How Colorado's LEAP Energy Assistance Program Works — Guide to Getting Assistance
Colorado calls its version of the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by a different name: LEAP, which stands for Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. If you've seen federal materials refer to LIHEAP and wondered whether Colorado has it — this is it. The program, with details on LEAP below, is administered by the Colorado Department of Human Services, funded by the federal government, and applied for at the county level.
LEAP accepts applications from November 1 through April 30 each year. If you're outside that window but have a heating emergency, call the HEAT HELP line at 1-866-432-8435 — help may still be available.
What LEAP covers
LEAP is designed to pay a portion of your home heating costs, not the entire bill. If your application is approved, the payment goes directly to your heating company. You'll receive a notice telling you how much was paid, but the money goes straight to whoever you pay for heat — not to you. LEAP does not cover portable or temporary heaters under any circumstances. Benefits generally range from $200 to $1,000, depending on your heating fuel type, household income, and other factors.
Who qualifies
Your household income must fall at or below 60% of Colorado's state median income. You must also pay home heating costs either directly to a utility company or as part of your rent, and your household must include at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Being approved for LEAP does not reduce or cut off any other government benefits you receive, including Medicare, SSI, SNAP, Colorado Works (TANF), Old Age Pension, or Aid to the Needy Disabled.
If your furnace stops working
LEAP also covers heating emergencies through the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP), operated by Energy Outreach Colorado. If you've been approved for LEAP and your primary heating system breaks down, CIP can arrange free emergency repair or replacement of furnaces, boilers, and wood-burning stoves. For true emergencies, help is available within 24 hours. Temporary heat may be provided while repairs are underway. CIP does not cover routine maintenance — only a system that has stopped working entirely.
To request CIP assistance, call 1-866-432-8435. If you haven't applied for LEAP yet, call the same number to start both processes at the same time.
How to apply
Applications open November 1 each year. You have several options. Apply online through Colorado PEAK at https://peak.my.site.com/peak/s/peak-landing-page. Or call 1-866-432-8435 to have a paper application mailed to you. Or pick one up and drop it off at your local county Department of Human Services office — some counties route applications through Goodwill of Colorado, so your county DHS can tell you exactly who handles it locally.
Bring or include: lawful presence documentation for any household member born outside the U.S., Social Security numbers and birthdates for everyone in the home, and proof of all household income for the prior month such as pay stubs or award letters. If you were approved last season, a new application may arrive in the mail — fill it out and return it in the postage-paid envelope.
Free weatherization services - long term help for many people on LEAP
Colorado's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a separate federally funded program that makes physical improvements to your home to reduce what you spend on energy year-round. Many families who qualify for LEAP may also benefit from this program. It's run through the Colorado Energy Office and delivered locally by county-level weatherization providers.
Work can include attic and wall insulation, air sealing, storm windows and doors, LED lighting, HVAC upgrades, furnace repair or replacement, and health and safety evaluations. The process starts with a free home energy audit — a trained auditor identifies the most cost-effective improvements for your specific home, a qualified crew does the work at no cost to you, and an inspector verifies everything afterward.
Both homeowners and renters are eligible. Renters need written landlord permission before any work can begin. Homes that have already received weatherization services through the Colorado Energy Office in the past 15 years are generally not eligible again.
Income limits for WAP vary by county and by your utility provider, and may be higher than LEAP's standard threshold. If you already receive SNAP, LEAP, TANF, SSI, Old Age Pension, or Aid to the Needy Disabled, you may qualify automatically. Funding is limited and waiting lists are common — apply early. To apply, visit the Colorado Energy Office online at https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/weatherization-assistance-program, or call 1-866-432-8435 to be connected with your local weatherization provider.
Watch out for LEAP-related scams
During application season, scammers impersonate the Colorado PEAK benefits portal to steal personal information. You may get a text or email claiming your PEAK account has a problem and that your LEAP benefit is being held until you verify your information or pay a small processing fee. The real Colorado PEAK system will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your Social Security number, your password, or any kind of fee. LEAP payments go directly to your heating company — there is no fee to release a benefit. If you get a suspicious message, call 1-866-432-8435 to verify directly with the program.
Disclaimer: This page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Program details, income limits, and benefit amounts change each season. Verify current information directly with the Colorado Department of Human Services or your local county office before making financial decisions.
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