LIHEAP in Nebraska: How to get heating assistance this winter

Updated Oct. 1, 2026.

By Hola Nebraska

Nebraska’s heating-assistance season runs from Oct. 1 through March 31. Eligible households can request LIHEAP through iServe, by phone or at a DHHS office.

LINCOLN, Nebraska — Nebraska’s LIHEAP heating-assistance season is now open for lower-income households that need help with residential energy costs.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, provides one heating payment per season directly to a household’s utility provider. The current heating season runs from Oct. 1 through March 31.

Nebraska DHHS says automatic heating payments for eligible households will be issued when the state receives federal LIHEAP funds. Eligible households will receive a notice when those payments are processed.

Households that already have a heating shut-off notice or are in danger of receiving one can contact ACCESSNebraska at 800-383-4278.

Related coverage: Hola Nebraska also explains how to apply for SNAP in Nebraska, which records DHHS may request and how long processing can take.

LIHEAP provides one heating payment per season

Heating assistance is paid directly to the company that provides the household’s residential heating energy.

The payment reduces the amount the household owes, but it may not cover the entire utility bill. The household remains responsible for any balance not covered by LIHEAP.

The current heating-assistance season ends March 31.

Households with an active or pending Economic Assistance case can request LIHEAP without filing a new Economic Assistance application.

Households without an active or pending case must submit an approved LIHEAP application.

Households must meet income and home-energy requirements

To qualify for LIHEAP through Nebraska DHHS, a household generally must:

• have income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level;
• meet LIHEAP citizenship and residency requirements;
• be responsible for home energy utilities;
• not be otherwise disqualified or ineligible.

Individual LIHEAP services can have additional requirements.

Nebraska DHHS currently still displays a dollar income table labeled as effective through Sept. 30, 2026. Because that period has ended, the expired dollar amounts are not included in this update.

Current program requirements and any updated income table can be checked through the Nebraska DHHS energy-assistance program.

Applications are available through iServe, by phone and at DHHS offices

Households can request or apply for LIHEAP through iServe Nebraska, in person at a DHHS office or through ACCESSNebraska.

Current phone numbers are:

• Omaha: 402-595-1258.
• Lincoln: 402-323-3900.
• Other Nebraska communities: 800-383-4278.

A household with an active or pending Economic Assistance case may request LIHEAP without submitting another full application.

A household without an active or pending case must submit a LIHEAP application before eligibility can be determined.

Automatic heating payments will begin after federal funds arrive

Nebraska DHHS says automatic heating payments for eligible households will be issued after the state receives federal LIHEAP funding.

Eligible households will receive a notice when the payment is processed.

A household that already has a shut-off notice from its heating provider, or is in danger of receiving one, can call 800-383-4278 to ask about available assistance.

Crisis Assistance remains available throughout the year

LIHEAP also provides Crisis Assistance year-round for eligible households facing certain energy emergencies and an unexpected inability to pay home energy costs.

The assistance can include utility deposits and reconnection fees.

Qualifying circumstances can include:

• an unexpected medical or household expense;
• a significant, permanent and involuntary loss of work hours, wages or employment;
• the departure of a primary wage earner;
• an illness or injury that prevents a primary wage earner from working;
• a significant loss of income following the death of a household member.

The unexpected inability to pay must have occurred within the previous 90 days, and the household must also meet LIHEAP eligibility requirements.

LIHEAP can provide up to $750 for furnace repairs or replacement

Nebraska DHHS provides up to $750 in assistance for certain furnace repairs or replacement when a household qualifies for LIHEAP heating assistance.

The household must provide documentation showing that the work is necessary and may be asked to submit cost estimates.

The benefit is not available if the household received furnace or central air repair or replacement assistance during the previous 60 months.

HCRRA offers up to $5,000 for qualifying heating systems

A separate program administered by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment can provide up to $5,000 for the repair, purchase and installation of a qualifying heating or cooling system.

Heating and Cooling Repair and Replacement Assistance, or HCRRA, has a separate eligibility process from the DHHS heating payment and $750 repair benefit.

Information about HCRRA is available through Nebraska DWEE at 402-471-2186.

Summer cooling assistance ended Aug. 31

Nebraska’s seasonal LIHEAP cooling benefit ended Aug. 31 and is no longer the current seasonal payment.

Summer cooling assistance has additional eligibility rules related to age, medical conditions and other household circumstances. Those requirements do not replace the rules for the current heating season.

Crisis Assistance and qualifying heating-repair programs may remain available outside the summer cooling period depending on the household’s circumstances.

Nebraska’s current LIHEAP heating season continues through March 31. Households can request assistance through iServe, a DHHS office or ACCESSNebraska.

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