Texas calls its LIHEAP program “CEAP” — the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program — administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) through 35 subrecipient organizations serving all 254 Texas counties. CEAP provides utility payment assistance, heating and cooling system repair and replacement, and emergency energy assistance. Texas distributes approximately $150 million in CEAP funding annually to its subrecipients — one of the largest state LIHEAP programs in the country by total distribution.
Texas CEAP is notable for one critical consumer distinction: if you have a disconnect notice or are in an energy emergency, you cannot apply online — you must contact your local agency directly by phone or in person.
What Does Texas CEAP Cover?
Utility Payment Assistance (Heating and Cooling) — payments toward electric, natural gas, and propane bills, applied directly to the utility account. Benefit range: $1 minimum to $12,600 maximum — Texas has one of the highest LIHEAP benefit ceilings in the country. Actual amounts vary significantly based on household income, size, energy costs, and local subrecipient funding levels. Program period: year-round (each subrecipient has its own intake schedule based on local funding).
Heating and Cooling System Repair and Replacement — CEAP funds may be used to repair or, in some cases, replace existing heating and cooling units. This includes the purchase of portable heating and cooling units during crisis situations.
Energy Crisis Assistance — emergency help for households facing an immediate energy crisis: disconnect notice, service interruption, or energy-related disaster. Maximum: $1,800. You cannot apply online for crisis assistance — call your local subrecipient agency immediately. Available year-round.
CEAP also covers disaster-related energy interruptions — funds can assist households whose energy has been interrupted by a natural disaster, an important provision in storm-prone Texas.
Weatherization Assistance — free home energy efficiency upgrades (insulation, sealing, heating and cooling improvements). Income limit: 200% FPL. Maximum: $12,000. TDHCA administers weatherization using a portion of LIHEAP funds alongside DOE weatherization grants.
Texas CEAP Income Limits 2026
Texas uses 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for CEAP eligibility. One household member must be a U.S. citizen.
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income Limit (150% FPG) | Annual Gross Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,881 | $22,590 |
| 2 | $2,546 | $30,570 |
| 3 | $3,213 | $38,550 |
| 4 | $3,878 | $46,530 |
| 5 | $4,544 | $54,510 |
| 6 | $5,209 | $62,490 |
| 7 | $5,875 | $70,470 |
| 8 | $6,540 | $78,480 |
| Each additional | +$666/month | +$7,980/year |
Based on 150% Federal Poverty Guidelines. TDHCA updates the table annually. Confirm current figures at tdhca.texas.gov/energy-programs/ceap.
For a national comparison of LIHEAP income thresholds, see the LIHEAP eligibility guide.
No asset limit: Texas CEAP has no asset test.
Categorical eligibility: Households receiving SNAP, SSI, or TANF may automatically meet income requirements. Confirm with your local subrecipient.
“Eligibility for services may vary depending on sources of income and other factors” — TDHCA notes that local subrecipients have some flexibility in eligibility determination. Contact your local agency to confirm.
Texas’s 35 Subrecipients — All 254 Counties
Texas CEAP is not administered through a statewide portal or single application process. Instead, 35 subrecipient organizations — Community Action Agencies, private nonprofits, and units of local government — each serve a defined service area covering one or more of Texas’s 254 counties. Each subrecipient sets its own intake schedule based on local funding availability.
TDHCA’s county-based funding formula distributes CEAP funds to subrecipients using a weighted formula:
- County Non-Elderly Poverty Household Factor: 40%
- County Elderly Poverty Household Factor: 40%
- County Inverse Household Population Density Factor: 5%
- County Median Income Variance Factor: 5%
- County Weather Factor: 10%
This formula means rural, high-poverty counties with more elderly residents receive proportionally more funding than their raw population share alone would suggest.
How to Apply for Texas CEAP
Step 1 — Find Your Local Subrecipient Agency
Texas CEAP applications are processed exclusively by local subrecipient agencies — not by TDHCA directly. There is no statewide online portal.
Find your local agency by:
- Calling 877-399-8939 (TDHCA’s CEAP hotline)
- Dialing 211 — Texas 211 connects you to your local community assistance agency
- Visiting 211texas.org and searching by ZIP code
For a general overview of the application process, see how to apply for LIHEAP. Texas’s TDHCA contact is in the LIHEAP phone number directory.
Texas Gas Service customers: Your utility has direct partnerships with specific CEAP agencies by service area. Contact your local agency listed at texasgasservice.com or call 211.
Step 2 — IMPORTANT: If You Have an Emergency, Do Not Apply Online
If you have a disconnect notice or are in an energy emergency: Texas Gas Service explicitly states “YOU CANNOT APPLY ONLINE” for emergencies. Contact your local agency directly by phone or in person to receive expedited crisis assistance. Online applications are for regular bill assistance only, and many subrecipients handle routine applications online but require phone or in-person contact for emergencies.
Step 3 — Required Documents
Standard CEAP documentation:
- Government-issued photo ID for the applicant
- Social Security card or proof of U.S. citizenship for at least one household member
- Proof of gross income for all household members — pay stubs, SNAP/SSI/TANF award letters, Social Security benefit statements
- Most recent utility bill(s) — showing account number and service address
- Disconnect notice (for crisis applications — contact agency by phone immediately)
Step 4 — Processing and Benefit Payment
Benefits are paid directly to utility providers. Processing times vary by subrecipient. To follow up on a submitted application, contact your local agency. For general guidance, see how to track your LIHEAP application status.
Texas CEAP Funding 2026
Texas received $165,023,940 in federal LIHEAP funding for FY 2026, including an additional $7,570,975 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Texas distributes approximately $150 million annually in CEAP funding to its subrecipients. In FY 2024, Texas served 25,811 heating households, 41,628 cooling households, and 5,372 year-round crisis households. Browse LIHEAP funding by state to compare Texas with other states.
Texas’s cooling enrollment (41,628) exceeding heating enrollment (25,811) reflects the state’s extreme summer heat across most of its geography.
Texas Utility Assistance Programs
CPS Energy (San Antonio) Affordability Discount — residential customers at or below 125% FPG who meet at least one qualifying criterion (age 60+, disability, life-sustaining equipment, school-age children, veteran, or extenuating circumstances) receive a discount on their monthly service availability charge. Call 210-353-2222.
CPS Energy Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (REAP) — financial assistance up to $400/year (twice annually — once heating, once cooling) for San Antonio/Bexar County residents at or below 150% FPG who are age 60+, disabled, have children under 16, or use critical-care equipment.
CPS Energy Veterans Discount — veterans with significantly decreased ability to regulate body temperature due to severe burns may receive up to $90/month off the electric portion of the CPS Energy bill, April through October (and a winter-season discount November through March).
Oncor Electric Delivery Reduced Energy Charges — Oncor customers at or below 125% FPG may qualify for reduced energy charges. Contact Oncor or your local community agency.
AEP Texas Winter Care Program — AEP Texas offers supplemental assistance for qualifying low-income customers in winter. Contact AEP Texas or your local CEAP subrecipient.
Additional Resources for Texas Families
Texas SNAP: Check Texas SNAP income limits and see how to apply for SNAP in Texas.
Texas Medicaid: Check Texas Medicaid eligibility and income limits.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check Texas WIC income eligibility.
211: Dial 211 or visit 211texas.org for referrals to local energy assistance, food, housing, and other programs across Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CEAP in Texas?
CEAP (Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program) is Texas’s name for LIHEAP. Administered by TDHCA through 35 subrecipients covering all 254 counties, it provides utility payment assistance, heating/cooling system repair, and crisis energy assistance to income-eligible households.
What are the income limits for Texas CEAP?
150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines — $3,878/month ($46,530/year) for a household of 4. At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen. There is no asset limit. Confirm current limits at tdhca.texas.gov.
Can I apply online if I have a disconnect notice?
No — if you have a disconnect notice or an energy emergency, you cannot apply online. Contact your local subrecipient agency directly by phone or in person. Call 877-399-8939 or dial 211 to reach your agency immediately.
Why is the Texas CEAP maximum benefit so high ($12,600)?
Texas’s maximum benefit of $12,600 is among the highest in the country and reflects the range of assistance possible — from basic utility bill credits to major heating/cooling system replacement. Most households receive significantly less than the maximum. Actual benefits depend on household income, energy costs, and local subrecipient funding levels.
How does TDHCA allocate CEAP funds to counties?
TDHCA uses a weighted formula: 40% non-elderly poverty households, 40% elderly poverty households, 5% inverse population density, 5% median income variance, and 10% weather factor. This formula weights rural, high-poverty, and elderly-heavy counties more heavily than raw population alone.
For current Texas CEAP information and to find your local subrecipient, call 877-399-8939, dial 211, or visit tdhca.texas.gov/energy-programs/ceap.