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Wisconsin program

Help with heating and electricity bills (WHEAP)

Wisconsin energy assistance helps with eligible heating costs, some electricity bills and certain energy crises.

What it is

Wisconsin energy assistance helps with eligible heating costs, some electricity bills and certain energy crises.

WHEAP uses 60% of Wisconsin's median income as its screen. The payment depends on your household and fuel costs. Regular heating assistance and crisis help have a season, while prevention help is available throughout the program year.

Eligibility rules
  • The screen is 60% of state median income, not a poverty percentage.
  • The line by household size, per month (from October 2026): 1: $3,322 · 2: $4,344 · 3: $5,366 · 4: $6,388 · 5: $7,411 · 6: $8,433.
  • Monthly limits from October 1, 2026: 1 person $3,322; 2 $4,344.08; 3 $5,366.25; 4 $6,388.42; 5 $7,410.58; 6 $8,432.75.
What you get
  • Help with heating costs and, through the Public Benefits program, some other electricity costs. The amount depends on your household, bills and funding.
  • Crisis help during the heating season and prevention help across the year.
If you decide to apply
  1. Contact the energy assistance referral line at 866-432-8947 for your local agency.
  2. Have household income and heating-bill information ready, including any shutoff notice.

Energy assistance local-agency referral: 866-432-8947 · Official page ↗

Good to know

There is no ordinary cooling benefit. Emergency cooling requires a declared public health emergency.

Other details
  • Both regular heating and crisis assistance run October 1 through May 15. The individual award depends on the household and fuel.
  • Some municipal utilities and cooperatives offer additional assistance alongside WHEAP.
  • For seven or eight people the line is about $8,624 and $8,816 a month. Your local agency confirms the income period it uses and how long a decision takes.

Federal background: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could WHEAP help with our energy costs, what assistance is available at this time of year, and could you help us apply if it fits?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand the seasonal limits and whether help could reduce the bill or prevent a crisis.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Ring during the season with the heating bill and this month's income.

Your social worker

The social worker can point you at the local agency.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The local energy assistance agency.
Ask your social worker
“Can you tell me which local agency handles energy assistance for our address?”

How to apply

First step: Ring 866-432-8947 for your local energy assistance agency once the season opens on October 1.

  1. Ring 866-432-8947 once the heating season starts on October 1.
  2. Ask about crisis help as well as the regular payment if a bill is already behind.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Ring 866-432-8947 for the local agency.

What to gather

  • The most recent heating bill
  • This month's income for everyone at home

How long: The agency decides; no statewide timescale is published.

What a yes looks like

A payment made to the energy supplier on your account.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Over the income line, or outside the season. Ask about prevention help, which runs all year.

Watch out

  • The heating payment and crisis help run October 1 to May 15 only.
  • The limits use state median income, not the poverty line, so check even if you think you earn too much.
  • Some utilities run their own programme as well; that is an extra, not a replacement.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

A heating payment and crisis help, for households at or under $6,157 a month for four, on the season running October 1 to May 15.

  • $3,201.75/month — Monthly income limit, household of 1 (60% of state median income)
  • $4,186.92/month — Monthly income limit, household of 2 (60% of state median income)
  • $5,172.08/month — Monthly income limit, household of 3 (60% of state median income)
  • $6,157.33/month — Monthly income limit, household of 4 (60% of state median income)
  • $7,142.5/month — Monthly income limit, household of 5 (60% of state median income)
  • $8,127.67/month — Monthly income limit, household of 6 (60% of state median income)
  • $6,388.42/month — Next season limit, household of 4, from October 1, 2026

Covers: A heating payment once in the season · Crisis help during the season · Prevention help across the year

What it costs the family: None.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
60% of Wisconsin state median income. October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026: seven people $8,312.33/month; eight $8,497.08. October 1, 2026–September 30, 2027: seven $8,624.33; eight $8,816. The agency confirms larger-household and application-income calculations.
Season
regular heating and crisis help October 1 to May 15; prevention across the programme year
Cooling
no ordinary cooling component; emergency cooling needs a declared public health emergency

The trap: The regular heating payment and the crisis payment both run October 1 to May 15; only the prevention part runs all year. There is no ordinary cooling help in Wisconsin's plan, and emergency cooling needs a declared public health emergency.

Where I read this

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