Home Energy Assistance Program

Home Energy Assistance Program

MaineHousing’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps qualified homeowners and renters pay part of their home-heating costs. It can assist with fuel costs and emergency fuel delivery, and HEAP-eligible households may also be considered for related energy repairs or utility support. The program is administered through MaineHousing and local Community Action Agencies (CAAs), with ProsperityME also processing applications for some Portland residents.

The current official notice says the previous application period is closed and that applications for the next heating season will begin on August 3, 2026. MaineHousing’s current page labels the next income table 2026–2027 Season, but it does not yet publish a closing date for that round. The date in the front matter therefore records the verified next application start rather than an invented end date. Check the official page or your local CAA when the application window opens for the closing date, available funding, and any updated crisis-assistance instructions.

This is a practical guide to the opportunity as it stands now. It distinguishes the announced upcoming season from the completed 2025–2026 season so that an applicant does not mistake an old deadline for a live one.

At a glance

What HEAP pays for

HEAP is a heating-cost assistance program, not an unrestricted cash grant. MaineHousing says benefits include help with fuel costs and emergency fuel delivery. If a household is eligible for HEAP, it may also qualify for energy-related repairs and utility payments under separate related programs. A benefit is normally applied through the fuel provider; after the CAA determines eligibility and the benefit amount, the provider generally receives the payment directly and posts it as a credit on the household account.

The amount depends on the household’s circumstances. MaineHousing specifically identifies household size, income, and other household expenses as factors. There is no universal award amount that every applicant should expect, and the current 2026–2027 program page does not publish a flat HEAP grant or a fixed statewide range. A person who needs an exact estimate should ask the CAA serving the household rather than relying on an amount from an older article or another state’s program.

HEAP can be useful for oil, kerosene, propane, natural gas, wood, wood pellets, biobricks, coal, corn, or electricity when the household’s heating arrangement and other requirements fit the program. The fuel type is part of the application record, so applicants should not assume that a general utility bill alone explains the household’s heating situation.

Current timing: 2026–2027

The official MaineHousing page currently says that the next heating-season applications will begin on August 3, 2026. It also says that the HEAP online application and the HEAP applications handled by local agencies are closed before that opening. This means someone preparing before August 3 can gather documents and identify the correct agency, but should not describe the application as currently open.

MaineHousing has published 2026–2027 income guidelines, which is a meaningful update from the prior page content. It has not published a new closing date on the current program page. The application window may be affected by available federal funds or a later MaineHousing notice, so do not turn the announced opening date into a made-up deadline. Once applications open, confirm whether the page has added a final date and whether the local CAA has appointment limits or additional instructions.

For context, the completed 2025–2026 HEAP season began August 1, 2025 and continued until funds were exhausted or May 29, 2026, according to MaineHousing. The prior ECIP season began November 1, 2025 and ran through April 30, 2026. Those dates belong to the completed round. They are included here to explain why an older listing may show a passed deadline, not as dates to use for a new application.

2026–2027 income eligibility

MaineHousing bases eligibility primarily on household size and maximum gross household income. The current official income page says that other guidelines and requirements may apply, and it directs households with more than 10 people to their CAA. It also says that a portion of medical expenses may be deductible when household income is above the listed HEAP guidelines. A household should therefore treat the table as an initial screen, not as a final approval decision.

The published maximum gross household limits for the 2026–2027 Season are:

“Gross household income” is broader than wages. MaineHousing’s documentation list names wages, Social Security, unemployment, pension, disability payments, self-employment income, interest, court orders, lease agreements, tax filings, and government eligibility determinations among the records that may be relevant. The CAA reviews the household’s evidence and can explain how a particular income source is treated.

Income is not the only question. A household also needs to explain who lives in the home, what fuel heats it, and how the heating or utility account is documented. Renters can apply; owning a home is not required. A person who pays for heat through rent or another arrangement should ask the CAA what proof is needed to show the household’s responsibility for the heating cost.

Documents to prepare

MaineHousing warns that the published list may not include every item a CAA requests and that an application can be denied if requested documentation is missing. Preparing a complete packet before the appointment or online submission can prevent an avoidable delay.

Prepare these categories:

• Household identity: names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and proof of citizenship for everyone living in the household, as requested by the application.
• Income: recent pay stubs, wage statements, W-2s, IRS Forms 1040 or 1099, unemployment records, Social Security or pension statements, disability records, profit-and-loss statements for self-employment, employer attestations, interest statements, court orders, lease agreements, tax filings, or government eligibility letters that apply to the household.
• Energy evidence: recent full energy and utility bills that show usage information, not only a cropped balance or payment screen.
• Heating information: the fuel used to heat the home, such as natural gas, heating oil, kerosene, propane, wood, wood pellets, biobricks, coal, corn, or electricity.
• Special circumstances: records for medical expenses or other circumstances that the CAA says may affect the income calculation or eligibility review.

Do not send documents that contain the wrong household member or an incomplete bill simply because it is the easiest file to find. If a document is unavailable, tell the CAA what is missing and ask whether an alternative is accepted. The official page makes clear that the CAA should provide the full details for the household’s case.

How to apply when the window opens

1. Confirm that applications are open

The announced opening is August 3, 2026. Before submitting, read the current MaineHousing HEAP page and the online application resource page. The online resource page contains tutorials for creating an account, entering household members and income, adding heating and cooling systems, entering energy-account information, submitting the application, and uploading documents. Those instructions are useful preparation even while the form is closed.

2. Choose the correct local agency

HEAP applications are handled by local CAAs throughout Maine and by ProsperityME for eligible Portland applicants who choose that processor. Use the MaineHousing agency-contact page or the ZIP-code lookup on the HEAP page to identify the organization serving the household. This step matters because the local agency schedules appointments, explains document requirements, reviews the application, and handles follow-up.

3. Submit online or arrange phone/in-person intake

When the online form is available, a household can apply directly through MaineHousing’s online application link. For phone or in-person help, call the local CAA and set an appointment. Keep the submission date, confirmation information, agency name, and staff contact in one place. If the household has limited fuel or another urgent heating problem, say so at intake rather than waiting for a routine status update.

4. Complete the interview or follow-up

MaineHousing says the process may include an application and, in some cases, an interview to determine eligibility and the level of benefit. Respond promptly to requests for missing pages, clearer bills, income verification, or household information. A complete application is not necessarily an approval; it still has to be reviewed under the program rules.

5. Verify how the benefit will be credited

After the appointment, the CAA reviews eligibility and the benefit amount. In most cases, the fuel provider receives the benefit directly and the household sees a credit on its account. Ask the CAA how to verify the credit, especially if the household uses a vendor with a nonstandard billing arrangement or needs a delivery coordinated with the benefit.

Crisis assistance through ECIP

The Energy Crisis Intervention Program, or ECIP, is the emergency path for a household with an extremely low supply of heating fuel. The current MaineHousing instructions say to start by completing a HEAP application and then contact the local CAA to determine whether the household qualifies for crisis assistance. ECIP is not a substitute for the regular HEAP application and should not be treated as an automatic payment simply because a bill is high.

The previous season’s MaineHousing announcement described ECIP as available to households without heat or with less than a seven-day fuel supply and identified a one-time emergency benefit of up to $500 for HEAP-eligible households. That announcement concerns the completed prior season. The current 2026–2027 page does not publish a new ECIP dollar amount or operating dates, so a household in crisis should ask its CAA for the current threshold, documentation, and availability rather than relying on the old figure.

If the home is at immediate risk of losing heat, prepare the fuel account information, current delivery or tank-level evidence, household income records, and any notice from the fuel vendor. Tell the CAA that the request is a crisis-screening request. The agency can explain what counts as an extremely low supply in the current operating period.

Related help after a HEAP application

HEAP eligibility may open a path to other MaineHousing energy programs. The official page identifies the Low Income Assistance Plan (LIAP) for some residential electric customers who are not living in government-subsidized housing, the Weatherization Program for eligible efficiency improvements, and the Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP) when a heating system needs repair or replacement. These are related programs with their own requirements; HEAP approval does not guarantee approval for any of them.

Ask the CAA to screen the household for referrals that match its situation. A household that needs fuel this month may also need weatherization or a heating-system repair to reduce the next season’s burden. Keep copies of the HEAP application and supporting documents because related programs may ask for similar information.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating the old May 29, 2026 date as the next application deadline.
• Assuming that a future opening date means applications are already being accepted.
• Using the 2025–2026 income table instead of the published 2026–2027 limits.
• Uploading only a payment receipt instead of the full energy bill with usage information.
• Leaving out a household member, income source, fuel type, or proof of citizenship requested by the application.
• Waiting to mention an extremely low fuel supply until after a routine application review.
• Assuming a HEAP benefit is cash paid to the applicant or will cover the full heating bill.
• Assuming the previous season’s ECIP amount or dates automatically carry into the next season.

Bottom line

HEAP remains a relevant Maine assistance program, but the live status needs to be read carefully. The 2025–2026 round has ended. MaineHousing has announced that the next application season will begin on August 3, 2026, has published updated 2026–2027 income limits, and has not yet posted a closing date on the current page. Prepare identity, income, energy-bill, and fuel records now; identify the correct CAA; and apply through the official online or local-agency route when the window opens. If the household is close to running out of fuel, begin the HEAP process and contact the CAA immediately for current ECIP screening instructions.