Massachusetts HEAP Heating Assistance: How to Apply for the 2026–2027 Season
Massachusetts homeowners and renters can apply for Home Energy Assistance to help pay part of their winter heating costs.
Massachusetts residents who are worried about paying for heat can apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), also called Fuel Assistance. The program helps eligible households pay part of their primary home-heating costs. It is not a loan and there is no application fee.
The next published season runs from November 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. MASSCAP says the online application opens on October 1, 2026. Because the application portal is seasonal and households must apply each year, anyone who expects to need help should prepare documents before the portal opens and contact the local agency serving their city or town if they need assistance applying.
This page describes a live upcoming cycle, not an expired award. The official sources do not promise one standard payment for every applicant. The amount depends on household circumstances, including household size, gross income, housing subsidy, heating source, and the funding available to Massachusetts. The state’s program page specifically says that annual funding affects the amount available and that housing subsidies affect the benefit level. Do not rely on older advertisements that present a universal dollar range.
Massachusetts HEAP at a glance
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Program | Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), also known as Fuel Assistance or LIHEAP |
| Current season | November 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027 |
| Online application opening | October 1, 2026 |
| Deadline in page metadata | April 30, 2027 |
| Benefit | A variable payment toward part of eligible primary heating costs; the amount is set using household factors and available funding |
| State eligibility ceiling | Household income cannot exceed 60% of estimated Massachusetts State Median Income, subject to the program’s other eligibility rules |
| Housing | Homeowners and renters can apply; some non-subsidized renters with heat included in rent can qualify |
| Heating sources | Oil, electricity, natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood, coal, and other primary heating sources may be covered |
| Application methods | Online, in person through the local HEAP agency, or by mail |
| Cost | Free |
| Official program page | Heating Help in Massachusetts |
The dates above are the published schedule for the 2026–2027 season. The benefit is meant to cover a portion of eligible household energy costs during the heating season, and MASSCAP notes that assistance is available during the winter/spring season or until benefits are exhausted. A household should apply as soon as it can rather than assuming that the final date guarantees funding will still be available.
What the benefit pays for
HEAP is designed around the primary source of heat for the home. The Massachusetts program describes eligible costs broadly: oil, electricity, natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood, coal, and other heating sources may qualify. The program generally pays the heating vendor directly for actual usage or a fuel delivery. That means an approved benefit is normally applied through the utility or fuel account instead of being issued as unrestricted cash to the applicant.
The amount is not a flat grant. A household’s benefit level is determined after the agency reviews the factors used by the program. Household size and gross annual income matter, and the state also identifies housing subsidies and the type of heating arrangement as factors that can affect the specific level. The amount of federal and state funding available for the season also matters. For that reason, two Massachusetts households with different heating sources or housing situations may receive different amounts even if their income appears similar.
Eligible applicants may also receive related utility discounts. The state says that eligible customers of investor-owned electric and gas utilities can receive automatic discounts on those bills. These discounts are connected to eligibility, but they are not the same thing as the direct HEAP payment toward a heating vendor. Ask the local agency or utility how the discount will be applied to the account.
MASSCAP also describes help with past-due arrearage management as part of the broader energy-assistance network. That does not mean every applicant receives automatic forgiveness of every overdue balance. Arrearage arrangements can involve a utility’s separate program, payment-plan terms, or other eligibility rules. If the household has a past-due bill, a shutoff notice, or a fuel account that is nearly empty, disclose it to the local agency and ask which response applies. The agency can explain whether HEAP, an arrearage-management program, a crisis service, or another resource is appropriate.
Who can apply
Homeowners and renters may apply. A renter does not necessarily have to hold the heating account in their own name, but the agency needs to understand how the household’s heat is provided and paid for. The official information specifically includes households whose heat is included in rent, provided the housing arrangement meets the program’s rules. MASSCAP distinguishes eligible non-subsidized renters from subsidized housing situations, so a household in subsidized housing should ask its local agency how the rent and utility arrangement affects eligibility rather than assuming either approval or denial.
The main income test is gross household income at or below 60% of estimated Massachusetts State Median Income. Eligibility is not determined by income alone. Household size, housing situation, heating source, and other program factors are reviewed together. Income is based on the household information requested by the agency, including the gross annual income of household members. If the household’s income recently changed, provide the current information and ask the agency how it will calculate the case.
The official FY 2027 income table lists these maximum annual income levels:
| Household size | Maximum gross annual income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $53,585 |
| 2 | $70,073 |
| 3 | $86,561 |
| 4 | $103,049 |
| 5 | $119,536 |
| 6 | $136,024 |
| 7 | $139,116 |
| 8 | $142,207 |
| 9 | $145,299 |
| 10 | $148,390 |
These figures are a screening guide, not a promise of eligibility. The agency must review the full application and the household’s circumstances. A household larger than the table shown here, or one with an unusual income or housing situation, should still contact the agency for the applicable rule.
What to gather before applying
The state’s application guidance lists the information applicants should be prepared to provide. Gather it before starting, but do not delay contacting the agency simply because one document is difficult to obtain. The local agency can tell you what it accepts and what to do next.
- Photo identification for the head of household or primary applicant. A driver’s license is one example listed by the state.
- A list of everyone in the household. Use the household that actually lives in the home and follow the agency’s instructions about who must be included.
- Heating account information. Have the heating company’s name and account number available when the utility or fuel bill is in an applicant’s name.
- Housing information. An active lease or mortgage statement can help document the residence and the way housing costs are structured.
- Income proof for the 30 days before the application date. The official examples include wages and pension income. The agency may ask for other income information depending on the household.
- Information about the heating arrangement. If heat is included in rent, explain that clearly and have the lease or other housing documentation available so the agency can assess the arrangement.
Keep copies of anything submitted and record the date of the application, the local agency, and any request for additional information. If the agency asks for clarification, respond promptly. An application can remain incomplete while documentation is missing, and a delayed response can postpone the review or payment.
How to apply for the 2026–2027 season
1. Start with the official Massachusetts resource
Use the MASSCAP Heating Help in Massachusetts page. It provides the current notice, links to the online application, information about eligibility, and a way to find the community action agency serving the applicant’s city or town. The Massachusetts state HEAP pages also direct applicants to the online portal and local service-provider network.
2. Find the local HEAP agency
The local agency is the organization that handles intake and application review for the applicant’s area. Use the agency lookup rather than choosing an office based only on convenience. If the household cannot determine which agency serves it, call the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175 or ask through the official portal. MASSCAP also directs people with general non-emergency social-service questions to Mass 2-1-1.
3. Choose an application method
The state says applicants can apply online, in person at the HEAP agency serving their area, or by mail. The online application opens on October 1, 2026, for the upcoming season. A first-time applicant must participate in an intake appointment; submitting the online application or contacting the local agency gets that process started. After the first year, applications are mailed to households and can be renewed online, in person, or by mail.
If using the online portal is difficult, contact the agency instead of abandoning the application. Staff can explain appointment options, mailing instructions, and document questions. A household facing an immediate heating emergency should say so at the first contact and describe any shutoff notice, empty deliverable-fuel tank, broken heating system, or other urgent condition.
4. Submit the household and income information
Complete every part of the application using the household’s current information. Include the primary heating source, the heating company or utility account details, the housing arrangement, and the gross income information requested for the applicable period. For a renter whose heat is included in rent, state that directly instead of leaving the heating section unclear.
Upload, mail, or bring the requested documents in the format the agency specifies. The agency may ask for more information after its first review. Approval is not based on a persuasive personal statement; it depends on the documented eligibility rules and available program funds. Clear, consistent information helps the agency reach a decision.
5. Complete the intake appointment if required
First-time applicants must participate in an intake appointment. Treat this as part of the application, not as an optional follow-up. Be ready to explain who lives in the home, how the home is heated, how the heating bill is paid, and what income documents have been provided. If the household has a past-due balance or a notice from the utility, bring it up during intake.
6. Watch for the decision and payment
Keep checking mail, email, or the application channel used by the local agency. If staff request a missing document, send it through the approved method and keep proof of delivery when possible. If approved, the payment for actual usage or fuel delivery is made directly to the heating vendor. Check the utility or fuel account afterward and contact the agency if the account does not show the expected payment or if the household’s heating situation changes.
Timing and the April 30 deadline
The online application opens October 1, 2026, and the published heating season is November 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. The metadata deadline is therefore 2027-04-30, the final date published for this cycle. Applying near the opening is sensible because the household can learn its decision before the coldest part of the season and has more time to correct missing paperwork.
Do not wait for a shutoff notice. The program helps with a portion of heating costs, and MASSCAP says it operates during the winter/spring season or until benefits are exhausted. A household that applies near the end of the season should still ask the agency whether it can submit, but it should not treat April 30 as a guarantee that money remains available or that an urgent case will be resolved immediately.
If the household has no heat, very little deliverable fuel, a broken heating system, or a utility termination notice, identify the emergency when applying. HEAP eligibility and emergency help are related but not identical questions. The agency can direct the household to the appropriate crisis process and utility protections while the application is reviewed.
Other help connected to a HEAP application
Applying for HEAP can also open the door to related energy services. The Massachusetts program says the HEAP application also serves as the application for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). WAP can provide energy-efficiency work such as air sealing, attic or sidewall insulation, weather-stripping, and related repairs for eligible households.
The same application can also connect an eligible household with the Heating System Repair and Replacement Program, known as HEARTWAP. HEARTWAP serves low-income households needing emergency heating-system repair, replacement, or maintenance. A household with an unsafe or broken system should mention that condition rather than applying only for the bill benefit.
MASSCAP also describes the Appliance Management Program, or AMP, in partnership with National Grid and Eversource. Through an energy audit, the program may replace certain inoperable or inefficient appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, washing machines, and dehumidifiers. Availability and eligibility are handled through the relevant agency or utility partnership; they should not be assumed from HEAP approval alone.
Households that do not qualify for fuel assistance can ask about other resources. MASSCAP lists the Good Neighbor Energy Fund operated by local Salvation Army organizations and points residents to Mass 2-1-1. The Department of Public Utilities can help with utility-company problems, but its complaint and consumer-assistance role is different from applying for HEAP.
Frequently asked questions
Is HEAP only for people receiving public benefits?
No. The published eligibility test focuses on household circumstances, including household size and gross income, and is not limited to people receiving SNAP, cash assistance, or another public benefit. A working household can apply if it appears to meet the income and other program rules.
Is there a guaranteed payment amount?
No. The official state information says the annual funding available changes and that housing subsidies affect the specific benefit level. The amount is calculated using the program’s household factors. A prior season’s award or a number in an old article should not be treated as the current award schedule.
Can a renter apply when heat is included in rent?
Possibly. The program includes eligible homeowners and renters, including households whose heat is included in rent and is not subsidized. The agency must review the housing arrangement, so provide the lease or other information it requests and explain how the household pays for housing.
Does HEAP erase every past-due balance?
No automatic blanket forgiveness should be assumed. MASSCAP says clients can receive help with past-due arrearage management through the energy-assistance network, but the exact result depends on the utility, the account, the household’s eligibility, and the applicable program rules. Report the arrears and ask the agency what options apply.
Do I have to reapply every season?
Yes. The state says households must apply each year. Returning applicants may renew online, in person, or by mail after the first year, but they still need to provide current household and income information as required.
Where should I start if I do not know my local agency?
Start at the official MASSCAP page and use its agency lookup. You can also call the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175. If the problem is an urgent utility or heating emergency, explain that immediately so the agency can tell you which service or protection is appropriate.
The most reliable next step is to save your heating account information, housing document, household list, and recent income records, then return to the official application channel when it opens on October 1, 2026. Apply through the local HEAP agency and keep the confirmation and all follow-up requests until the benefit or other assistance has been credited.