LEAP Colorado: How Denver Area Households Can Get Help With Winter Heating Bills

LEAP Colorado is the state program that helps households pay part of their winter heating bill, and the 2026 to 2027 season is open now. This guide explains who qualifies, how much it pays, how to apply if you live in Denver, Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Highlands Ranch or anywhere else in Denver, Arapahoe or Douglas counties, and what other help exists for a broken furnace, a past due Xcel Energy bill or a drafty house.

The details below come from the Colorado Department of Human Services LEAP page, the county contact list it links to, the Colorado Energy Office and Energy Outreach Colorado, as read on Nov. 11, 2026. Program rules and funding can change during the season, so confirm anything important by calling the LEAP line.

What Does LEAP Pay For?

LEAP helps with part of your home heating costs for the winter. It is not meant to cover your whole bill. According to the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), the benefit usually falls between $200 and $1,000, depending on your heating costs, your household income, how much funding the program has and how many people apply.

• Who gets the money: In most cases LEAP sends the payment straight to your heating fuel company, such as Xcel Energy or your propane dealer, not to you.
• How often: You can get LEAP heating help once each season.
• Furnace repair: Fixing or replacing a broken furnace or main heating system is handled by a separate program, the Crisis Intervention Program, which runs all year (see below).

Who Qualifies for LEAP in 2026 to 2027?

You might qualify if your household meets the income limit and you pay for heat, either directly to the utility or as part of your rent. The main rules from CDHS:

• Income: Households with income at or below 60% of the state median income may qualify, according to a Nov. 3, 2026 release from Montrose County Human Services. That release puts the 2026 to 2027 limit at $3,774 a month in gross income for one person and $7,258 a month for a family of four. The full table by household size is on the CDHS LEAP page.
• Paying for heat: You pay your heating bill to the utility, or your heat is included in your rent. Renters with heat in the rent can qualify as long as they do not live in subsidized housing.
• Lawful presence: Household members born outside the United States need proof of lawful presence, such as a naturalization certificate, a U.S. passport, a permanent resident card, a born abroad certificate or refugee or asylee papers.

You do not need an interview to apply, and homeowners and renters both qualify.

How Do You Apply for LEAP in Denver, Arapahoe or Douglas County?

Applications are open from Nov. 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. You can apply any time in that window, but applying early in the cold months gets help to your bill sooner. There are three ways to apply:

1. Online: Apply through Colorado PEAK, the same site used for food and medical assistance.
2. By phone: Call 1.866.HEAT.HELP (1.866.432.8435). The same number lets you check the status of your application.
3. On paper: Download the English or Spanish application from the CDHS LEAP page, or pick one up at your county human services office, then mail, email or drop it off at your county LEAP office.

What to have ready

• Names, birth dates and Social Security numbers for everyone in your household
• Proof of household income
• Your most recent heating bill, or your latest rent receipt if heat is included in your rent
• Proof of lawful presence for household members born outside the United States
• Self employment income and expenses, if that applies to you

Answer every question and sign the application. Missing answers and missing signatures are the most common reasons an application stalls.

Where Are the County Human Services Offices?

If you would rather pick up or drop off a paper application in person, these are the county human services offices listed by CDHS for the South Denver area. Call ahead to confirm which office handles LEAP paperwork.

Denver Human Services

Denver residents can use any Denver Human Services office, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDHS lists four: 1200 Federal Blvd., 3815 Steele St., 4685 Peoria St. and 2929 W. 10th Ave. The office on Federal Boulevard is the closest to most South Denver neighborhoods.

Arapahoe County Human Services

Arapahoe County covers Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village. Its human services office is in Aurora and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Douglas County Human Services

Douglas County covers Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker and Castle Rock. Its office on East Lansing Circle is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How Long Does a LEAP Decision Take?

CDHS says most LEAP applications that are not emergencies are processed within 30 days. Emergencies move faster:

• If you have a shut off notice, expect about 10 days.
• If you have no heat or have run out of propane, expect about 18 days.

If you have a shut off notice, say so when you apply and include a copy. While you wait, call your utility to ask about a payment arrangement so the account stays open.

What If Your Furnace Breaks or You Are Behind on Your Bill?

LEAP is one piece of a bigger set of programs. Depending on your problem, one of these may help more:

Crisis Intervention Program for broken furnaces

The Crisis Intervention Program helps income qualified households repair or replace a main heating system, such as a furnace or wood stove, and runs year round. CDHS points applicants to Energy Outreach Colorado’s heating repair page to start.

Energy Outreach Colorado for past due bills

Energy Outreach Colorado is a nonprofit that runs emergency help for past due energy bills and furnace repairs for income qualified households, along with free energy upgrades for some homes. If LEAP has not come through yet and a shut off is close, it is worth checking.

Xcel Energy payment programs

Xcel Energy offers income qualified Colorado customers a Percentage of Income Payment Plan, which caps what you pay based on your income. As reported by The Colorado Sun in July 2026, the plan is open to households under 200% of the federal poverty level or below 80% of the area median income, and a proposed rate case settlement would widen it and pause disconnections for participants. Call Xcel or check your online account to ask what you qualify for now, and ask about a payment arrangement if you are behind.

Free weatherization

The Colorado Energy Office’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides no cost insulation, air sealing and similar work for qualified homes, which lowers heating bills for years. Households that receive LEAP qualify automatically, renters can take part with the owner’s permission, and homes weatherized in the last 15 years are not eligible. You can apply online or through your local provider: the Energy Resource Center for Denver (720.236.1321) and Douglas County (719.591.0772), and the Arapahoe County Weatherization Division (303.636.1982). Waiting lists are common, so apply early.

The state heat rebate

Colorado’s Property Tax, Rent and Heat Credit rebate, run by the Department of Revenue, can refund part of your heating costs too, with a maximum heat rebate of $192 according to CDHS. Details are on the Department of Revenue PTC page.

How Can You Lower Your Heating Bill This Winter?

Assistance helps, but the cheapest therm is the one you do not burn. A few low cost steps make a real difference in older South Denver bungalows and ranch homes:

• Replace the furnace filter, and have the furnace checked if it has not been serviced in a few years.
• Seal gaps around doors and windows with weather stripping and caulk.
• Lower the thermostat at night and when no one is home.
• Keep vents clear of furniture and rugs so warm air can move.
• Close the fireplace damper when you are not using it.

Our guide to winterizing your Denver home covers sprinkler blowouts, pipes and the sidewalk snow rule, and our radon testing guide explains why winter, when houses are sealed up, is the right time to test.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does LEAP open in Colorado for 2026 to 2027?

LEAP opened on Nov. 1, 2026, and CDHS accepts applications through April 30, 2027. You can get LEAP heating help once per season, and most applications that are not emergencies are processed within 30 days.

What is the LEAP income limit for a family of four in Colorado?

For the 2026 to 2027 season, the limit for a family of four is $7,258 a month in gross income, and $3,774 for one person, based on 60% of the state median income as reported by Montrose County Human Services on Nov. 3, 2026.

Can renters in Denver get LEAP if heat is included in the rent?

Yes. CDHS says you might qualify if your heat is included in your rent and you do not live in subsidized housing. Include your most recent rent receipt with your application instead of a heating bill.

What is the LEAP phone number?

Call 1.866.HEAT.HELP, which is 1.866.432.8435, to apply by phone or check the status of an application. Denver residents can also call Denver Human Services at 720.944.4347.