Home Energy Assistance Program
** This program closed on 04/12/2023. If you need heating assistance now, please contact your Community Action Agency to apply for a Winter Energy Relief benefit. **
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps qualified homeowners and renters pay for heating costs. Benefits include help paying for fuel and emergency fuel delivery. You can also qualify for energy-related repairs if you are eligible for HEAP.
Households are encouraged to apply for HEAP as early as possible. The application process involves both an application and an interview, to help determine eligibility and the level of benefit. The amount of benefit eligible households receive varies depending on household size, income and other factors.
Applying For The Program
Apply
** This program is now closed. Please contact your local Community Action Agency about the Winter Energy Relief Program if you need immediate assistance and to set up an appointment for the next heating season.**
Applications for the HEAP Program are handled by your local Community Action Agency. You can view all HEAP Agency Contacts here.
If you applied online the status of your application may have several different stages. Download the journey flyer below for more info on the stages and status definitions.
Prepare For Your Appointment
You will need to provide copies of certain documents to apply. This list may not include everything so make sure you ask your CAA what to bring.
- Names and social security numbers of all people living in your household.
- Proof of gross household income for the last 30 day/1 month or 12 months. (Household income includes, but is not limited to: wages, social security, unemployment, pension, and disability payments.)
- Proof of present address (for example, a rent receipt, lease, deed, or property tax bill).
- Recent copies of your energy and utility bills.
- The type of fuel used to heat your home (natural gas, heating oil, propane, wood, wood pellets, biobricks, coal, corn, kerosene or electricity).
You Have Applied - Now What?
CAA Follow Up
After your appointment the CAA will review your application to determine if you are eligible for a benefit. In most cases the, once eligibility is determined, the CAA will work directly with your fuel provider and the benefit will be paid as a credit to your account.
If you applied online the status of your application may have several different stages. Download the journey flyer below for more info on the stages and status definitions.
Download HEAP Application Process Journey Flyer
Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance More help may be available if you have less than a seven (7) day supply of heating fuel. We may also be able to help if you cannot pay your bill and your services may be disconnected. We also be able to help with past due utility bills.
Additional Resources
If you are eligible for HEAP, you also may qualify for other programs that require HEAP eligibility:
- If you receive residential electric service from an electric utility and you are not living in government subsidized housing, you may be eligible for assistance with your electric bills from your electric utility’s Low Income Assistance Plan (LIAP).
- If your home is not as energy efficient as it could be, you may qualify for home weatherization improvements through our Weatherization Program.
- If your heating system is in need of repair or replacement, you may qualify for the Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP).
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