Nebraska LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), administered statewide through the ACCESSNebraska portal and DHHS offices. Nebraska’s LIHEAP has several operationally distinctive features: automatic heating payments issued directly to eligible households when federal funds are received, a 20% earned income disregard when calculating benefit amounts, and a restricted cooling eligibility rule — cooling assistance in Nebraska is only available to households with a member age 70 or older who needs cooling for medical reasons.
Nebraska also has an active SNAP soda and energy drink ban that, while separate from LIHEAP, affects many households receiving both programs. See Nebraska SNAP soda and energy drink ban for details.
What Does Nebraska LIHEAP Cover?
Heating Assistance — a one-time payment per heating season toward residential heating costs, paid directly to your utility provider. Benefit range: $154 minimum to $1,050 maximum for FY 2026. Benefit amount depends on household income, household size, living arrangement (single-family vs. multi-family), and fuel type. Program period: October 1 through March 31.
Benefit tier by fuel type: Nebraska uses fuel-type specific minimums:
- Natural gas or electricity: approximately $121–$154 minimum
- Kerosene or fuel oil: approximately $202 minimum
- Propane: approximately $211 minimum
- Wood: approximately $165 minimum
Automatic heating payments: DHHS issues heating payments automatically on behalf of eligible households when federal LIHEAP funds are received. Eligible Nebraskans receive a notice at that time. If you have a shutoff notice before the automatic payment cycle, call (800) 383-4278 immediately.
Cooling Assistance — for households with a member age 70 or older who requires cooling for medical reasons. Benefit range: $273 minimum to $700 maximum. Program period: June 1 through August 31. Nebraska’s cooling restriction is one of the most targeted in this series — only age 70+ households with a documented medical need for cooling qualify. Standard low-income households do not qualify for cooling assistance in Nebraska.
Crisis Assistance — emergency help for households with a shutoff notice or facing an immediate energy emergency. Maximum: $500. Available year-round. For multi-utility provider situations (other than Metropolitan Utilities District/MUD), households must pay 25% of the crisis amount before the Department can issue the remaining 75%.
Heating and Cooling Related Repair Assistance (HCRRA) — furnace or central air conditioner repair or replacement. Maximum: $750. Separate eligibility requirements apply — contact DHHS for details.
Weatherization Assistance — free home energy efficiency upgrades. Income limit: 200% FPL (more inclusive than the 150% FPL standard for energy assistance). Year-round.
Nebraska LIHEAP Income Limits 2026
Nebraska uses 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for all energy assistance programs (heating, cooling, crisis). Weatherization uses 200% FPL.
| Household Size | Annual Income Limit (150% FPL) | Monthly Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $22,590 | $1,881 |
| 2 | $30,570 | $2,546 |
| 3 | $38,550 | $3,213 |
| 4 | $46,530 | $3,878 |
| 5 | $54,510 | $4,544 |
| 6 | $62,490 | $5,209 |
| 7 | $70,470 | $5,875 |
| 8 | $78,480 | $6,540 |
| Each additional | +$7,980/year | +$666/month |
Based on 150% FPL. Nebraska DHHS updates the table when new federal poverty guidelines are released. Confirm current figures at dhhs.ne.gov/pages/energy-assistance.aspx.
For a national comparison of LIHEAP income thresholds, see the LIHEAP eligibility guide.
No asset limit: Nebraska LIHEAP has no asset test.
20% earned income disregard: Nebraska applies a 20% disregard to earned income before calculating the benefit amount (not for eligibility — the full gross income is still used for the 150% FPL income test). Once eligibility is confirmed, 20% of gross countable earned income is subtracted before computing the actual benefit payment. This means working households receive somewhat higher benefit amounts than the raw income figure would suggest.
Categorical eligibility: Households receiving SNAP, SSI, or TANF may automatically meet income requirements. Contact DHHS to confirm.
Who Qualifies for Nebraska LIHEAP
To be eligible for Nebraska LIHEAP:
- Nebraska residency as primary dwelling
- Income at or below 150% FPL (see table above)
- Responsibility for home heating and cooling costs — you are responsible for paying energy utilities for the dwelling
- U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status
- Not otherwise disqualified or ineligible
Cooling eligibility (restricted): Cooling assistance requires a household member who is age 70 or older and needs cooling for medical reasons. Standard income eligibility alone does not qualify a household for cooling assistance.
Crisis eligibility: Households must have attempted to keep utility bills current but face an emergency due to an unforeseen event. For multi-utility provider situations (except MUD), the household must pay 25% of the amount needed to resolve the crisis before DHHS issues the remaining 75%.
HCRRA (furnace/AC repair): Separate eligibility requirements; contact DHHS at (800) 383-4278.
How to Apply for Nebraska LIHEAP
Step 1 — Apply Online at ACCESSNebraska or By Phone
Online: Apply at ACCESSNebraska (accessnebraska.ne.gov) — Nebraska’s integrated DHHS benefits portal for LIHEAP, SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs.
By phone: Call iServeNebraska at 1-800-383-4278 to apply over the phone or to be connected to your local DHHS office.
In person: Visit your local DHHS office. Find office locations at dhhs.ne.gov.
For a general overview of the LIHEAP process, see how to apply for LIHEAP. Nebraska’s DHHS contact is in the LIHEAP phone number directory.
Iowa residents near the Nebraska border: Contact West Central Community Action to apply — a unique cross-border service arrangement.
Step 2 — Automatic Heating Payments
Nebraska DHHS issues automatic heating payments on behalf of eligible households when federal LIHEAP funds are received each program year. If you have previously qualified and are still eligible, you may receive a notice of your benefit without having to reapply from scratch. However, if your circumstances have changed, update your information through ACCESSNebraska.
If you have a shutoff notice before the automatic payment cycle: Call 1-800-383-4278 immediately — do not wait for the automatic payment. Crisis assistance can be expedited.
Step 3 — Required Documents
- Photo ID for the applicant
- Social Security numbers for all household members
- Proof of gross income for the most recent period — pay stubs, SNAP/TANF/SSI award letters, Social Security benefit statements
- Most recent heating utility bill showing account number and service address
- Medical documentation (for cooling assistance — documenting age 70+ and medical need for cooling)
- Shutoff notice (for crisis assistance)
Step 4 — Processing and Benefit Payment
Benefits are paid directly to your utility provider. Nebraska’s automatic payment system means many eligible households receive benefits without a full re-application each year. To follow up on a pending application, see how to check your LIHEAP application status and contact DHHS at 1-800-383-4278.
Nebraska LIHEAP Funding 2026
Nebraska received $35,774,584 in federal LIHEAP funding for FY 2026, including an additional $815,806 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In FY 2024, Nebraska served 38,639 heating households, 13,464 cooling households, 2,770 year-round crisis households, and 335 weatherization projects. Browse LIHEAP funding by state to compare Nebraska with other states.
Nebraska Utility Assistance Programs
Black Hills Energy Black Hills Cares — supports customers struggling to pay energy bills. Contact Black Hills Energy directly.
Hastings Utility Share the Warmth — funds collected by Hastings Utility and administered by the Salvation Army for utility bills. Distribution period: December 1 through April 30.
Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) exception: MUD customers facing a crisis do not have to pay the 25% co-payment that applies to other multi-utility providers in Nebraska.
Additional Resources for Nebraska Families
Nebraska SNAP: Check Nebraska SNAP income limits and see how to apply for SNAP in Nebraska.
Nebraska SNAP soda and energy drink ban: Nebraska has an active SNAP soda and energy drink restriction. See Nebraska SNAP soda and energy drink ban for what is and isn’t covered.
Nebraska Medicaid: Check Nebraska Medicaid eligibility and income limits.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check Nebraska WIC income eligibility.
211: Dial 211 for referrals to local energy assistance, food, housing, and other programs across Nebraska.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the income limits for Nebraska LIHEAP?
Nebraska uses 150% of the Federal Poverty Level — $3,878/month ($46,530/year) for a household of 4. There is no asset limit. Confirm current figures at dhhs.ne.gov/pages/energy-assistance.aspx.
What is Nebraska’s automatic heating payment?
Nebraska DHHS issues heating payments automatically on behalf of eligible households when federal LIHEAP funds are received. Eligible households receive a notice with their benefit amount. If you have a current shutoff notice before the payment cycle, call 1-800-383-4278 immediately for crisis assistance.
Does Nebraska LIHEAP cover cooling?
Yes, but only for households with a member age 70 or older who requires cooling for medical reasons. Standard income eligibility alone does not qualify for cooling assistance. The cooling program runs June 1 through August 31.
What is the 20% earned income disregard?
Nebraska applies a 20% disregard to earned income when calculating the benefit amount (not for the eligibility income test). Working households receive somewhat higher benefit amounts because 20% of their earnings is excluded from the benefit calculation formula.
What is the crisis co-payment rule?
Households with multi-utility providers (other than MUD) must pay 25% of the amount needed to resolve a crisis before DHHS issues payment for the remaining 75%. MUD customers are exempt from this co-payment.
For current Nebraska LIHEAP information and to apply, visit dhhs.ne.gov/pages/energy-assistance.aspx, ACCESSNebraska at accessnebraska.ne.gov, or call 1-800-383-4278.