LIHEAP NJ: Income Limits, Benefits, and How to Apply

For New Jersey’s FY2026 LIHEAP program year, a single-person household can qualify with gross income up to $50,005 per year, and the NJ LIHEAP income limits climb from there with each additional person in the home. New Jersey sets its ceiling at 60% of state median income, which is the higher of the two thresholds federal law allows, so the cutoffs are more generous than many applicants expect.¹ The program runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, and applications are handled first-come, first-served through the county community action agency assigned to where you live.²

FY2026 Income Limits by Household Size

Eligibility is measured against your household’s gross income for the four weeks before you apply. These are the ceilings for FY2026:³

1 person: $4,167/month ($50,005/year)
2 people: $5,449/month ($65,392/year)
3 people: $6,732/month ($80,778/year)
4 people: $8,014/month ($96,165/year)
5 people: $9,296/month ($111,551/year)
6 people: $10,578/month ($126,937/year)

A seven-person household can earn up to $10,819 per month, and beyond twelve people, each additional member adds $241 per month to the cap.³ A family of four earning around $96,000 doesn’t usually think of itself as eligible for energy assistance. In New Jersey, it is.

There is no asset test. Savings account balances and property ownership do not disqualify you.³

Who Counts as Your Household

Household size drives which income limit applies to you, so getting it right matters. New Jersey defines a household as any individual or group of people living together as one economic unit who share home energy costs.⁴ If you rent a room in someone else’s home under a strictly business arrangement, where you would leave if you stopped paying, you may count as a separate one-person household rather than being folded into your landlord’s income.

Every adult in the household must account for their income. If someone 18 or older has no income and is not a full-time student, that person completes a Zero Income Statement acknowledging that false information may carry penalties. A full-time student who also heads the household still has their income counted toward the total.

Undercounting people can push your per-person income above the threshold; overcounting can raise fraud concerns later. Report everyone in the home accurately.

Beyond Income: Residency and Energy Responsibility

You need to be a New Jersey resident and have some responsibility for your home energy costs. That second piece is broader than it sounds. It covers homeowners who pay a utility directly, renters who pay their own gas or electric bills, and renters whose heating is included in their monthly rent. If heat is bundled into your rent and your income fits within the limits, you can still receive a benefit.³

What You Can Receive if You Qualify

Heating Benefit

The main LIHEAP benefit is a payment credited directly to your utility company or fuel supplier. All major fuel types are covered: electricity, natural gas, oil, propane, and wood. For FY2026, heating benefits range from a minimum of $118 to a maximum of $1,278, depending on income, household size, fuel type, and which heating region you live in.⁵

Emergency Crisis Assistance

If your service has been shut off, you’ve received a shutoff notice, or you’re running low on deliverable fuel, apply for emergency crisis assistance. The program also covers emergency heating system repairs when a furnace or boiler fails during the heating season.² For a genuine emergency, call the Energy Assistance Hotline at 800-510-3102 rather than waiting on a standard application.

Medically Necessary Cooling

If someone in the household has a medical condition worsened by extreme heat, a cooling benefit of $118 to $1,278 can be credited to your electric account, backed by a physician’s certification.⁵ Apply for cooling at the same time as heating rather than filing separately in summer.

Universal Service Fund

Your LIHEAP application automatically applies you for the Universal Service Fund, a state-funded monthly credit on your natural gas or electric bill. One application, both programs.⁶

Application Window

Heating applications are accepted first-come, first-served, and the practical window typically closes around late June. Funds can run out before the program year ends on September 30, so apply early in the season.

Documents to Gather

A single form covers LIHEAP, USF, and Weatherization. Download it from the DCA website or pick one up at your county community action agency.⁷ Before you start, pull together:

Social Security cards for every person in the household, not just the applicant
Proof of gross income for the four weeks before you apply — pay stubs, Social Security benefit letters, pension statements, or similar documentation for each adult
Housing documentation: a current lease if you rent, or a deed or property tax bill if you own
Recent heating and electric bills showing account numbers and service address
Physician’s certification, only if applying for medically necessary cooling

Three Ways to Apply

Online through the DCA portal at nj.gov/dca/dcaid
By mail to the community action agency assigned to your county
In person at your county’s community action agency

Each county has one designated agency, and sending your packet to the wrong one causes delays. Find yours through the DCA agency list or by calling 800-510-3102.⁸

After You Apply

Standard processing takes up to 60 days from receipt of a completed application. If the applicant is elderly or has a disability, the timeline drops to 30 days. A delay beyond those windows is only permitted when the household hasn’t cooperated in providing documentation.⁴

A written notice arrives by mail. An approval states the benefit amount and identifies which utility will receive the payment. A denial explains the reason and your right to challenge the decision.

If you’re denied, you can request an administrative review from the DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources. After the division sends written findings, you can accept them or request a formal fair hearing. The same hearing right applies if your application sits past the 60-day (or 30-day) window without a decision.⁴ A missing document is one of the most common reasons for denial and is usually fixable, so read the stated reason before treating the notice as final.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8624 – Applications and Requirements
2
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Low Income Home Energy Assistance
3
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Universal Service Fund FFY 2026 Fact Sheet
4
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Home Energy Assistance Program Handbook
5
The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. New Jersey
6
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Universal Service Fund
7
State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Home Energy Assistance / Universal Service Fund and Weatherization Program Application
8
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. New Jersey Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program