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Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) (LIHEAP) in Massachusetts
Massachusetts calls its LIHEAP the Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, and many people know it as fuel assistance.
It pays part of your winter heating costs from Nov. 1 to April 30, straight to your fuel dealer or utility, and if you're approved you may also get discounts on investor-owned electric and gas bills. Renters whose heat is included in the rent can apply too.
How to apply in Massachusetts
- Online
- toapply.org
- By phone
- 1-800-632-8175
- In person
- Apply in person or by phone with the local HEAP agency for your town. To find it, use the HEAP portal's lookup tool, call the Cold Relief Heatline at 1-800-632-8175, or match your town's number in the state's Cold Relief brochure. Mass211 (dial 2-1-1) answers general questions around the clock.
- By mail
- You can also apply by mail through your local agency. After your first year, a renewal application is mailed to you.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Massachusetts
| Yearly income limit, one person (FY 2027) | $53,585 a year for one person (60% of state median income) |
|---|---|
| Yearly income limit, two people (FY 2027) | $70,073 a year for two people |
| Renters | Homeowners and renters can apply, including renters whose heat is included in the rent |
| What to have ready | Photo ID for the head of household, a list of everyone in the home, your heating company's name and account number, your lease or mortgage statement, and proof of income for the 30 days before you apply |
Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (source 1)
What you may get
| Heating benefit (FY 2027 draft state plan) | $200 to $600, set by household income and size. If you're approved, investor-owned electric and gas companies also give you a discount automatically. |
|---|---|
| Emergency help (FY 2027 draft state plan) | Up to $600. Emergency applications go to the front of the line if you have no heat, less than a three-day supply of fuel (1/8 of a standard tank or less), a final shut-off notice, a broken heating system, or, for renters with heat in the rent, eviction within 72 hours. |
Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (source 3)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| When to apply for winter 2026–27 | The online application opens Oct. 1. The program helps with heating costs from Nov. 1 to April 30. You must apply every year. |
|---|---|
| Summer cooling help | None. Massachusetts runs heating help only. |
| Older adults | No early sign-up or extra benefit for older adults. Local agencies aim their outreach at older adults, people with disabilities and people on fixed incomes, and most returning households renew by mail before Nov. 1. |
Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (source 1)
How Massachusetts is different
Where Massachusetts's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Qualifying for HEAP also brings automatic discounts on investor-owned electric and gas bills
- Returning households get a renewal application in the mail, often approved before the heating season starts
- Your HEAP application also counts as an application for heating system repair or replacement (HEARTWAP) and weatherization
Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (source 1)
Good to know
- HEAP is free. If anyone asks you to pay an application fee, it is a scam; report it to the state.
- First-time applicants must have an intake appointment with their local agency.
- How much the state can pay each year depends on how much federal money Massachusetts receives.
Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (source 2)
Free help
Free help with this in Massachusetts
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Massachusetts
Help with heating and cooling bills in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Learn about Home Energy Assistance - HEAP (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Apply for Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, LIHEAP FY27 Model State Plan (draft) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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