LIHEAP Opens November 2 — After You Apply, Do These Three Things Next
LIHEAP season opens Monday, November 2, 2026 — and the households that get the most out of it treat the LIHEAP grant as step one, not the whole plan. The grant pays $200 to $1,000 straight to your utility if your household is at or under 150% of the federal poverty level, and the season runs to April 23, 2027. Apply on COMPASS or call the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095 — the walkthrough is in our LIHEAP guide. Then do these three things the same week.
1. Cap the monthly bill itself — CAP and CRP
A grant pays once; a capped bill saves you twelve times a year. PECO’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP) sets your PECO bill as a percentage of your income — as low as 2% of income for electric service (6% if electricity is your heat) in the lowest income band — instead of what you used. If your heat is gas, PGW’s Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) does the same job, starting at 4% of income. Both also forgive a slice of your old balance with every on-time payment. LIHEAP season is when enrollment help is easiest to find — don’t leave without asking about CAP or CRP.
2. Put the water bill on TAP
The city’s Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) caps your water bill at 2% to 3% of your income and forgives a slice of old water debt with every payment. Seniors 65+ with income under $42,100 can instead take a flat 25% senior discount — run both numbers and keep the better one. One city Customer Assistance Application covers TAP, or call 855-827-8373.
3. Know your crisis layer before you need it
If the heat goes off or a shutoff notice lands anyway: LIHEAP also has Crisis grants of $25 to $1,000 for shutoffs and broken heating equipment, and the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF) pays up to $1,250 toward a PECO bill or $3,000 toward a water bill in an emergency — one call to 215-972-5170 covers UESF and PECO’s hardship fund too. Save that number in your phone now, not during the emergency.
The whole stack, one check
CAP or CRP, TAP, LIHEAP, and UESF stack — most Philadelphia households can hold all four at once, and our utility help guide explains how they fit together. Take our free 2-minute check and we’ll match your household to every program it fits — utilities, food, health coverage, rent help — and email the steps.
Philadelphia Benefits is not a government agency. Applying is always free at the official sites.
