Real Help With Your Heating Bill Is Free: How to Spot LIHEAP Scams

There is real help with your energy bill, and it costs nothing

If you are worried about heating costs this winter, there is a federal program that helps. It is called LIHEAP, short for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It helps people with low or moderate incomes pay heating and cooling bills.

Here is the most important thing to know: LIHEAP is free to apply for. The real program never charges you a fee to sign up or to get help. If someone asks you to pay to apply, that is not the real program.

We are not a government agency and not a bank. We just want you to reach the real help without losing money along the way.

How the scam works

As the weather gets colder, scammers know people are looking for heating help. They pretend to be from LIHEAP or your local energy office. They may call, text, email, or knock on your door.

They often sound official and helpful at first. Then they ask for a payment to process your application, or they ask for a Social Security number, bank details, or a gift card before they will help.

The real program does not work this way. HHS, the federal agency that runs LIHEAP, runs a fraud hotline for people who run into these fakes.

The red flags to watch for

Any request for payment to apply is a red flag. Real LIHEAP help is free.

Watch out for anyone who asks you to pay with a gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Government programs do not ask for those.

Be careful with pressure. Scammers push you to act right now so you cannot stop and check. The real program lets you take your time and apply through official channels.

If someone contacts you first and asks for personal or bank details, slow down. You can always hang up and reach out to the official program yourself.

The free official path

You do not need a paid middleman to get LIHEAP. You can find your state or local program directly through the official HHS website.

LIHEAP is run through states, tribes, and territories, so the exact steps depend on where you live. The official site points you to the right local office for free.

If you think you have been targeted by a LIHEAP scam, HHS runs a fraud hotline you can report to.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost money to apply for LIHEAP?

No. The real LIHEAP program is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay a fee to sign up is not the real program.

How do I know if a call about my heating bill is a scam?

Watch for requests for payment, gift cards, or bank details, and for pressure to act right now. Hang up and contact your local LIHEAP office through the official HHS website instead.

Where do I find the real program?

Start at the official HHS LIHEAP page at acf.hhs.gov. It points you to your state or local office, which handles applications for free.

What if I already gave a scammer my information?

Report it to the HHS LIHEAP fraud hotline listed on the official page, and contact your bank if you shared account details.