIHEAP and Weatherization, but a Weatherization request does not extend the LIHEAP heating season.

2. Confirm where the application should go

For paper applications, complete the form, sign and date it, attach copies of required documents, and mail or deliver the package to the local eligibility office serving your county. The current form includes a county-to-office list, and the DPHHS page links to a directory with phone numbers. If you live on a reservation and are Native American, an enrolled Tribal member, or a direct descendant, the form instructs you to contact the Tribal LIHEAP office for heating-bill assistance. The Crow Reservation is routed to District 7 HRDC in Billings. Confirm the destination before mailing, especially if you recently moved.

3. Complete every section for everyone in the home

The application asks for physical and mailing addresses, all residents, housing type, bedroom count, whether you rent or own, and whether rent includes heat or electricity. It also records main and additional heat sources, vendors, account numbers, past-due balances, account holders, other electricity use, and assistance received from another agency. List every person living in the dwelling, even if you do not consider them part of your household; the form expressly requests all residents.

If you rent, give the landlord or property manager’s contact information and state whether rent includes utilities. If the heat account is not in a household member’s name or heat is included in rent, explain that clearly. Ask the office whether it needs a lease, landlord statement, or other proof for your situation.

4. Attach copies of required verifications

The 2026-2027 applicant checklist asks for:

• Photo identification for household members aged 18 or older and photo identification or birth certificates for household members younger than 18.
• Social Security number copies for everyone, or proof of citizenship or lawful entry into the United States with intent to establish permanent residency if a household member has no SSN.
• Copies of the most recent heat and electric bills.
• Gross income verification from every source received in the prior month for household members aged 18 or older. Self-employment requires 12 months of documentation; the application names Schedule C or Schedule F tax forms or complete business records with 12 months of income and expenses.
• A full month of statements for all open bank accounts and verification of other resources for every household member, including online banks, Reliacard, Direct Express, and employer payroll cards.
• Proof of health, dental, or optical insurance premiums paid in the prior month when applicable; the form says these may reduce countable income.
• If living in a non-traditional dwelling, camper, or RV, the additional EAP-050 Self-Declaration of Non-Traditional Dwellings form required by the application.

Provide copies because original documents will not be returned. Resource records should be the most recent available and dated within 30 days of the application. Income verification covers the month before the month of application. Keep a copy of the signed application and all supporting records for your files.

5. Submit and respond to follow-up

You may fill out the application online at apply.mt.gov, but the DPHHS instructions say the completed form must be printed, signed, and mailed or delivered with copies of the required verifications to the correct local office. A paper application follows the same submission route. Keep a copy of the signed form and evidence of delivery. DPHHS says an application cannot be processed without the requested information and verifications. If the office asks for more information, the instructions require a response within 30 days; missing items can delay a determination or result in denial.

The current form says applicants should receive a letter about their case within 45 days, explaining eligibility or requesting more information. If you do not receive a letter within that period, contact the local office. Ask whether the office received the application and whether anything is incomplete before sending a second application.

Tribal, emergency, and special situations

Local offices handle case intake and verification, while Tribal LIHEAP offices serve eligible communities. The current application lists distinct Tribal offices and says Crow Reservation applications go through District 7 HRDC. Use the official office directory rather than assuming the nearest county office is the right destination.

For urgent heating problems, the application records utility disconnection, low fuel, past-due notices, and a broken main heat source. Contact the serving office and explain the condition when applying or following up. Ask whether emergency assistance is available for your situation and what documentation it needs. The program may assist with furnace emergencies, but that does not mean every emergency expense is automatically covered.

Applicants or household members over age 60, or with a disability, can call the assistance number printed in the current application for help filling it out. If you disagree with an adverse action or believe a completed application has not been handled on time, the form describes fair hearing rights. A hearing request may be filed with the local Eligibility Office or the Office of Administrative Hearings. The listed address is Office of Administrative Hearings, Box 202922, Helena, Montana 59620-2922.

Common application problems to prevent

• Using an old form or thresholds. Download the application and current limits from DPHHS each time you prepare to apply. Program-year figures can change.
• Leaving a resident off the household list. The form asks for all people in the dwelling, regardless of relationship or how the applicant labels the household.
• Forgetting signatures or attachments. A complete application needs required verifications, not only a filled-in form.
• Sending incomplete income or resource records. Check every adult’s income sources and every household member’s resources before submission.
• Sending the package to the wrong office. Check the county or Tribal destination in the current form. Call the office if you have moved or are unsure.
• Assuming online completion means online submission. The form can be completed at apply.mt.gov, but DPHHS still requires applicants to print it and mail or deliver it with the required documents to the local office.
• Waiting to report urgent heat trouble. If service is disconnected, fuel is low, or the main heat source does not work, tell the local office directly and ask about emergency handling.

Related Weatherization support

Weatherization is intended to improve home heating efficiency and reduce energy consumption. DPHHS accepts Weatherization applications throughout the year through local eligibility offices or Tribal LIHEAP offices. LIHEAP-eligible households may also be eligible for Weatherization, but the services have distinct purposes: Weatherization work improves the home, while LIHEAP pays part of home energy costs and may assist with furnace emergencies. A Weatherization request does not replace a LIHEAP application during the heating season.

The combined application asks about the home’s heating and electric setup and includes Weatherization questions. It asks whether household members have respiratory health conditions to consider, whether there are past-due heat notices, whether deliverable fuel is low, and whether the main heat source works properly. Provide truthful answers so the office can assess the household’s needs and the relevant service.

Official links and next step

• Montana DPHHS Energy Assistance and Weatherization: current limits, benefit matrix, program details, and office links.
• Current combined LIHEAP and Weatherization application: instructions, checklist, county and Tribal office destinations, and application form.
• Online application form: complete the application online, then print and submit it with required verifications to the local eligibility office.
• Local eligibility offices: office phone numbers and service areas.

To apply during the 2026-2027 heating season, start with the current DPHHS instructions, compare your household information with the published limits, and contact the correct local or Tribal office if you are unsure how to document your account, household, or emergency circumstances. The regular application period runs October 1 through April 30; based on the current 2026-2027 program year and the application’s October 2026 example, this season closes April 30, 2027. DPHHS says to contact a local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office for assistance at any time during the year; the office can explain what is available outside the regular heating-season application period. If you complete the form online, print it and submit the signed form and required verifications to the office serving your community. Weatherization remains available year-round through local and Tribal offices.