Indiana households that qualify for energy assistance and apply cannot have electric or gas service shut off between December 1 and March 15. The shield comes from state law and applies to regulated utilities. The Energy Assistance Program opened for applications on October 1, 2026, which leaves about six weeks to get an application in before the shield starts.
Income limits, household by household
The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority says households at or below 60 percent of state median income may qualify, judged on the most recent three months of income. For a one-person household the annual limit is $33,556, or $2,796 a month. A two-person household tops out at $43,882 a year.
Larger households climb quickly: $54,207 for three people, $64,533 for four, $74,857 for five and $85,183 for six. The agency lists limits up to ten people. The three-month limit for a four-person household is $16,133, against a monthly figure of $5,377.
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For a two-person household the test is $10,970 over the three months before applying, or $3,656 in a single month. Anyone near the cutoff should add up all three months of income first, since the agency looks at the quarter and not a single paycheck.
Households of three get a three-month limit of $13,551 and a monthly figure of $4,517. The agency’s table runs to ten people, with a ten-person annual limit of $92,927. The eligibility clock starts October 1 even for anyone who filed earlier.
When the shutoff protection starts
The protection is set by Indiana Code 8-1-2-121, which bars service termination from December 1 through March 15 for residential customers who are eligible for and have applied for assistance. The state adds that protection applies once a household submits an application.
That detail matters because processing is slow. The agency says an eligibility decision can take up to 55 days, and the utility may need up to 30 more days to post a payment. A household waiting on a decision is still covered, and the law tells the Utility Regulatory Commission to set procedures so service continues while eligibility is determined.
Anyone already holding a disconnection notice should tell the utility an application is in. The agency advises contacting the utility at once for a payment arrangement and telling the local service provider about the notice. The consumer counselor’s office says customers who qualify and have applied at a local intake office must also give the utility written proof. A shield that exists on paper helps only when the utility has that proof in hand.
Which bills the shield covers
The law reaches electric and gas utilities, whether municipally owned, privately owned or cooperative. The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor says the protection covers investor-owned and municipal electric and gas utilities and rural electric membership cooperatives. It does not cover propane providers, water, sewage or telecom.
Households that heat with propane or fuel oil therefore get no moratorium. The state does tell applicants who are within 10 days of running out of bulk fuel to notify their local service provider. Crisis requests are to be acted on within 48 hours, or 18 hours when life is at risk.
The shield also has limits. The statute allows termination on the customer’s request, for dangerous conditions, under a court or commission order, or for fraudulent use or tampering. And the consumer counselor’s office stresses that customers still owe their bills and should keep paying, even partially, through winter.
What the benefit pays and how to apply
The benefit is a one-time annual payment made to the utility vendor. The agency says it does not cover all heating and electric costs, so bills keep coming. Renters whose utilities are included in rent may still qualify, and direct-pay benefits can take up to 120 days after approval to be processed and mailed.
Applications go through eap.mylitt.com, the state’s online portal, or through a local service provider, mostly Community Action Agencies, by mail, in person or by phone appointment. Paperwork includes proof of income, current utility bills or account statements, and a tenant verification statement or lease for renters whose utilities are in the rent.
Local service providers, mostly Community Action Agencies, collect applications and decide eligibility. The housing authority has a county map and dropdown for finding the right one. A first-level appeal, filed within 30 days of a denial, gets a response from the provider within 14 calendar days. A second-level appeal goes to the authority, takes no new documents and is final.
The application window closes April 30, 2027, at 5 p.m. A denied applicant can appeal in writing within 30 days, and can reapply 55 days after the previous application with updated documents. Questions go to eap@ihcda.in.gov or 317-232-7777, and the consumer counselor’s FAQ points callers to 1-800-872-0371 for the housing authority.
The date to hold in mind is December 1, and the application has to be in before a shutoff notice arrives to be safe. Which of the three paper steps, income proof, current bills and a utility notice, is still missing from the household’s file?
Heat bill behind before December 1?
A household that applies late, or applies without telling the utility, can reach a shutoff notice with the shield not yet on file. Between a 55-day decision window and a one-time payment that does not cover the whole bill, the dates and the paperwork are what protect the heat.
The Senior Property Tax & Home-Cost Relief Kit is a related tool, not the state program. It covers heating, cooling and home-repair help, and its application log and renewal calendar keep each date and document in one place. Part 5, Utilities and Home Costs, is where the heat and power help sits.
Get the application log and renewal calendar from the home-cost relief kit →
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
