HEAP Massachusetts: Eligibility, Benefit Amounts, and How to Apply

Massachusetts HEAP, the state’s Home Energy Assistance Program, pays a one-time winter heating benefit of $250 to $600 directly to your fuel company or utility if your household income is at or below 60% of the State Median Income. For the FY 2026 season, that income ceiling is $51,777 for a single person and $99,573 for a four-person household. Applications are accepted from November 1 through April 30, and both homeowners and renters can qualify, including renters whose heat is included in rent.

Who Qualifies by Income

Every household member age 18 and older has their gross income counted toward the total. For FY 2026, the limits are:

1 person: $51,777
2 people: $67,709
3 people: $83,641
4 people: $99,573
5 people: $115,504
6 people: $131,436

Larger households should call their local agency; the calculation shifts at higher sizes.¹ The program covers every primary heating source: oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, kerosene, wood, and coal.²

Automatic Eligibility Through Other Benefits

If anyone in your household receives Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the household is categorically eligible, and income verification is simplified because those programs already confirmed your finances.³

Non-Citizens and Mixed-Status Households

Federal law limits LIHEAP, the federal program behind HEAP, to U.S. citizens and “qualified non-citizens,” a category that includes lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and people paroled into the country for at least one year. As of March 2024, citizens of countries covered by the Compacts of Free Association also qualify.⁴

In mixed-status households, eligible members can still receive benefits. The agency counts everyone’s income to test the household against the limit, but only counts eligible members when calculating the benefit amount. An ineligible member can submit the application on behalf of eligible relatives.⁵

Documents to Gather Before You Apply

Missing paperwork is the single most common reason applications stall. Pull everything together first:

A government-issued photo ID for the head of household.
Social Security numbers for every household member.
Proof of income covering the 30 days before your application date. Wage earners need consecutive pay stubs; recipients of Social Security, SSI, TAFDC, or other government benefits need the most recent benefit letter.
If you’re self-employed, your most recent federal tax return with all pages and schedules.
Housing documentation: current lease, mortgage statement, or a signed statement from your landlord. If heat is included in rent, bring proof of the monthly rent amount.
Your fuel company’s name and account number, plus a recent utility bill or fuel delivery statement.

The 30-day window is literal. Apply on March 15 and you need income records back to February 13.¹

How and When to Apply

Applications open November 1 each year. The last day to apply is generally April 30, though the state sometimes extends into May after severe winters or low application volume. Case management and benefit processing continue through September 30.⁶

You have three options:

Online through the Massachusetts LIHEAP portal, uploading digital copies of your documents.
By mail to the HEAP agency serving your area.
In person at your local Community Action Agency or fuel assistance office.

First-time applicants complete an intake appointment, in person or by phone, to set up the household record. If you applied in a previous year, a simplified recertification usually skips the intake step.²

How Much You Can Receive

HEAP is not meant to cover an entire heating bill. The benefit amount depends on your income as a percentage of the federal poverty level, whether you use a delivered fuel or a utility, and whether you live in subsidized housing. For FY 2026:

Delivered fuel (oil, propane, kerosene): $430 to $600 for homeowners and tenants not in subsidized housing; $300 to $420 for subsidized housing tenants.
Utility heat or heat included in rent: $355 to $500 for homeowners and non-subsidized tenants; $250 to $350 for subsidized housing tenants.

The lowest-income households, at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, receive the highest benefit, and the amount steps down as income rises. A High Energy Cost Supplement may be added if your previous year’s heating costs exceeded certain thresholds, which the state releases mid-fall.⁷

How the Payment Reaches Your Vendor

You will never receive a check. HEAP pays your heating vendor directly. If you heat with gas or electricity, the benefit shows up as a credit on your utility account. If you use oil or propane, the agency authorizes your vendor to deliver up to the approved amount. The payment window runs November 1 through April 30.²

Because the benefit is tied to a specific vendor account, tell your local agency right away if you switch fuel companies mid-season so the remaining funds can be redirected.

If You’re Already Out of Heat

If your heat has been shut off, you’ve received a shutoff notice, or your tank is empty and you can’t afford a delivery, you may qualify for crisis assistance on top of the standard benefit. Massachusetts provides a winter crisis benefit of up to $600 for households in an immediate heating emergency, and the crisis program runs November 1 through September 30, longer than the standard window.⁸

Don’t wait. If you’re down to a quarter tank or your utility account is past due, contact your local agency or call the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175. Elderly households, people with disabilities, and families with young children are prioritized for emergency processing.¹

Winter Shutoff Protection Is Separate

Massachusetts also has a winter moratorium that protects most low-income utility customers from gas or electric shutoff during the coldest months. For the 2025–2026 season, the moratorium runs from late October through early April. It is not automatic. You must submit a financial hardship form to your utility to activate it, and the protection applies to the account you file for. If gas is your primary heat but your furnace blower depends on electricity, ask the utility to protect both accounts.

If Your Application Is Denied

After you apply, review usually takes several weeks. You’ll receive a letter with your approved benefit amount or the reasons for denial. To check status before the letter arrives, call the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175 or your local agency. Many agencies also run automated phone lines that pull up your case using your Social Security number.¹

If you’re denied or the benefit looks wrong, you have the right to request a fair hearing. Federal law requires every state LIHEAP program to offer one.⁹ Your denial letter will spell out how to file. If you believe the income calculation was wrong or the household wasn’t counted correctly, request the hearing. It triggers a fresh review of your case.

What HEAP Eligibility Also Unlocks

Qualifying for HEAP automatically qualifies you for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), with no separate application. A contractor evaluates your home and installs energy efficiency improvements at no cost, averaging $4,725 per household. Common work includes air sealing, attic and sidewall insulation, floor insulation, pipe and duct insulation, and safety testing of combustion appliances.³

If you’ve fallen behind on utility bills, ask your gas or electric company about its Arrearage Management Program. National Grid’s Massachusetts AMP, for example, is open to customers on the low-income discount rate who owe at least $300 that is more than 60 days past due; each on-time monthly payment erases a portion of the old balance, up to $12,000 per year, and no down payment is required if the account is still active.¹⁰ Eversource and other Massachusetts utilities offer similar programs on varying terms.

If your income is above the HEAP ceiling but below 80% of the State Median Income, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund serves that gap. It’s designed for one-time hardships rather than ongoing low income.⁸

1
Mass.gov. Learn about Home Energy Assistance – HEAP
2
Mass.gov. Apply for Home Heating and Energy Assistance
3
Mass.gov. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
4
Administration for Children and Families. Changes to LIHEAP Eligibility for Citizens of Countries Governed by the Compacts of Free Association (COFA)
5
Administration for Children and Families. LIHEAP IM HHS Guidance on the Use of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and Citizenship Status Verification
6
LIHEAP Clearinghouse. State and Territory LIHEAP Program Duration
7
LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Fiscal Year 2026 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Income Eligibility and Benefit Levels
8
LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Massachusetts LIHEAP Profile
9
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 42 – Section 8624
10
National Grid. Arrears Management Program