Wisconsin households can now apply for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, known as WHEAP, which helps pay winter heating bills. A one-person household can have gross income of up to $39,864 a year and still qualify, and the state expects the average heating benefit to be $441.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration announced on Oct. 1, 2026 that the program is open for the 2026-27 heating season. Kathy Blumenfeld, the department’s secretary, said WHEAP “is currently taking applications” and urged anyone who needs help with an energy bill to apply now.
Who can get WHEAP help
Eligibility is based on household income, household size and home energy costs. Households with gross income at or below 60% of the state median income may qualify, according to the state’s program page.
For one person, the limit is $3,322 a month, or $39,864 a year. A household with income at or under the line for its size can apply now, and the size of the household sets where that line falls.
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The state’s 2026-27 table sets these gross annual limits:
- 1 person: $39,864
- 2 people: $52,129
- 3 people: $64,395
- 4 people: $76,661
- 5 people: $88,927
- 6 people: $101,193
- 7 people: $103,492
- 8 people: $105,792
The same table lists monthly figures for households that count income by the month. The limit is $4,344.08 a month for two people, $5,366.25 for three and $6,388.42 for four. The state counts gross income, which is household income before taxes and other deductions are taken out.
The limits went up this year. The state’s table for the 2025-26 program year, posted as an income eligibility chart, set the one-person limit at $38,421, and the four-person limit at $73,888. That makes this year’s cutoff $1,443 higher for one person and $2,773 higher for four, so some households that missed out last winter may now be inside the line.
Meeting the income limit does not guarantee a payment. The state says WHEAP is funded by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Wisconsin’s Public Benefits program, and when funds for a program year run out, no benefits are issued. For that reason, applying early is safer than waiting.
What the payment looks like
The state expects the average heating benefit to be $441 and the average electric benefit to be $257. About 170,000 households are expected to receive help paying energy bills this year. Those are averages, so an individual payment can be higher or lower.
The $441 figure is for heating only. The bulletin lists a separate expected average of $257 for electric benefits, so a household that uses electric heat or has a large electric bill should read the two numbers as different parts of the program.
The state’s estimate of 170,000 households is a forecast for the 2026-27 program year and not a count of approvals. How many get paid, and how much, depends on how many apply and how much money the program has. That is why the state’s own wording about funds running out is worth keeping in mind.
The bulletin says payments go directly to utilities and fuel suppliers. The money is applied to the energy bill itself.
The state describes regular energy assistance as a once-a-year benefit. It is available between Oct. 1 and May 15 each year, so a household gets one regular payment for the season, not one every month.
How to apply for WHEAP
The fastest route is the state’s online portal at energybenefit.wi.gov. The portal says the application takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Once it is submitted, processing can take up to 10 business days.
The state says an incomplete application is denied after 30 days, so having income records and an energy bill ready before starting can save a second try. The state’s bulletin does not list the documents needed.
Anyone who prefers a phone or mail application can call toll-free 1-866-HEATWIS (432-8947) to find the local energy assistance agency for their area. The Department of Administration’s energy and housing division site has a map for finding help by county or Tribe, and the portal also lists a Customer Care line at 1-800-506-5596.
The division’s site lists its Energy Help Line as (866) 432-8947, the same number as 1-866-HEATWIS. For anyone who would rather talk to a person than use a website, that call is the starting point, and the local agency can then take the application by phone or mail. The online route and the phone route lead to the same program and the same income limits.
Help beyond the regular payment
The bulletin says crisis energy assistance is available year-round. It also says emergency furnace and water heater repair or replacement, and home weatherization, may be offered to eligible homeowners based on need.
That matters for homeowners with aging equipment, since the regular payment covers bills and not a broken furnace. Anyone in that situation can ask the local energy assistance agency about repair help when applying for the regular benefit.
The program year itself runs from Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2027, according to the state. Crisis assistance runs year-round, separate from the once-a-year regular payment.
Heating bill coming due in Wisconsin?
A household that applies after the money runs out gets nothing from WHEAP, and the same is true of a furnace repair program that was never asked about. For older homeowners on a fixed income, a missed application can mean a winter of unpaid bills.
The Senior Property Tax & Home-Cost Relief Kit covers heating, cooling and home-repair help, along with an application log and renewal calendar for keeping each program’s dates in one place. Its section on utilities and home costs is built for homeowners who want to line up every program that can lower a winter bill.
Get the heating, cooling and home-repair help guide for older homeowners →
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
