Cold Toes and a Warm Kitchen: Kentucky Heating Help and Winter Crisis Aid

Questions this episode answers

Key facts

• LIHEAP is national heating help that each state runs. It can help pay heating bills, prevent shutoffs, reconnect service and repair or replace heating equipment, depending on where you live. It targets households with low incomes, especially those with high energy bills or a member who is older, has a disability, or is a young child (HHS ACF).
• LIHEAP does not give grants straight to individuals. Fee or grant offers: HHS Fraud Hotline 1-800-447-8477.
• Kentucky's fall (subsidy) part runs in November and December (CHFS). In Louisville (Jefferson County), enrollment runs November 9 to December 18, 2026, or until those funds are used up. Other counties: ask your local office for your dates.
• The fall part pays your energy company, or your landlord if heat is part of your rent (921 KAR 4:116).
• Kentucky looks at your household's income from the month before you apply. You must pay for heat yourself or have heat as part of your rent. Money in the bank: $2,000 or less, or up to $4,000 if someone in the home has a catastrophic illness and the money is used for medical and living costs (CHFS). Ask your local office for the income chart for your family size.
• Kentucky's crisis part runs from early January to mid March, or until funds run out, for a shutoff notice, four days of fuel or less, or an eviction notice when heat is in the rent. Up to $400 for gas or electric (estimated), or up to 200 gallons of propane or fuel oil, unless the state raises the top. Crisis help is meant to come within 48 hours, or 18 hours if life threatening (921 KAR 4:116).
• Kentucky utility rules (807 KAR 5:006) add winter protections from November 1 to March 31. If you get a shutoff notice and you may qualify for energy assistance, a certificate from the state's energy help office (or its local office) can delay the shutoff by 30 days if you bring it to the company within the 10 day notice period, make a payment you can afford, and agree to a payment plan. Ask your gas or electric company how this applies to you.
• Kentucky statewide line: 1-800-456-3452. Louisville appointments: 502-991-8391 or the online scheduler. Any state: National Energy Assistance Referral line 1-866-674-6327, weekdays 9 to 7 Eastern.

Chapters

1. 00:00Last time: SSI goes up 3.6% in 2027, up to $1,029 a month for one person (estimated)
2. 00:22What do cold toes have to do with a warm kitchen?
3. 00:39This is Your Daily Benefit
4. 00:44What heating help (LIHEAP) does, and who it aims to help, including families with a young child
5. 01:02You apply yourself through your local heating help office
6. 01:13Kentucky's fall part: November and December; in Louisville, November 9 to December 18, 2026
7. 01:32The money goes to your energy company or landlord, not to you
8. 01:42Who may qualify: last month's income, you pay for heat, $2,000 or less in the bank ($4,000 with a very serious illness)
9. 02:04How to apply in five steps: 1-800-456-3452; Louisville appointments 502-991-8391
10. 02:39Two myths: getting help before, and renters
11. 02:58Separate: the crisis part, early January to mid March
12. 03:30Crisis help: up to $400 for gas or electric (estimated), the top amount
13. 03:42A made up family, and scams: HHS fraud line 1-800-447-8477
14. 04:15Not in Kentucky? National line 1-866-674-6327, weekdays 9 to 7 Eastern
15. 04:30Wrap up
16. 04:40Next time: Lifeline, help with your phone and internet bill
17. 04:51AI voice disclosure

Find help

• Full episode page with transcript
• All Your Daily Benefit episodes
• Kentucky LIHEAP (CHFS)
• Louisville LIHEAP appointments
• LIHEAP in any state (HHS ACF)
• LIHEAP Income Limits 2026 to 2027, by State (Benefit Bull guide)
• Heat Included in Rent and Energy Assistance (Benefit Bull guide)
• Help Paying Electric or Gas Bills This Winter (Benefit Bull guide)

Benefit Bull helps you find programs. You always apply yourself, through the official program.

Sources

Full transcript

1. 00:01

   Host 2: So last time we saw that SSI goes up 3.6% in 2027.

2. 00:08

   Host 1: Yeah, that is a big deal.

3. 00:10

   Host 2: It is. That brings it up to $1,029 a month for one person, estimated.

4. 00:15

   Host 1: Right. But a bigger check does not go very far if winter bills just eat it all up.

5. 00:22

   Host 2: So what do cold toes have to do with a warm kitchen?

6. 00:25

   Host 1: Well, here is a big surprise. There is heating help out there and it actually aims to help families with a young child at home.

7. 00:34

   Host 2: Oh, wow.

8. 00:34

   Host 1: Yeah, and in Kentucky, the fall sign ups start in November.

9. 00:38

   Host 2: That is great. Well, this is Your Daily Benefit. Today, we are talking about heating help.

10. 00:44

    Host 1: Right, and some people spell it out, L I H E A P.

11. 00:48

    Host 2: So it works by paying your heating bills, it stops shutoffs, it can even fix broken heaters, right?

12. 00:54

    Host 1: Yes. The goal is to help people with a low income, older adults, people with a disability, and like I said families with a young child.

13. 01:08

    Host 2: People apply themselves through their local heating help office.

14. 01:13

    Host 1: Right. Now Kentucky breaks us into two parts. Let's look at the fall part first.

15. 01:18

    Host 2: Okay, what are the dates for that?

16. 01:19

    Host 1: So the fall part runs in November and December. If you live in Louisville those dates are November 9 to December 18, 2026.

17. 01:27

    Host 2: Got it. Or until that money is used up, right?

18. 01:31

    Host 1: Exactly.

19. 01:32

    Host 2: And think of this like a direct shield.

20. 01:34

    Host 1: The money goes straight to the energy company or your landlord.

21. 01:37

    Host 2: Wait, so it does not go to you?

22. 01:38

    Host 1: No, not to you directly.

23. 01:40

    Host 2: Okay, that makes sense.

24. 01:41

    Host 1: It just pays the bill.

25. 01:42

    Host 2: So how do you know if you fit the rules?

26. 01:44

    Host 1: Well, they look at three things. First is your last month's income. Second, you must be paying for heat. And third, you need to have $2,000 or less in the bank.

27. 01:55

    Host 2: Okay, but what if you are sick?

28. 01:58

    Host 1: Good question. That bank limit actually goes up to $4,000 if you have a very serious illness.

29. 02:04

    Host 2: Oh wow. I mean, are the steps too hard though? Applying for things can just take so long.

30. 02:08

    Host 1: No, there are five simple steps. First you just call.

31. 02:11

    Host 2: Okay.

32. 02:12

    Host 1: The main Kentucky line is 1-800-456-3452.

33. 02:16

    Host 2: What about Louisville?

34. 02:17

    Host 1: For Louisville appointments, you call 502-991-8391.

35. 02:22

    Host 2: Awesome. What is step two?

36. 02:24

    Host 1: Second, you gather your papers. Third, you go to an in person appointment.

37. 02:29

    Host 2: Do folks get stuck there if they forget a paper?

38. 02:32

    Host 1: Sometimes. But that brings us to step four. You just bring any missing paper fast. Then the fifth step is getting your decision.

39. 02:39

    Host 2: That sounds pretty simple. We should clear up two big myths right now, too.

40. 02:43

    Host 1: Yeah, good idea.

41. 02:44

    Host 2: Some folks think getting help before means you cannot get it again.

42. 02:48

    Host 1: Oh, that is totally wrong.

43. 02:49

    Host 2: Right.

44. 02:49

    Host 1: You may still qualify again.

45. 02:51

    Host 2: Right. And the other myth is that renters cannot get help.

46. 02:54

    Host 1: Also wrong. The money just goes to the landlord if heat is part of the rent.

47. 02:58

    Host 2: Okay, so the fall part is for planning ahead. We should talk about what happens if you get stuck in the winter.

48. 03:05

    Host 1: Right, that is when we turn to the separate crisis part.

49. 03:09

    Host 2: Let's make sure we keep those separate.

50. 03:10

    Host 1: Yes, completely separate from the fall part. The crisis part runs from early January to mid March.

51. 03:16

    Host 2: And this is for when things go wrong, right?

52. 03:19

    Host 1: Right. You use this part if you get a shutoff notice, or if you have four days of fuel or less.

53. 03:26

    Host 2: What if heat is in your rent?

54. 03:28

    Host 1: Then an eviction notice counts as a crisis.

55. 03:30

    Host 2: Got it. How much does it pay?

56. 03:32

    Host 1: It pays up to $400 for gas or electric, estimated. But keep in mind, that is the top amount.

57. 03:39

    Host 2: Right, so not everyone gets that much.

58. 03:41

    Host 1: Exactly.

59. 03:42

    Host 2: Okay, let's picture a made up pretend family. So this is a made up story. A mom, a toddler, and gas heat. She wants to be safe, so she calls the office and she gathers her papers.

60. 03:54

    Host 1: She is doing it right, but she really must watch out for scams. Scammers might call and ask for a fee to speed up her form.

61. 04:06

    Host 1: If someone asks for money just to hang up, you can call the HHS fraud line at 1-800-447-8477.

62. 04:15

    Host 2: And what if someone lives in another state?

63. 04:17

    Host 1: They can call the national line to find their office. That number is 1-866-674-6327.

64. 04:25

    Host 2: And when are they open?

65. 04:27

    Host 1: You can call on weekdays from 9 to 7 Eastern Time.

66. 04:30

    Host 2: Okay. It is a lot to take in. So we have November fall sign ups and January crisis help.

67. 04:37

    Host 1: Yes. Keeping the heat on is so vital.

68. 04:40

    Host 2: Next time we will look at help with your phone and internet bill. It is called Lifeline.

69. 04:45

    Host 1: I am looking forward to it.

70. 04:47

    Host 2: And hey, this and a lot more, you can find at benefitbull.com.

71. 04:51

    Disclosure: Quick note: the voices on Your Daily Benefit are AI generated.