The 2026 income limits
The state's limits took effect January 13, 2026, and are based on total household income:
- 1 person: $31,920
- 2 people: $43,280
- 3 people: $54,640
- 4 people: $66,000
- 5 people: $77,360
- 6 people: $88,720
- 7 people: $100,080
- 8 people: $111,440, plus $11,360 for each additional person
Besides SSI, TANF and LIHEAP, eligibility for certain means-tested HUD or USDA programs also counts. Priority goes to older residents, people with disabilities, families with children and households with high energy use or a high energy burden. Homeowners and renters can both apply. If you already got LIHEAP this winter, how LIHEAP's crisis program handles a broken furnace covers the emergency side, which moves faster than weatherization.
What the audit can pay for
After your application is approved, the local agency sends an energy auditor. The U.S. Department of Energy says the audit looks at your energy bills, runs a blower-door test to measure air leakage, and inspects the living space, attic and basement for both energy and safety problems. The auditor then writes a scope of work listing the most cost-effective measures. Pennsylvania puts the average spending at $8,547 per household, depending on what the audit finds.
The state's list of possible work includes cleaning, tuning or replacing heating and cooling systems; duct sealing and duct and pipe insulation; wall, attic and floor insulation; air sealing; water-heater upgrades or insulation; efficient lighting; replacing inefficient refrigerators; low-flow showerheads; carbon monoxide and smoke alarms; and fixing minor roof or wall leaks before insulating.
Two common expectations get people disappointed. The state says WAP is not a program to replace windows or doors; they're only replaced when they meet strict requirements. If drafty windows are your main complaint, whether old wood windows should be repaired or replaced is the better starting point. Air conditioning can be considered in the energy modeling, but WAP doesn't hand out window or through-the-wall units.
If the house has bigger problems
Significant moisture, mold, asbestos, or areas the crew can't get into can delay or block weatherization. Pennsylvania has a separate WAP Readiness Program for those homes, covering things like mold remediation, moisture control, knob-and-tube wiring, roof repair or replacement, gutters and drainage, sump pumps, pest control, radon and asbestos testing and mitigation. You can't apply to Readiness directly; the agency decides after the WAP audit. So if your basement floods or the attic has old wiring, say so up front rather than hoping it goes unnoticed.
Don't try to clear mold, disturb pipe or attic insulation that might contain asbestos, or move wiring to get the house ready for the visit. Leave that to the agency's crew or a qualified pro. For repairs WAP won't cover, the state's WAP FAQ links to a statewide directory of other local programs, and Philadelphia residents can check the city's home repair assistance programs.
Who to call in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery County
You apply through the agency assigned to the county where the house is, not through the state. On DCED's agency list:
- Philadelphia: Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC).
- Bucks County: Bucks County Opportunity Council, in Doylestown.
- Montgomery County: Community Action Agency of Delaware County, in Boothwyn. It also serves Chester County, so its office being outside Montgomery County is normal.
Get the current phone number and address from the state's agency list before you call, since assignments can change.
What to have ready, and what to ask
- Proof of income for the prior year, such as pay stubs or Social Security statements, or proof that someone in the house gets SSI, TANF or LIHEAP. Ask which income period and documents the agency accepts.
- Renters: the provider has to get the landlord's permission before work starts, so have the owner's contact information.
- Prior weatherization: a home can only be weatherized once every 15 years from the last completion date. Find out if a previous owner had it done.
- Ask how long the waitlist is. The state says wait times vary by agency, and income-eligible households are placed on a list before the audit is scheduled.
- When you get the scope of work, ask which of your concerns were left out and why, and whether anything was referred to the Readiness Program. If a furnace is being replaced, ask who pulls the permit; what a furnace replacement permit involves in Philadelphia explains the city side.
When the job is done, an inspector from the provider checks the work against federal standards and confirms the equipment runs safely. Be home for that visit and keep the paperwork.