Nebraska LIHEAP income limits.

Nebraska LIHEAP income limits by household size

Nebraska uses 150% of the federal poverty level, and DHHS has already posted the October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 table. FFY 2026 limits are the state standard applied to the ACF tables that were mandatory for October 2025 to September 2026.

Nebraska DHHS posted the 150% of poverty table for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 for sizes 1 to 8 and adds $8,520 per extra person; sizes 9 to 12 are the same arithmetic.

When Nebraska LIHEAP is open

• Heating season: October 1 to March 31. DHHS pays one time per heating season to utility providers, and issues automatic heating payments for eligible households when federal funds arrive.
• Cooling season: June 1 to August 31, one payment per season, for households with a qualifying member (see below).
• Crisis: Payments are made year-round to utility providers.

Dates come from the state's FFY 2026 plan as compiled by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse notes that actual application periods depend on available funding. OCS announced the first FY 2027 LIHEAP block grant funding release on October 9, 2026 (about $3.6 billion, 90% of funds under the continuing resolution signed September 2, 2026), so states are receiving money now, but each state still sets its own opening date and rules.

What Nebraska LIHEAP pays

DHHS pays heating and cooling benefits to the utility provider as one payment per season that reduces what you owe; you remain responsible for the rest.

Crisis help needs LIHEAP eligibility, a crisis, and an unanticipated inability to pay home energy costs in the last 90 days from an unexpected medical or household expense, a significant involuntary loss of work hours, wages or employment, the departure of a primary earner, a primary earner unable to work from illness or injury, or an income loss from a household member's death. It can cover deposits and reconnect fees. If you have a shut-off notice, DHHS gives a toll-free number: (800) 383-4278.

Who gets priority and who is excluded

Cooling help requires a household member who is a child under 6 receiving ADC, age 70 or older, someone with a severe illness aggravated by heat (a licensed provider's signed IM-55 statement), or a household that received an air conditioner from DHHS within four years.

Furnace repair or replacement (up to $750) requires heating eligibility, documentation that it is necessary, estimates, and no repair or replacement help in the last 60 months. DWEE handles weatherization and heating or cooling repair and replacement up to $5,000.

How to apply and what to have ready

Where to apply: Nebraska DHHS LIHEAP page (apply online, in person at a DHHS office, or by phone through ACCESSNebraska).

• If you already have an active or pending Economic Assistance case, you can ask for LIHEAP without a new application; otherwise submit the agency-approved application.
• For cooling, the IM-55 medical statement from a licensed healthcare provider if you qualify through illness.
• For furnace help, proof the repair is needed and cost estimates.

Nebraska's FFY 2027 state plan is linked from the DHHS page, but the PDF is a scanned image and could not be read as text for this review.

The agency that runs the program is the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

LIHEAP pages for other states

Minnesota Indiana Maryland Colorado Tennessee Washington Connecticut Iowa Kentucky Oregon Kansas