Washington LIHEAP income limits.

Washington LIHEAP income limits by household size

Washington uses 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for every household size, so its limit moves each year with the HHS guidelines rather than with state median income. FFY 2026 limits are the state standard applied to the ACF tables that were mandatory for October 2025 to September 2026.

The FFY 2027 column is projected: it applies 150% to the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines ($15,960 for one person plus $5,680 for each additional person). It is not an adopted state figure.

When Washington LIHEAP is open

• Program period: The plan lists heating and year-round crisis assistance for October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2027, a two-year window.
• Changes: Commerce reserves the right to shorten or extend the program depending on funds, demand and other factors, and may raise or lower benefit levels if the federal award differs from its estimate.

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 Washington LIHEAP pays

The plan lists a minimum heating benefit of $250 and a maximum of $1,250.

The plan lists a $13,000 maximum for the year-round crisis category and $0 for winter and summer crisis. The plan does not break down in the section read what that category covers, so ask your agency what crisis items are available.

Who gets priority and who is excluded

Local sub-recipients may offer priority scheduling and targeted off-site intake appointments to older adults, people with disabilities and households with young children for an initial period at the start of the program year; each agency's approach must be approved by Commerce.

Washington's plan leaves renter treatment to the community action agencies; ask yours how it handles heat included in rent.

How to apply and what to have ready

Where to apply: Washington Commerce, energy assistance for low-income households (points to the LIHEAP page and your community action agency).

• Washington routes applications through local community action agencies and partners, so the document list comes from your agency; ask for it when you call.

Commerce's page also notes that electric utilities are required to offer low-income energy assistance programs under RCW 19.405.120, so a separate utility discount may be available alongside LIHEAP.

The agency that runs the program is the Washington State Department of Commerce, through community action agencies.

LIHEAP pages for other states

Minnesota Indiana Maryland Colorado Tennessee Connecticut Iowa Kentucky Oregon Kansas Nebraska