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. Benefits can support fuel costs and emergency fuel delivery. A household that qualifies for HEAP may also qualify separately for energy-related repairs or utility assistance. MaineHousing administers the program with local Community Action Agencies (CAAs); residents of Portland may also choose ProsperityME to process an application.

The 2026–2027 application season is open. MaineHousing says applications began on August 3, 2026 and will continue until funds are exhausted or May 29, 2027, whichever comes first. Because available funds may be exhausted before the published end date, applicants should apply as early as possible and check with the CAA serving their area about appointments and current availability. The earlier August 3 date is the opening date, not the deadline.

At a glance

What HEAP provides

HEAP is a heating-cost benefit, not unrestricted cash. MaineHousing describes assistance with fuel costs and emergency fuel delivery. In most cases, when a household is approved, the fuel provider receives the benefit directly and posts it as a credit on the household’s account. The program is intended to help with heating bills; applicants should not assume the benefit will pay the full cost of the season’s heat.

There is no single award amount to budget around. MaineHousing says the benefit varies according to household size, income, and other household expenses. The program page does not promise a statewide flat grant or a set benefit range. A CAA reviews the household’s circumstances and explains the benefit determination. Applicants should ask their agency how the benefit is credited and whether it goes to a fuel vendor or another account appropriate to their heating arrangement.

The official application asks for the fuel used to heat the home. Listed fuel types include natural gas, heating oil, kerosene, propane, wood, wood pellets, biobricks, coal, corn, and electricity. Having one of these fuels does not by itself guarantee eligibility: household income, residence, documentation, and any additional program criteria are part of the review. A household with heat included in rent, a shared heating arrangement, or a billing account in another person’s name should ask the CAA what evidence will show its heating costs and responsibility.

Application period and timing

The official MaineHousing HEAP page lists the active season as 2026–2027. Applications started on August 3, 2026 and remain available until funds are exhausted or May 29, 2027. The period can therefore end before May 29 if the funding is used. The published May date is the latest stated end date, not a guarantee that funds will remain throughout the season.

MaineHousing encourages households to apply as early as possible. Waiting until a fuel emergency or the last weeks of the season may leave less time to book an appointment, gather missing paperwork, and complete a review. A household that already has an urgent shortage should tell the CAA when making contact so it can ask about crisis screening as well as the regular HEAP application.

The deadline in this page’s summary reflects the published final date for the 2026–2027 season. It does not override the funds-exhausted condition. Before relying on the date, check the MaineHousing HEAP page or call the local agency to confirm that applications are still being accepted.

Income eligibility for 2026–2027

MaineHousing bases HEAP eligibility on household income and size; other program guidelines may apply. The current table gives maximum gross household income limits in monthly, three-month, and annual amounts. The annual limits are:

For example, a one-person household’s annual maximum corresponds to $3,173 per month in the official table, while a four-person household’s maximum corresponds to $6,101 per month. These are maximum gross income figures, not benefit estimates. If a household has more than ten people, MaineHousing directs it to contact its CAA for the applicable guideline rather than extrapolating the table.

If income is above the published guideline, the household may be able to deduct a portion of eligible medical expenses. The official page does not specify in advance how much of a particular household’s expenses will count. The applicant should provide the information requested and ask the CAA which expenses are eligible and what records it needs. The table is an initial guide; it is not an approval decision, and meeting an income limit does not remove other program requirements.

Gross household income includes more than wages. MaineHousing’s documentation examples include Social Security, unemployment, pension, and disability payments, along with wages and self-employment income. Depending on the household, records such as tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, pay statements, proof of self-employment, benefit letters, interest statements, court orders, lease agreements, or an employer attestation can help document income. Ask the CAA which period and documents it needs for each household member.

Documents to prepare

MaineHousing says its public list may not cover every item an agency needs. It also warns that requested documents must be provided for the application to be processed. Before applying, gather complete and readable records, and check the CAA’s directions in case it asks for something additional.

• Household identity: names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and proof of citizenship for everyone living in the household, as requested by the application.
• Gross income: recent evidence for household members, such as pay stubs, wage statements, W-2s, Form 1040 or 1099, unemployment documentation, Social Security or pension information, disability payment records, self-employment proof, interest statements, employer attestations, court orders, lease agreements, tax filings, or government eligibility letters.
• Energy costs: recent copies of the full energy and utility bills showing usage information. A cropped balance, payment receipt, or partial screen may not contain the details requested.
• Heating fuel: the type of fuel used in the home, such as oil, propane, natural gas, electricity, wood, or another fuel listed on MaineHousing’s page.
• Other circumstances: eligible medical-expense records if the household asks the CAA to consider a deduction, plus any additional items the agency requests for the specific case.

If a document is unavailable, do not guess at a substitute. Tell the CAA what is missing and ask what alternate proof it accepts. Keep copies of submitted files, appointment details, and any application confirmation. This makes it easier to answer follow-up requests without restarting the document search.

How to apply

1. Confirm the local application route

Use MaineHousing’s HEAP and LIAP agency contacts to find the program agent serving the household’s area. The list is organized by county and includes phone numbers. Applications are handled by local CAAs throughout Maine. Residents of the City of Portland may choose to have their application processed by ProsperityME.

2. Apply online or arrange an appointment

MaineHousing provides an online application link, application resources, and tutorials on its HEAP page. Applicants may use the online route directly. To apply by phone or in person, contact the local CAA and set up an appointment. If an online application has been submitted, keep its confirmation details and still respond to any agency request for documents or an interview.

3. Complete the household and income information

Report household members, income sources, heating and cooling systems, the energy account, and fuel type as requested by the form. Check names, dates of birth, account details, and income entries against source documents before submitting. The online tutorials cover creating a customer account, entering personal information and income, adding household members and heating systems, recording energy account information, and uploading documents.

4. Provide documents and follow up

Upload or bring the documents the form and CAA request. MaineHousing says an application may include an interview to determine eligibility and the benefit level. The CAA reviews the submission and may ask for missing pages, clearer bills, income verification, or an explanation of the household’s heating arrangement. Respond as promptly as possible and save a copy of each additional item.

5. Check the benefit and account credit

If approved, the household should ask the CAA how much assistance was determined and how it will be applied. In most cases, the fuel provider receives the benefit directly and credits the household’s account. Keep the vendor and account details current, and contact the CAA if the credit does not appear as expected or the household’s heating vendor changes.

Crisis help through ECIP

The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) is a separate crisis-assistance route for households with an extremely low supply of heating fuel. MaineHousing instructs applicants to complete a HEAP application first and then contact their local CAA to determine whether they qualify for crisis assistance. An urgent fuel shortage does not automatically establish eligibility, and the CAA must assess the household under the program’s rules.

MaineHousing has announced that the 2026–2027 ECIP season is scheduled to begin November 1, 2026 and run through April 30, 2027. The main HEAP page does not give a fixed ECIP payment amount or define a single fuel threshold on that page. Ask the CAA what qualifies as an extremely low supply during the current operating period, what evidence to provide, and whether funds are available. Do not rely on an amount or threshold from a previous season as if it were the current rule.

When contacting the agency about a crisis, explain the available fuel supply and the immediate heating situation. Have the heating account information and any recent delivery or vendor records ready, along with household information needed for the HEAP application. The CAA can say whether a crisis appointment or additional documents are needed. Continue the regular HEAP process as directed; ECIP is not a replacement for the underlying application.

Other programs to ask about

HEAP eligibility may also help a household qualify for related MaineHousing programs, but each has separate conditions. MaineHousing lists the Low Income Assistance Plan (LIAP), which can assist eligible residential electric customers with their bills; the Weatherization Program, which supports energy-efficiency improvements; and the Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP), which can help with repair or replacement of a heating system. HEAP approval alone does not guarantee approval for these services.

Ask the CAA whether it can screen the household or make a referral based on the home’s needs. A household that needs fuel assistance may also have an inefficient building or an unsafe heating system. Keeping the HEAP application and income records can make it easier to respond if another program requests similar information, but follow the other program’s instructions for its own application.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating August 3, 2026 as the closing date; it was the season’s opening date.
• Assuming that applications will remain available through May 29, 2027 even if funds are exhausted earlier.
• Using an old income table instead of the published 2026–2027 limits.
• Assuming an income limit guarantees approval or a particular benefit amount.
• Uploading a payment receipt instead of the full energy bill showing usage information.
• Leaving out a household member, income source, fuel type, or document requested by the application.
• Assuming the benefit is unrestricted cash or will cover every heating cost.
• Waiting to mention an urgent fuel shortage until after a routine application has been reviewed.
• Treating prior-season ECIP benefit amounts or rules as current without checking with the CAA.

Summary

MaineHousing’s HEAP is currently accepting applications for the 2026–2027 heating season. The published period began August 3, 2026 and continues until funds are exhausted or May 29, 2027. Benefits vary with household size, income, and other household expenses. MaineHousing’s 2026–2027 income table covers households of one through ten people, and it directs larger households to their CAA. Applicants can apply online or arrange phone or in-person help through the local agency. Prepare identity, income, energy-bill, and fuel information before starting, and contact the CAA promptly if heating fuel is critically low. For ECIP, MaineHousing lists a separate November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027 season; the local CAA determines eligibility and explains the current crisis process.