Fuel Assistance

It’s fuel assistance season again. Known commonly as Fuel Assistance, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides eligible households with help in paying a portion of winter heating bills. Households can apply from November 1st to April 30th of the program year.

Eligible Applicants

Homeowners and renters, including households whose cost of heat is included in the rent, can apply at the agency in their area. Eligibility is based on household size and the gross annual income of every household member, 18 years of age or older. Household income cannot exceed 60% of estimated State Median Income (see chart).

Eligible Activities and Funding Requirements

This program provides assistance through a fixed benefit amount for the cost of the primary source of heat with includes, but is not limited to:

• Oil
• Electricity
• Natural gas
• Propane
• Kerosene
• Wood
• Coal

Payments for actual usage or fuel delivery are made directly to the heating vendor for primary energy needs except when the cost of heating is included in the rent.

Related Discounts

If eligible, discounts are automatically given on:

• electric bills for investor owned electric utilities (i.e., not municipal-owned utilities)
• gas bills for investor-owned gas utilities
• telephone bills

How to Apply

First-time applicants must apply in person at the fuel assistance agency in their area.  Households must apply each year; applications are mailed to households after the first year.  Households can apply from November 1st to April 30th of the program year.  Applicants who are denied assistance have the right to appeal through the local fuel assistance agency.

-From: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ehedterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Consumer+Protection+%26+Assistance&L2=Energy+Assistance&sid=Ehed&b=terminalcontent&f=dhcd_cd_liheap_liheap&csid=Ehed retrieved 10/14/09. 

10/09