While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

Kansas LIHEAP FAQ Sheet

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance)

Table of Contents 

What Is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program?

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance for energy costs to low-income households. LIHEAP is a federal program that is administered by individual states, territories, and tribes. In Kansas, LIHEAP is administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Learn more about LIHEAP by reviewing the federal program fact sheet here.

For more information about LIHEAP in Kansas, click here.

What Does LIHEAP Cover in Kansas?

The Kansas Department for Children and Families oversees LIHEAP benefits and provides financial assistance for heating expenses to qualified households. Financial assistance can include payment for:

  • Past-due utility bills
  • Deliverable fuel (oil, propane and wood)
  • Disconnection/reconnection fees
  • Repairs and replacements of worn parts on heating units
  • Home weatherization

Kansas’s LIHEAP program does not provide financial compensation for cooling expenses. However, it does assist with cooling emergencies if applicants qualify for Crisis Assistance.

About LIHEAP Crisis Assistance

LIHEAP Crisis Assistance, like standard LIHEAP benefits, is a cash grant provided to the utility companies of eligible individuals in certain situations.

If your household meets all the eligibility requirements above and has an energy-related crisis, you may qualify for LIHEAP Crisis Assistance.

The state of Kansas defines a “crisis situation” as one where a household:

  • Has less than 15 percent of bulk fuel left,
  • Has received a shut-off notice or already had their utilities disconnected by their service provider

A “life-threatening crisis situation” also qualifies a household for Crisis Assistance. This occurs when:

  • A member of the household is a medical or health risk because of the energy loss,
  • A member of the household has a condition that requires the use of a medical device/medication that requires energy OR
  • A household has no more than 18 hours of bulk fuel remaining during winter when heating is required.

For qualifying households, the maximum annual benefit amount for LIHEAP Crisis Assistance is a one-time payment of $4,301.

How Much Assistance Does LIHEAP Provide in Kansas?

To determine the amount of energy assistance for which you are eligible, the Kansas Department for Children and Families will consider:

  1. Your household size and income for the month prior to your application
  2. The fuel type you need (electricity, propane, natural gas, or heating oil)

Also, whether you are eligible for regular LIHEAP payments or Crisis Assistance payments will influence your maximum benefit amount.

As of 2025, the maximum annual benefit amount for heating in Kansas is $2,232 and the minimum annual benefit amount is $100.

How to Qualify for LIHEAP in Kansas

To qualify for LIHEAP in Kansas, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a resident of the state
  • At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident
  • Have an out-of-pocket energy expense from an account opened in the name of the head of the household or their spouse
  • Have an annual income that is less than the LIHEAP income limit for your household size, which is no more than 150 percent of the established Federal Poverty Level. To view the annual income limits, click here.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families prioritizes households with elderly, disabled or young members. Elderly is considered 60 years or older, and young is considered five years old or younger.

If you or a member of your family participates in the benefit programs below, then you may automatically be eligible for LIHEAP based on your income:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Learn more here.
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Learn more here.

How to Apply for LIHEAP in Kansas

Eligible households can only apply for LIHEAP assistance from January 12 until March 29th each year. LIHEAP applications cannot be submitted year-round.

To apply for LIHEAP in Kansas, complete the following three steps:

  1. Gather the documentation and information you will need for the application.

Learn what documents and information you need to complete the process here.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, by mail, fax or email. 

Submit an online application here.

  1. Submit the LIHEAP application and other required documents.

What You Will Need to Apply

When applying for Kansas LIHEAP benefits, you will need to provide:

  • Personal and financial information about yourself and the members of your household
  • Details about your home and its heating

The state will need the following documents and information to confirm your eligibility for LIHEAP benefits:

  • Names, birth dates and Social Security numbers for all household members
  • Utility bill information (vendor name and account number)
  • Residence information (landlord’s name, address and phone number, if renting)
  • Income verification for the last three months (pay stubs)

How to Check Your Application Status

You can call the Department for Children and Families office where you applied to directly to check your application status.

What Happens After You Apply for LIHEAP in Kansas?

The Kansas Department for Children and Families will notify you within 30 days of receiving your application if you are approved to receive benefits. If you are eligible for crisis assistance, the DCF will intervene within 18 to 48 hours.

All LIHEAP payments are made to the heating or energy provider directly. Benefit payments will not be sent to you.

How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits

If the DCF representative cannot resolve the dispute, you can request a hearing with the Department for Children and Families. To begin this process, write an appeal request letter and mail it to:
Kansas Office of Administrative Hearings
1020 S. Kansas Ave
Topeka, KS 66612

Once the Office of Administrative Hearings receives the appeal, they will set up a hearing and notify you of the date, time and location.

If you have questions about the appeal process, contact the Department for Children and Families:

  • Phone: (888) 369-4777
  • TTY: (785) 296-1491 

Need More Help?

You can also contact the LIHEAP phone line at (800) 432-0043 or call the Department for Children and Families benefits phone line at (888) 369-4777.

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and compiled a guide that we believe is simple to use and easy to understand. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing detailed information on the process.

Our free LIHEAP Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply for LIHEAP, program eligibility and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.

Last Updated: March 2025

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