Broward County offers its residents the federal LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), which provides financial assistance to help cover electricity bills for families that meet income and household size requirements.
The program is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funded in Broward by the State of Florida, and managed by the County's Family Success Administration Division.
The application can only be submitted online starting November 2023; postal applications are no longer accepted.
Who can apply
Eligibility depends on household size and family income. The table effective from October 1, 2026, sets the following annual income limits:
- 1 person: $33,733
- 2 people: $44,113
- 3 people: $54,493
- 4 people: $64,873
- 5 people: $75,252
- 6 people: $85,632
Households with more members can also qualify; the limits extend up to nine people.
Household members who are not U.S. citizens may participate: it is sufficient to present proof of permanent residency or other documents that verify their status as qualified foreign nationals.
Necessary documents
Before accessing the Broward LIHEAP application portal, the county requires the following documents to be scanned or clearly photographed:
- Government-issued photo identification of the applicant (Florida driver's license or state ID).
- Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status for all household members.
- Social Security numbers of all members.
- Valid invoice from Florida Power & Light (FPL).
- Proof of all income received in the last 30 days: consecutive pay stubs, disability or SSI benefit statements, retirement, unemployment, pension, child support, veterans benefits, or worker's compensation, among others.
An important point: bank statements and W-2 forms are not accepted as proof of income.
Households receiving Section 8 or public housing must also attach a copy of the housing contract and the lease modification or rental change notice, including the tenant's payment information and the allocation for services. Alternatively, they may submit form 50058 or 50059 that reflects their name and the amount of that allocation.
How the process works
The online portal may temporarily close to process accumulated requests; if the system indicates that new applications are not being accepted, you should try again later.
The processing period is up to 15 business days. During this time, the county explicitly advises that applicants must continue to pay their bill or arrange a payment plan with FPL to avoid disconnection, as the application for assistance does not suspend that process.
Duplicate applications should not be submitted while awaiting the resolution of the first one.
The approved benefit is credited directly to the electric company; it is not given in cash to the applicant.
For inquiries about the status of an application, the Broward LIHEAP call center is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 954-357-5025.
Important: Broward and Miami-Dade are separate programs
Residents of Broward should not use the phones, help centers, or deadlines of the LIHEAP program in Miami-Dade, which has its own administrator, amounts and application channels.
Those who do not qualify for LIHEAP or need additional assistance can explore other FPL programs: Saving Steps offers a one-time credit of $200 on the electric bill for low- or moderate-income customers, subject to fund availability, while Care to Share can cover up to $750 in 12 months for households at imminent risk of disconnection, although it requires that other assistance like LIHEAP be exhausted first.
Knowing these options becomes increasingly important given the possibility of rising bills in 2027: FPL has requested a temporary surcharge for the costs of Hurricane Isaias from the Florida Public Service Commission, a request that is still awaiting approval.
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