Louisiana LIHEAP helps low-income Louisiana households pay both heating and cooling bills through the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), in partnership with the Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnerships (LACAP) and a network of 40 sub-grantees serving all 64 Louisiana parishes. Louisiana’s LIHEAP is notable for two things: it allocates more funding to cooling assistance (37.5%) than to heating (25%) — reflecting the state’s extreme summer heat — and it uses 60% of State Median Income as its income threshold, one of the more generous standards among the Gulf states.
The LHC also administers a statewide LIHEAP Online Portal — the only centralized online application in Louisiana — alongside local CAA intake.
What Does Louisiana LIHEAP Cover?
Louisiana LIHEAP provides four components. Each household may receive one benefit per component per 12-month period:
Heating Assistance — a one-time payment toward winter energy bills. Maximum: $800 (based on benefit matrix). Available November 15 through March 15. Covers electric, natural gas, propane, and other heating fuels.
Cooling Assistance — a one-time payment toward summer electric bills. Maximum: $800 (based on benefit matrix). Available April 1 through September 30. Louisiana’s cooling season is the primary LIHEAP season by enrollment volume — 80,008 cooling households served in FY 2024 versus 23,770 heating households.
Crisis Assistance — emergency help for households in an immediate energy crisis. Maximum: $1,000. Available year-round (October 1 through September 30). Louisiana’s crisis program covers financial hardship, job loss, and similar crises — not just utility shutoff notices.
Weatherization Assistance — free home energy efficiency upgrades through six weatherization sub-grantees serving all 64 parishes. Income limit: 200% FPL. Operates year-round with a July start date for each program year.
Benefit structure: Louisiana uses a benefit matrix based on energy burden — the percentage of household income spent on energy. Higher energy burden households receive higher benefits:
- Energy burden above 25% — highest benefit tier
- Energy burden 18%–24.9% — second tier
- Energy burden 10%–17.9% — third tier
- Energy burden below 10% — lowest benefit tier
This energy-burden matrix ensures families with the highest relative energy costs receive the most help, regardless of flat income level.
Louisiana LIHEAP Income Limits 2026
Louisiana uses 60% of State Median Income (SMI) for heating, cooling, and crisis assistance. Weatherization uses 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines.
For 2026, the official 60% SMI income limits published by Union Community Action Agency (one of Louisiana’s sub-grantees publishing verified LHC-sourced figures) are:
| Household Size | Annual Income Limit | Monthly Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $30,618 | $2,552 |
| 2 | $40,039 | $3,337 |
| 3 | $49,460 | $4,122 |
| 4 | $58,882 | $4,907 |
| 5 | $68,303 | $5,692 |
| 6 | $77,724 | $6,477 |
| 7 | $79,470 | $6,624 |
| 8 | $81,257 | $6,771 |
| 9 | $83,023 | $6,919 |
| 10 | $84,790 | $7,066 |
Source: Union Community Action Agency 2026 LIHEAP income table, published from LHC figures. Confirm current limits at lhc.la.gov or with your local CAA.
For a national comparison of LIHEAP income thresholds, see the LIHEAP eligibility guide.
No asset limit: Louisiana LIHEAP has no asset test.
Active utility account required: Applicants must have an active heating or cooling utility account. Louisiana LIHEAP is designed to assist ongoing accounts — it cannot avert a cutoff in some parishes (check with your local CAA) and generally cannot provide reconnection fees or deposits in standard cases.
Louisiana’s Cooling-Dominant Enrollment Profile
Louisiana’s FY 2024 enrollment breakdown reveals a program shaped entirely by climate:
| Component | FY 2024 Households Served |
|---|---|
| Cooling | 80,008 |
| Winter Crisis | 25,133 |
| Heating | 23,770 |
| Weatherization | 702 |
Cooling enrollment (80,008) is more than three times heating enrollment (23,770). Louisiana allocates 37.5% of its LIHEAP block grant to cooling versus 25% to heating — a ratio unlike any non-tropical state in this series. Louisiana summers are extreme: temperatures above 95°F with heat index values routinely above 105°F across most of the state from June through September.
Who Qualifies for Louisiana LIHEAP
To qualify for Louisiana LIHEAP:
- Louisiana residency as primary residence
- Income at or below 60% Louisiana SMI (see table above)
- Active heating or cooling utility account in the name of an adult household member
- Responsibility for home energy costs — either directly to a utility or through rent
One benefit per component per 12-month period: Each household can only receive one heating payment, one cooling payment, and one crisis payment within a 12-month period. Receiving a heating benefit does not prevent receiving a cooling benefit, and neither affects crisis eligibility.
Renters: Renters who pay energy costs as part of rent may also qualify — check with your local CAA about documentation requirements.
How to Apply for Louisiana LIHEAP
Option 1 — Online Application (LHC Statewide Portal)
Louisiana has a statewide LIHEAP Online Portal at lhc.la.gov/energy-assistance — the only centralized state-level online application option. For the 2026 cooling season:
- Online applications submitted through the portal were processed for payment May 1 through July 15, 2026
- Local agencies continued normal local intake from April 13 through September 30, 2026, or until funds were exhausted
Security warning from LHC: LHC and local agencies will never ask for account logins, passwords, or bank routing/credit card information. LIHEAP is free — there are no fees or charges to apply. Report scam attempts.
Option 2 — Local Community Action Agency
Contact your parish’s CAA directly. Louisiana has 40 sub-grantees serving all 64 parishes. Find your parish agency at lhc.la.gov/energy-assistance.
Phone: LHC public inquiries at 888-454-2001. For the statewide contact list, see the LIHEAP phone number directory. For a general overview of the application process, see how to apply for LIHEAP.
Step 3 — Required Documents
Based on documents published by Louisiana CAAs including Union Community Action Agency (UCAA):
- Current utility bills (electric, gas, or propane) — no older than 30 days
- Last four pay stubs from the previous 30 days for all employed household members (additional requirements for self-employment)
- Proof of unearned income — Social Security, SSI, unemployment, retirement, pension, disability, rental income
- Disconnect or pending disconnection notice (for crisis assistance only)
- Proof of current address — current, valid Louisiana driver’s license or picture ID; or rent receipt, lease, or deed if ID address is incorrect
Step 4 — Benefit Payment
Benefits are paid directly to your utility provider (Entergy, ATMOS Energy, etc.) as a credit on your account. Processing timelines vary by CAA — your local agency will contact you if any information is missing or incomplete.
To check on a submitted application, contact your local CAA. For general guidance, see how to track your LIHEAP application status.
Louisiana LIHEAP Funding 2026
Louisiana’s federal LIHEAP funding for FY 2026 is available at lhc.la.gov. For context, Louisiana received $37,208,760 in FY 2025. Browse LIHEAP funding by state to compare Louisiana with other states.
Louisiana’s funding allocation breakdown per its state plan:
- Heating: 25%
- Cooling: 37.5%
- Crisis: 10%
- Weatherization: 15%
- Administration: 10%
- Client Education (Assurance 16): 2.5%
Louisiana Utility Assistance Programs
Entergy Solutions Income-Qualified Weatherization — Entergy customers at or below 200% FPL qualify for free energy efficiency upgrades through Entergy’s income-qualified weatherization program. Contact Entergy Louisiana directly or through your local CAA.
Note on crisis eligibility: Louisiana LIHEAP’s crisis definition includes not just utility shutoffs but “household financial crises, unemployment, etc.” — a broader definition than most other states in this series. Contact your CAA if you’re facing a financial crisis affecting your energy bills.
Additional Resources for Louisiana Families
Louisiana SNAP: Check Louisiana SNAP income limits and see how to apply for SNAP in Louisiana.
Louisiana Medicaid: Check Louisiana Medicaid eligibility and income limits.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check Louisiana WIC income eligibility.
211: Dial 211 for referrals to local energy assistance, food, housing, and other programs across Louisiana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the income limits for Louisiana LIHEAP?
Louisiana uses 60% of State Median Income — approximately $4,907/month ($58,882/year) for a household of 4 in 2026. There is no asset limit. Confirm current figures at lhc.la.gov or with your local CAA.
How does Louisiana’s cooling benefit work?
Louisiana allocates more LIHEAP funding to cooling (37.5%) than to heating (25%), reflecting the state’s extreme summers. The cooling program runs April 1 through September 30 and provides up to $800. Cooling enrollment typically exceeds heating enrollment by more than 3:1.
Can I receive both heating and cooling benefits?
Yes — each is a separate component with its own 12-month benefit. Receiving a heating payment does not affect your cooling eligibility and vice versa. You may also qualify for crisis assistance regardless of whether you’ve received heating or cooling benefits.
How do I apply online?
Visit lhc.la.gov/energy-assistance for the statewide LIHEAP Online Portal. LHC and local agencies never charge fees or ask for bank account information — LIHEAP is free.
What is Louisiana’s energy burden matrix?
Louisiana calculates benefit amounts based on how much of a household’s income goes toward energy (the “energy burden”). Households spending more than 25% of income on energy receive the highest benefit tier; those spending less receive lower amounts. This ensures the most financially stressed households get the most help.
For current Louisiana LIHEAP information and to find your parish CAA, visit lhc.la.gov/energy-assistance or call 888-454-2001.