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Heat Bill Past Due or Furnace Broke? The Calls to Make First

By CalculateBenefits Editorial Team · Mark Phaneuf, Publisher
AI-assisted source check: October 12, 2026. What these dates mean.

Call your heat company first. Ask for a payment plan. If someone in your home is sick, ask about a doctor's note too. Next, call your state's energy help office, or dial 211, and ask for crisis help. If you and the company can't agree, call your state utility board or free legal aid.

Safety comes first. If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, get outside, then call 911.

We are not a government agency or a utility. We can't pay bills or take forms. Each phone number here comes from an official site. Applying for LIHEAP is free.

Who should you call first?

1. Your gas or power company, or your fuel dealer. Use the number on your bill. Say: “I can't pay this bill in full. Can I set up a payment plan? Do you have a low-income program?” If someone is sick, ask: “Can a doctor's note hold off a shutoff?”
2. Your state's energy help office. This is where you apply for LIHEAP, the federal heat help program. Find your office with the LIHEAP local office search. You can also call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327. The federal site says it is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern. Say: “I have a shutoff notice” or “I am out of fuel” or “My furnace is broken. Is crisis help open now?” Our heating help by state page lists each state's page and phone.
3. 211. The FCC says that in many states, 211 can refer you to local groups, including ones that help with utility bills.
4. Your state utility board or free legal aid, only if you need them. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse says to try to work it out with the company first. If that fails, call your state utility board. You can also ask a free legal aid group if it takes utility cases.

What if you smell gas or an alarm goes off?

The CPSC, a federal safety agency, says never ignore a carbon monoxide alarm. Get outside right away, then call 911. If you smell or hear gas leaking, leave your home right away. Call the gas company from outside.

The CDC says never heat your house with a gas oven. If you use a space heater, CPSC says to keep it at least 3 feet from beds, curtains, and couches. Plug an electric heater right into a wall outlet, never a power strip.

What should you do about a shutoff notice?

Call the company before the date on the notice. Ask for a payment plan. Then call your energy help office the same day.

Many states have winter shutoff rules. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse says 42 states have cold-weather shutoff rules. Its state table lists set winter dates for about 30 states. Many start November 1. Others start November 15 or December 1. Some states use the weather instead, like a forecast of 32 degrees or colder.

These rules have limits. The Clearinghouse says city-owned utilities and rural electric co-ops are not regulated in general, so the rules may not apply to them. Many rules also ask you to make and keep a payment plan. The rules do not erase what you owe. You still get billed for the heat you use, and a shutoff can still happen after the rules end.

A doctor's note may help, too. The Clearinghouse says 44 states have rules to prevent shutoffs for people at high risk, such as older adults or people who are very sick. In Indiana, for one, a doctor's note saying a shutoff would be a serious health threat can put it off for 20 days.

See our guide to winter shutoff rules for more.

What if your heat bill is past due?

Do not wait for a notice. Call the company now and ask for a payment plan. In Minnesota, the state utility board says that under its Cold Weather Rule, the company must offer a plan that is reasonable for your household. Keep every payment you agree to.

Then apply for LIHEAP. Each state sets its own dates, and funds can run out. Illinois is one example. It opened on October 1, 2026, for first groups, such as people 60 and older, people with a disability, and homes with a child age 5 or under. Other homes that meet the income rules can start on November 1, 2026.

LIHEAP also has crisis help for homes facing a heat emergency. Federal rules say states must offer crisis help through at least March 15. Federal law says an eligible home must get some form of help within 48 hours of applying. If the home is in a life-threatening spot, the limit is 18 hours. The law does not set an amount.

Our LIHEAP guide shows how to apply.

What if you are out of propane or oil?

Call your fuel dealer early, before the tank is empty. The Clearinghouse says fuel dealers are not regulated in general, so shutoff rules may not cover them. In Minnesota, the state says propane dealers must offer budget billing.

LIHEAP may help with oil or propane, not just gas and power. Tell your energy office how much fuel you have left. Some states put low tanks first. Illinois puts homes with less than 25% in the propane tank in its first group.

New York has an emergency benefit that may help homes that are out of fuel or have less than a quarter tank of oil, kerosene, or propane. The state says it is set to open on January 4, 2027. Call your local office anyway to ask what is open now.

What if your furnace broke?

First, get help with heat. Then ask about repair. The federal LIHEAP site says the program can help with “repairing or replacing heating equipment.” But not every state does this. Federal rules let each state choose.

New York is one state that does. Its repair and replacement benefit opened on October 1, 2026. It is for people who own their home. The state says the work must be approved before it starts. Do not hire a repair person first and hope to be paid back.

Weatherization is a second path. The Energy Department says this program can clean, tune, repair, or replace heating systems. It may also put in carbon monoxide alarms when needed. Homes at or below 200% of the poverty line may be able to get it. Priority goes to groups such as older adults, people with a disability, and families with children. The Energy Department says people who qualify go on a wait list, so it is not fast help.

Renters can apply too, but the Energy Department says the landlord must give permission before work starts. If you rent, it is a good idea to tell your landlord about the broken furnace right away. See our weatherization guide.

What should you have ready when you call?

Each state has its own list. Illinois asks for papers like these for each person in the home:

• Proof of income from the last 30 days, like a pay stub or a benefit letter
• Your most recent heating bill
• Social Security cards, for those who have them
• Your lease, if heat is part of your rent
• Proof of SNAP, TANF, or other benefits, if you get them

Also keep your shutoff notice close by. Write down each name, phone number, and date you call.

How do you spot a heat help scam?

The federal LIHEAP site says the program does not send grants straight to people or charge a fee. If someone offers you a LIHEAP grant or asks for a fee, call the HHS fraud line at 1-800-447-8477.

The FTC says utility scammers may ask you to pay with a gift card, a wire, crypto, or a payment app. If someone says your heat will be cut off unless you pay on the spot, hang up. Call the number on your bill.

Behind on rent, too? Our rent guide lists the calls to make first.

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