Utility & Energy Assistance Calculators
Four free tools for keeping the lights, heat, and phone on — LIHEAP, weatherization assistance, Lifeline discounts, and knowing your shutoff protection rights.
Utility assistance programs solve two different problems that get conflated: paying a bill you can't currently afford, and reducing the bill itself going forward. Both matter, and seniors on fixed incomes are exactly the population these programs were designed to reach — heating and cooling costs don't scale down with a fixed monthly check the way they can with a flexible income.
Paying the Bill: LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households cover heating and cooling costs, and many states offer crisis assistance for households facing an imminent shutoff. It's funded and administered by states within federal guidelines, so both the benefit amount and the application window vary by location — applying early in the season matters because funding is limited. The LIHEAP Eligibility & Benefit Estimator checks your household against your state's specific thresholds.
Reducing the Bill: Weatherization
The Weatherization Assistance Program takes a different approach entirely — instead of subsidizing the bill, it pays for physical improvements to the home (insulation, air sealing, furnace and appliance repair or replacement) that permanently lower energy use. It's a one-time investment rather than a recurring payment, and it's commonly paired with LIHEAP rather than used instead of it. The Weatherization Assistance Checker covers eligibility for this program specifically.
Phone and Internet: Lifeline
Separate from energy costs, the FCC's Lifeline program provides a monthly discount on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households. Seniors already enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP typically qualify automatically without a separate income review. The Lifeline Phone/Internet Discount Checker confirms eligibility either way.
Already Facing a Shutoff?
If a disconnection notice has already arrived, the programs above may not move fast enough on their own. The Utility Shutoff Protection Guide covers the protections that exist in most states — winter moratoriums, medical certificates, senior-specific rules — and gets you directly to your state's utility regulator and emergency crisis assistance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between LIHEAP and weatherization assistance?
LIHEAP helps pay current heating and cooling bills, sometimes including one-time crisis assistance for shutoffs. Weatherization assistance is a separate program that pays for physical home improvements — insulation, sealing, furnace repair — that reduce energy use permanently going forward.
Can I get LIHEAP every year?
Yes, LIHEAP is not a one-time benefit — eligible households can reapply each program year, though funding is limited and distributed by each state, so timing your application early in the season matters.
What is Lifeline and how much does it save?
Lifeline is an FCC program that provides a monthly discount on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households, including many seniors already enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP, who typically qualify automatically.
Can my power or gas be shut off in winter?
Many states restrict winter shutoffs in some form, but the exact rules vary by state and utility company — there's no single national rule. Contact your utility directly and ask about payment plans, medical certificates, and any winter moratorium currently in effect.
This page is for general educational purposes and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the FCC, or any state energy assistance office. See our Data Sources page for how we source figures.