Editor’s note: This story was last updated on Aug. 6, 2026
Have you fallen behind on water, gas or power payments in Memphis? Help is available to avoid a utility cutoff by Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
MLGW has several programs to help customers who are struggling to make payments. Budget billing can even out bills over a calendar year, while the PowerPay program allows customers to make small payments throughout the month rather than waiting to be billed for a lump sum.
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But many of MLGW’s solutions are based on adjusting payment timelines or educating residents about energy usage, not reducing the amount customers owe. That’s where utility assistance comes in. Direct utility aid can help customers reduce or eliminate their overdue amount and avoid late fees or cutoffs.
Here’s how to apply for utility bill assistance programs in Memphis.
LIHEAP Utility Assistance
Who runs it: Shelby County Community Services Agency
Who qualifies for assistance: To access emergency assistance, residents must make no more than 60% of the state’s median income, which is around $32,000 for a single person or $62,000 for a family of four.
Applicants will be given priority if they have received a cutoff notice AND meet one of the following criteria:
- A household member who is disabled — a disability benefits letter or a disability verification form filled out by a doctor is now required
- A household member who is a veteran — a DD214 record is now required to prove that the veteran was not dishonorably discharged
- A child in the household aged 5 or younger
- A senior in the household aged 60 or older
Documentation required: In addition to documentation proving the qualifications above, applicants will need to provide:
- An email address
- Most recent MLGW bill
- MLGW cutoff notice, if applicable
- Government photo ID for the applicant
- Social Security cards for all household members
- Birth certificates for children aged 1 year or younger
- Proof of income for the last 30 days for every household member over 18
- Zero Income Form for every household member over 18 with no income
- Self-Employment Income Forms and most recent tax returns for any self-employed household members
- Landlord / Tenant agreement form if the applicant is a renter
- Section 8 housing voucher payment letter, if applicable
The CSA lists the documents clients may need to apply for LIHEAP here.
How to apply: As of June 15, 2026, the Shelby County CSA is partnering with MLGW to process LIHEAP applications at the utility’s downtown office. To apply, customers must make an appointment at the downtown office through the online Qless system. Seniors who need assistance making an appointment or gathering documents should call 901-222-4200.
Applicants should bring all the required documents listed above to MLGW’s downtown office at 245 S. Main St. at their scheduled appointment time. They will then apply in person for assistance.
Plus-1 Assistance through MLGW
Who runs it: MLGW now runs the Plus-1 program in-house after ending its decades-long partnership with the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association last summer.
Who qualifies for assistance: MLGW customers with an active cutoff notice can apply for assistance through the Plus-1 program. Eligibility does not guarantee payment, and payments may not cover a customer’s entire outstanding bill amount. Households can qualify for assistance through this program once per calendar year. Priority is given to low-income households and those with seniors over age 70.
Documentation required:
- Government-issued ID for all household members over 18, and birth certificates or other forms of ID for those under 18
- Proof of income for all household members
- Cutoff notice from MLGW
How to apply: Customers can apply directly through their MLGW account by selecting “Apply for Plus1 Utility Assistance Program” at the bottom of their dashboard. Funds are replenished at the beginning of every month, and applications close once they are depleted. Customers should apply as early in the month as possible for the best chance of acceptance.
City of Memphis Utility Assistance
Who runs it: Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc. and the Tennessee Department of Human Services administer this program, with funding provided by the city and TVA.
Who qualifies for assistance: Memphis residents may qualify for utility assistance if they have a combined household income below 130% of the federal poverty level and have received a cutoff notice from MLGW. Additionally, they must either provide proof of their eligibility for state Department of Human Services assistance OR show proof of a recent financial hardship.
Only financial, medical and military deployment-based hardships are accepted at this time— examples include job loss, hospitalization, being 100% medically disabled or having a spouse on an active military deployment. MLGW Prepay and PowerPay customers are not eligible for assistance.
Documentation required:
- Proof of address
- MLGW cutoff notice
- Proof of income (for non-DHS clients)
- Proof of recent financial hardship (for non-DHS clients)
How to apply: Clients who don’t receive DHS services must apply for city utility assistance through Neighborhood Christian Centers. Clients can apply online on the third Wednesday of every month until the application reaches its threshold. If the online form is unavailable, that means the program has reached its threshold for the month.
Clients of the Tennessee Department of Human Services only need to provide an MLGW cutoff notice to apply for this assistance. DHS clients can mail or bring a copy of their cutoff notice in person to their local DHS office. There are two Tennessee DHS offices in Memphis, located at 6941 Winchester Road and 4885 Stage Road.
Driving the Dream
Who runs it: United Way Mid-South runs Driving the Dream in partnership with 180+ other organizations.
Who qualifies for assistance: Driving the Dream is a program that helps connect Memphis-area residents experiencing poverty to over 180 different service providers based on their unique needs. Utility assistance is one of the many services the program offers — either directly or through referrals to other local agencies.
Documentation required: To make an initial request for services, all that’s needed is contact information and date of birth. Clients with one need will usually be referred to a local nonprofit that can help meet it. Those with two or more needs will be referred to Driving the Dream’s care coordinators, who will usually ask for the following:
- Identification
- Proof of income
- Documentation of any children in the household
To access utility assistance, clients may also need to provide:
- Proof of financial hardship
- Proof of a pending utility cutoff
How to apply: Clients can make an initial request for assistance through Driving the Dream by filling out a callback form online. United Way MidSouth’s phone number is 901-433-4300. Once enrolled, a care coordinator will assess clients’ need for utility assistance and can walk them through the next steps to obtain it.
Short Term Rental, Mortgage and Utility Assistance for HIV+ Clients
Who runs it: Friends for All
Who qualifies for assistance: Residents of the Memphis area who are living with HIV and facing a utility cutoff may qualify for up to 21 weeks of utility assistance through Friends for All. Their household must be at or below 80% of the area median income — that’s a total household limit of around $67,000.
Documentation required:
- Proof of HIV+ medical status for at least one person in the household
- Copies of IDs and Social Security cards for all household members
- Proof of residence (lease or mortgage statement)
- Documentation of income for all household members
- Tennessee residents must provide a utility cutoff notice to get assistance
How to apply: Apply online through the Friends for All website. Self-referrals for Friends For All’s services take around 10 days to process. Clients can only apply for utility assistance once per 52-week period.
Hope House Emergency Financial Assistance for HIV+ Clients
Who runs it: Hope House
Who qualifies for assistance: Memphis residents living with HIV may qualify for emergency financial assistance in the form of utility payments if they are clients of Hope House.
Documentation required:
- A Ryan White card is required to access all of Hope House’s social services. This card indicates a client’s eligibility for care through the federally funded Ryan White Program, which provides free treatment for HIV/AIDS to low-income people who lack sufficient health insurance coverage.
- Referral from a medical case manager
- Proof of income and/or financial hardship
- MLGW bill in the client’s name
How to apply: A medical case manager from another organization must refer clients to receive any of Hope House’s social services. Memphis groups that serve clients with HIV/AIDS include Friends for All, the Shelby County Health Department and Christ Community Health Services.
Did we miss an assistance program that helps Memphians pay their utility bills? Have you had trouble accessing assistance through any of these programs? Let MLK50 know by emailing the author of this story at natalie.wallington@mlk50.com.
Natalie Wallington is the housing reporter for MLK50: Justice Through Journalism. Email her at natalie.wallington@mlk50.com.
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