Tennessee · LIHEAP · Heating season 2026-27
Tennessee LIHEAP income limits.
Check your household against Tennessee's heating assistance limit, then see dates, benefit range and how to apply.
Tennessee limits heating help to 60% of state median income (the draft FFY 2027 manual uses 150% of poverty at 9 or more people): $61,641 a year for a household of four and $32,053 for one on the federal FFY 2026 tables. THDA has already posted FFY 2027 (October 2026 to September 2027): $63,196 for four people.
Your household
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Tennessee LIHEAP income limits by household size
Tennessee's FFY 2026 plan used 60% of state median income at every household size. THDA's draft FFY 2027 manual keeps 60% for households of one to eight and uses 150% of the federal poverty level for nine to sixteen, which it says gives larger households a higher limit. FFY 2026 limits are the state standard applied to the ACF tables that were mandatory for October 2025 to September 2026.
| People in household | FFY 2026 limit (a year) | Per month | FFY 2027 (posted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $32,053 | $2,671 | $32,861 |
| 2 | $41,915 | $3,493 | $42,973 |
| 3 | $51,778 | $4,315 | $53,084 |
| 4 | $61,641 | $5,137 | $63,196 |
| 5 | $71,503 | $5,959 | $73,307 |
| 6 | $81,366 | $6,780 | $83,418 |
| 7 | $83,215 | $6,935 | $85,314 |
| 8 | $85,064 | $7,089 | $87,210 |
| 9 | $86,913 | $7,243 | $92,100 |
| 10 | $88,763 | $7,397 | $100,620 |
| 11 | $90,612 | $7,551 | $109,140 |
| 12 | $92,461 | $7,705 | $117,660 |
The FFY 2027 column is the top of the highest income bracket in THDA's FY 2027 benefit matrix (LI-12). Sizes 9 to 12 follow the 150% of poverty rule in THDA's draft 2027 manual.
When Tennessee LIHEAP is open
- FFY 2027 program year: THDA's draft 2027 policy manual (dated July 11, 2026) says the program year runs October 1 to September 30 and the official FY 2027 start date is October 1, 2026, pending federal budget approval and award allocation.
- Pre-application: An optional early-enrollment intake may begin up to 60 days before the general application period for priority applicants: people 60 or older receiving Social Security, people receiving SSI with a disability code or SSDI, and applicants with a completed Verification of Disability form.
- Last season: The FY 2026 plan listed October 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026 for heating, with the year starting November 1, 2025 to allow software testing.
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 Tennessee LIHEAP pays
The FY 2027 THDA benefit matrix lists benefits from $300 to $800, set by household size, income bracket and energy burden. The FY 2026 plan listed $174 to $750.
Households may receive one regular or crisis benefit per program year. The FY 2026 plan listed a $750 maximum for year-round crisis assistance.
Who gets priority and who is excluded
Waitlisted applicants are served in this order: households with someone 60 or older; SSI with disability coding, SSDI recipients and verified disabilities; households with children 5 and under; active military or veterans; and the highest energy burden. Agencies may keep a waitlist when funds are limited, and anyone still on it on September 30 must reapply on October 1.
Renter rules are in THDA's policy manual. THDA's forms page includes a landlord agreement form (LI-05) for households that need one, and a zero-income form (LI-03) if you have no income.
How to apply and what to have ready
Where to apply: THDA LIHEAP page, with application forms and the 2027 matrix and policy manual.
- The application forms THDA lists: zero income (LI-03), landlord agreement (LI-05), self-employment (LI-06) and verification of disability (LI-11), when they apply to you.
- Energy bills: early enrollment uses a twelve-month bill period beginning August 1 and ending September 30.
THDA's manual says no benefits are approved or paid before the official fiscal-year start unless THDA authorizes it.
The agency that runs the program is the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA).
LIHEAP pages for other states
Minnesota Indiana Maryland Colorado Washington Connecticut Iowa Kentucky Oregon Kansas Nebraska
Frequently asked questions
What is the LIHEAP income limit in Tennessee?
Tennessee uses 60% of state median income (the draft FFY 2027 manual uses 150% of poverty at 9 or more people). On the FFY 2026 federal tables that is $32,053 a year for one person and $61,641 for four people. For FFY 2027 the posted figure for four people is $63,196.
How much does Tennessee LIHEAP pay?
The FY 2027 THDA benefit matrix lists benefits from $300 to $800, set by household size, income bracket and energy burden.
When can I apply for LIHEAP in Tennessee?
FFY 2027 program year: THDA's draft 2027 policy manual (dated July 11, 2026) says the program year runs October 1 to September 30 and the official FY 2027 start date is October 1, 2026, pending federal budget approval and award allocation.
Who gets Tennessee LIHEAP first when money runs short?
Under THDA's draft 2027 manual, waitlisted households are ranked: people 60 and older first, then SSI/SSDI or verified disability, then children 5 and under, then active military or veterans, then the highest energy burden.
Is this the official Tennessee limit?
No. It is a lookup of published federal tables and state plans. Tennessee Housing Development Agency decides eligibility, and rules for crisis, cooling or equipment help can differ from the heating limit.
Sources
Read November 1, 2026. Figures are copied from these primary sources; anything calculated or projected is labelled on the page.
- Tennessee FFY 2026 LIHEAP model plan (federal copy, Clearinghouse)
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, LIHEAP income eligibility for states and territories
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, state and territory program dates (FY 2026 plans, updated November 25, 2025)
- ACF Office of Community Services, LIHEAP IM2025-02 (poverty guidelines and state median income, mandatory for FY 2026)
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse home, news of the FY 2027 funding release (October 9, 2026)
- THDA, Fiscal Year 2027 LIHEAP Benefit Matrix (LI-12)
- THDA, draft 2027 LIHEAP Policy Manual, July 11, 2026 (a draft; the final may differ)
Lookup, not an eligibility decision
Limits shown are for heating assistance. Tennessee Housing Development Agency and its local offices decide eligibility and can change rules during the season. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.