HEAR Income Limits Explained: AMI, the 80% / 150% Tiers & How to Check Yours
HEAR rebate income limits explained: how Area Median Income (AMI) works, what the 80% and 150% tiers mean, household size adjustments, and how to check your eligibility.
Key facts
- HEAR is income-capped: only households at or below 150% of Area Median Income (AMI) qualify
- Below 80% AMI: rebates can cover up to 100% of project cost (up to each measure's cap)
- 80–150% AMI: rebates cover up to 50% of project cost
- AMI is local: the same salary can qualify in one county and not in the next — always check your county's number
- Household size matters: limits rise with each additional household member
What is Area Median Income (AMI)?
AMI is the midpoint household income for your metro area or county, published annually by HUD. Income-based programs — the IRA's HEAR rebates, weatherization assistance, and many utility discount rates — define eligibility as a percentage of AMI, adjusted for how many people live in the home.
The two HEAR tiers
The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program has two tiers, and the difference is worth thousands of dollars:
| Your household income | What HEAR can cover | Example: $16,000 heat pump |
|---|---|---|
| Below 80% of AMI | Up to 100% of cost, capped per measure | $8,000 rebate |
| 80% – 150% of AMI | Up to 50% of cost, capped per measure | $8,000 rebate |
| Above 150% of AMI | Not eligible for HEAR | $0 |
Per-measure caps still apply: $8,000 for a heat pump, $4,000 for an electrical panel, $1,750 for a heat pump water heater, $1,600 for insulation and air sealing — with a $14,000 total per household.
How to check your AMI in two minutes
- Open HUD's income limits tool (or your state program's lookup — most live programs embed one).
- Select your state and county, then find the row for your household size.
- Compare your gross household income to the 80% and 150% columns.
Borderline? Apply anyway — programs verify income themselves, and some use categorical eligibility (e.g., enrollment in SNAP or LIHEAP counts automatically).
What counts as income
Programs typically count gross income for all adult household members: wages, self-employment, Social Security, pensions, and rental income. They usually verify with tax returns, recent pay stubs, or benefit letters. Above 150%? You still have options: HOMES rebates have no income cap, and utility rebates rarely check income at all.