An Iowa renter or homeowner under 60, with no one in the home who has a disability, has had to wait through October to ask for help with this winter’s heating bill. That wait ends Nov. 1, when the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program opens to every eligible household.
The same date starts Iowa’s winter shutoff moratorium. From Nov. 1 through April 1, gas and electric utilities cannot disconnect a home whose resident has been certified as eligible for LIHEAP or the state’s weatherization program, under Iowa Code section 476.20.
Two start dates, one deadline
The Iowa Utilities Commission describes the same window, Nov. 1 through April 30, with the early October start for older and disabled residents. The commission notes that the program is open to both renters and homeowners within federal poverty guidelines and that funding depends on the budget Congress passes.
The income limits at 200% of poverty
To qualify, a household’s gross annual income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. HHS lists these limits for the program year running Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027:
- 1 person: $31,920
- 2 people: $43,280
- 3 people: $54,640
- 4 people: $66,000
- 5 people: $77,360
- 6 people: $88,720
- 7 people: $100,080
- 8 people: $111,440
Larger households add $11,360 per extra person. HHS says income is generally counted over the 30 days before the application, the most recent calendar year or the most recent 12 months, then converted to an annual figure.
The benefit is a one-time payment that goes directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor, with limited exceptions when heat is included in rent, according to the IUC. HHS is clear about its limits: “This program is not designed to pay a household’s total energy costs.” The amount depends on income, household size, the type of home and the heating fuel. HHS describes the program’s wider aim as encouraging regular utility payments, energy awareness and lower energy use through efficiency, education and weatherization.
What the shutoff moratorium covers
The moratorium protects only households that have been certified. Under the state code, a utility “shall not disconnect service from November 1 through April 1” at a residence with a resident certified by the local agency that runs LIHEAP or weatherization. The statute requires the certified resident to be the head of household as defined in Iowa’s tax code…