Missouri energy and utility bill assistance: LIHEAP, ECIP and weatherization (2026-27)

Missouri’s two LIHEAP pieces and their FFY 2027 dates

Energy Assistance (EA) is a one-time payment for one fuel type per program year ⁠¹. Households with a member who is 60 or older or disabled can apply from October 1, 2026. All other households can apply from November 1, 2026, and the last day to apply is May 31, 2027 ⁠⁵. Payments start on the first Friday in November for older and disabled households and the first Friday in December for everyone else. Approval lasts the program year unless you move or change suppliers ⁠⁴.

ECIP is the crisis component. Winter ECIP runs November 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 for older and disabled households and December 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 for others. Summer ECIP is open to all households from June 1 to September 30, 2027 ⁠⁵. Winter crisis money not spent by May 31 rolls into Summer ECIP ⁠³.

Missouri has no separate cooling benefit. The state plan notes that an EA payment made to an electric account can still go toward cooling costs from October through May ⁠³. Summer help comes only through Summer ECIP.

The 60% of state median income test, counted on last month’s pay

Missouri uses 60% of state median income (SMI), not a share of the poverty guidelines, for both EA and ECIP ⁠³. DSS publishes the limits as monthly gross income, effective October 1, 2026 ⁠². For bigger households, the application says to add $170 a month for each person above 10 ⁠⁵. A footnote on DSS’s combined chart says “add $128” per person above six, which does not match the chart’s own 7- and 8-person figures ⁠², so confirm large-household limits with your agency.

Three more rules apply:

• One month of income. The agency counts gross income received in the calendar month before the month your application is date-stamped. An older household that applies in October is judged on September income ⁠⁴. If someone in the household worked in the last six months but had no pay from that job last month, you must send proof of final wages and the last day worked ⁠⁵.
• A $3,000 resource cap. Bank deposits, CDs, IRAs, deferred compensation, stocks, bonds and mutual funds all count unless the institution documents that the money is restricted ⁠⁴.
• Social Security numbers and status. Giving SSNs is voluntary, but a missing SSN results in denial ⁠⁴. Each counted member must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Members who do not qualify are left out of the household count, but their income still counts ⁠⁴.

Energy Assistance pays by fuel type, not by bill size

Your EA payment does not depend on your usage or arrears. Under the FFY 2027 schedule it is a fixed amount for the fuel you heat with ⁠⁴:

Source: LIHEAP Policy and Procedure Manual, Appendix K, FFY 27 ⁠⁴. The state plan lists the same $153 minimum and $495 maximum ⁠³.

Most payments go straight to a supplier that has signed a LIHEAP agreement with DSS. The supplier must credit the full amount to your account and keep or restore service for at least 30 calendar days from the pledge ⁠³. DSS pays the household directly only in listed cases, such as a supplier that has not signed the agreement or heating with cylinder propane, kerosene, wood or pellets ⁠³. Renters whose utilities are included in the rent get a one-time direct payment of 16% of annual rent, capped at the EA maximum. These renters cannot get ECIP ⁠³. Tenants in subsidized housing qualify only if they pay an energy supplier out of pocket ⁠³.

ECIP crisis help: $800 in winter, $300 in summer

You qualify for ECIP if you have one of these: a disconnect notice with a specific date, a final bill showing service ended, a propane or fuel oil tank below 20%, a cash-on-delivery account, prepaid electric about to run out, or wood, pellets or kerosene about to run out ⁠¹. The benefit is the amount needed to resolve the crisis, up to $800 per household in winter and $300 in summer ⁠³. Agencies must act within 48 hours, or 18 hours in a life-threatening situation, such as a household member who depends on powered medical equipment; a medical statement is required ⁠³.

If your utility keeps service on because of the Cold Weather Rule or the Hot Weather law, the 48-hour and 18-hour clocks do not start until the day after the actual disconnection date ⁠³. ECIP payments always go to the supplier, never to you ⁠³. If you already got EA this program year and nothing has changed, you do not need a new application for ECIP. Contact your agency instead ⁠⁵.

Agencies may also spend up to 2% of their direct-service funds on Emergency Services: blankets, emergency lodging, Energy Star window air conditioners, wood stoves, and furnace or central air repair or replacement for broken equipment ⁠³⁠⁴. These costs count against the $800 or $300 limit; once it is used up, up to $400 more can go toward furnace or central air work, but not bills ⁠³.

Missouri LIHEAP agencies for the largest counties

DSS contracts with 19 agencies covering all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis: 17 community action agencies, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and Mid America Assistance Coalition ⁠³. A few of the largest service areas ⁠⁶:

All other counties: see DSS’s “Where to send your LIHEAP Application” list ⁠⁶. A few phone numbers on that list differ from the copy printed in the August 2026 application ⁠⁵; if one fails, try the other or call 855-373-4636.

Applying for Missouri LIHEAP, step by step

1. Check your start date

   If anyone in the home is 60 or older or disabled, you can apply now (from October 1, 2026). Otherwise, wait until November 1. Applications received early are held, not processed ⁠⁴.

2. Choose a way to apply

   Fill in the online form on the Missouri Forms Portal, save it, submit it, then upload documents through the LIHEAP document upload page. Or print the English or Spanish application and mail, fax or deliver it to your county’s agency ⁠¹. Agencies also accept applications by email ⁠⁴. Call your agency or 855-373-4636 to have a paper application mailed to you ⁠¹.

3. Gather last month’s income proof

   Send pay stubs and benefit letters showing all gross income for everyone last month. Self-employed members send their latest Form 1040 with Schedule 1. Household members who are active SNAP recipients do not need to send income proof ⁠⁵.

4. Add SSN proof and your energy bills

   Send proof of every member’s Social Security number (card, award letter or W-2) and copies of your utility or fuel bills, including any disconnection notice. The account holder must be a household member 18 or older ⁠⁵. A gas or electric bill must be dated no earlier than two billing periods before you apply ⁠⁴.

5. Keep paying while you wait for the decision letter

   Pay what you can so you are not disconnected ⁠¹. DSS’s public page estimates a review of about 30 business days once your documents are in, unless it is a crisis ⁠¹. Agency staff work to a 30-calendar-day processing timeframe ⁠⁴. An Eligibility Notice (EA-6) gives the approved amount, and a Payment Notice (EA-7) follows after the supplier is paid ⁠³.

6. Appeal within 90 days if denied

   You can ask for a fair hearing in person, in writing, by fax or by phone within 90 days of the notice. The DSS Administrative Hearings Unit holds the hearing, by phone unless you refuse ⁠³. If funds run out, agencies keep a waiting list in case more money is released ⁠⁴.

Weatherization through DNR’s 18 local agencies

The Low-income Weatherization Assistance Program is run by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), not DSS. DNR funds 18 local agencies, mainly with U.S. Department of Energy money, and DSS sends LIHEAP’s 10% weatherization share to DNR under an interagency agreement ⁠⁷⁠³. After the county agency verifies income, an auditor inspects the home, crews install measures such as air sealing, insulation, duct work and heating or cooling repairs, and an inspector checks the work ⁠⁷⁠³. The weatherization agency may not be your LIHEAP agency. In Kansas City, for example, weatherization goes through the Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City (816-358-6868), while MAAC handles LIHEAP ⁠⁸.

The income limit is 200% of the HHS poverty guidelines ⁠³. Under the 2026 guidelines that is $43,280 for two people and $66,000 for four ⁠¹². Households that qualify for LIHEAP or for certain HUD means-tested programs are also eligible ⁠⁹. Priority goes to older adults, people with disabilities and families with children ⁠⁹. Homes weatherized with federal money cannot be weatherized again for 15 years ⁠⁹. Renters need a signed landlord agreement, which bars rent increases for two years without just cause; for-profit owners of buildings with five or more units must pay at least 20% of the cost ⁠⁹. The LIHEAP plan sets no per-home cap for LIHEAP-funded work, but it uses a statewide average of $8,250 per home ⁠³.

Cold Weather Rule and Hot Weather law: protection, not forgiveness

DSS’s LIHEAP materials list no statewide low-income utility discount. Missouri’s statewide protections are limits on disconnection instead. Under the Public Service Commission’s Cold Weather Rule, from November 1 through March 31, a regulated gas or electric utility may not cut heat-related service on any day the morning National Weather Service forecast predicts temperatures below 32°F in the next 24 hours ⁠¹⁰. The utility must also keep or restore service if you make the initial payment and sign a payment plan: no more than 12% of the 12-month budget bill, or 80% of the balance after a past default ⁠¹⁰. Gas utilities must restore service for the lesser of 50% of past-due charges or $500, but only once every two years ⁠¹⁰. A LIHEAP agency’s pledge counts as the required payment ⁠¹⁰. Registered customers who are 65 or older or disabled, with income below 150% of poverty, are protected all season while they keep to the plan and pay at least 50% of each bill ⁠¹⁰.

From June 1 to September 30, section 393.108 RSMo bars disconnecting gas or electric service used for cooling on days when the forecast for the next 72 hours calls for temperatures above 95°F or a heat index above 105°F ⁠¹¹. According to the LIHEAP plan, these rules cover Missouri’s investor-owned utilities ⁠³. Neither rule erases what you owe, and co-op or city utility customers should ask which rules apply.