Short answer
Who may qualify for fuel assistance in Massachusetts?
Households may qualify for HEAP with gross annual income up to $53,585 for one person or $103,049 for four, the official FY 2027 limits. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) Renters, homeowners, and households with heat included in rent can apply. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) The season covers heating costs from November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027. (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement)
| Fact | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit | 60 percent of estimated state median income: $53,585 a year for 1 person, $103,049 for 4 (official FY 2027 limits) | Mass.gov, Learn about HEAP |
| Season | Application opens October 1. Help covers November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027 | Mass.gov, Learn about HEAP |
| Estimated benefit | Estimated $870 to $1,450 for oil, propane, and other delivered fuels. Estimated $600 to $1,000 for gas or electric heat | Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs |
| New oil benefit | One-time, estimated up to $680, for heating oil households between 60 and 100 percent of state median income. Applications open December 2026 | Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs |
| How to apply | Online, in person at your local HEAP agency, or by mail. Free | Mass.gov, Learn about HEAP |
Source: Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) and Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs. Verified .
Your local agency decides eligibility and benefit amounts. Benefit Bull is free and never submits applications for you.
The Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is what most people in Massachusetts call fuel assistance. It is a free, federally funded statewide program run by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and it pays part of your winter heating bill directly to your heating company. (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement) (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
It covers almost any primary heat source: oil, electricity, natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood, coal, and others. You do not need to be on public assistance or behind on your heating bill to apply. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement)
How much fuel assistance could you get this winter?
On October 5, 2026, the state raised HEAP benefits: a 20 percent increase for households that heat with oil and a 15 percent increase for households that heat with gas or electric utilities. Before the change, support ranged from an estimated $525 to $1,200 per household. (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement)
For the 2026 to 2027 season, the state's current estimates are:
| How you heat | Estimated benefit for the season |
|---|---|
| Oil, propane, kerosene, and other delivered fuels | Estimated $870 to $1,450 |
| Gas or electric heat (utility) | Estimated $600 to $1,000 |
Where you land in the range depends on your household, and your local agency sets the exact amount. For current benefit details, check the official Mass.gov heating help page or ask your local agency. The money goes straight to your heating vendor, not to you. If you are found eligible and your gas or electric company is investor-owned, a discount is also applied to those bills automatically. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
Older adults use the same HEAP income table. If you live on a pension, it is one of the income types the state lists for proof. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) For other money help after 60, see The Senior Money Checklist.
Know your heat source before you apply. Delivered fuel and utility heat have different estimated ranges, so it is the first thing that shapes your benefit.
What are the income guidelines for LIHEAP in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts runs federal LIHEAP money through HEAP. Household income cannot be more than 60 percent of the state's estimated median income, measured as the combined gross annual income of everyone in the household. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
| 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 |
The state's FY 2027 chart lists limits for households of up to 17 people. For 18 or more, the state says to contact EOHLC. (City of Cambridge, FY 2027 HEAP Income Eligibility and Benefit Levels)
Not all income counts toward eligibility, so the state asks you to confirm your actual eligibility with your local agency. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
Add up gross income for everyone in the home before taxes, then compare it to your row. If you are close to the line, apply anyway and let the agency count it.
What is the new one-time heating oil benefit?
New this season, the Middle-Income Heating Oil Relief benefit is for heating oil customers who are not eligible for HEAP because their income is above the limit. It covers households earning between 60 and 100 percent of state median income. For a family of four, that means income above $103,049 and up to $171,749. (Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs) (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement)
The benefit is one-time, estimated at up to $680 per household. Applications open in December 2026, and help is available until the end of the heating season on April 30, 2027, or until funding runs out. The same local agencies that run HEAP will run it. (Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs) (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement)
| Household size | Income above | Income up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $53,586 | $89,308 |
| 2 | $70,074 | $116,788 |
| 3 | $86,562 | $144,268 |
| 4 | $103,050 | $171,749 |
| 5 | $119,537 | $199,227 |
| 6 | $136,025 | $226,707 |
If you heat with oil and your income is just over the HEAP line, check mass.gov/heatinghelp in December for the opening. Funding is limited, so an early application matters.
When can I apply for Massachusetts fuel assistance in 2026?
The online application opens on October 1 for the heating season that runs November 1 to April 30. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) For this season, that is November 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement)
The state pages we checked do not list a final application deadline for 2026 to 2027. Check the official HEAP page at mass.gov/heatinghelp or ask your local agency for the current cutoff. (Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs)
Households must apply every year. After your first year, the agency mails you an application, and you can renew online, in person, or by mail. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
Apply in October or November rather than waiting for your first big bill. Help is tied to the season, and first-time applicants need an intake appointment.
Where do you apply in your town?
Local administering agencies run HEAP across the state. You can apply online at mass.gov/heatinghelp, in person at the HEAP agency for your area, or by mail. The state's HEAP portal finds your agency or starts the application, and the table in the next section lists every agency by town. (Mass.gov, Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement) (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
First-time applicants must take part in an intake appointment. To get started, submit the online application or contact your local agency. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
For general questions, call 2-1-1. Mass 211 answers questions about state housing and home energy programs 24 hours a day, with translation. The HLC Housing Resources Hotline, run by Mass 211, is 877-211-6277. The state also lists the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) (Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs)
One application covers three programs: HEAP, HEARTWAP (heating system repair and replacement), and WAP (home energy efficiency work). (Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs) (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
Applying is free. The state warns about scams by people who charge an "application fee" to help submit one. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) You submit your application yourself on the official site. Benefit Bull is free and never files for you.
Use the agency finder on the official HEAP portal rather than a search ad. If anyone asks for a fee to apply, walk away and call 2-1-1.
Which agency do I apply through in Massachusetts?
Your town decides your agency. The state's Cold Relief Brochure matches each of the 351 cities and towns to one local energy assistance agency: 20 agencies in all, with ABCD running two intake offices. Many people look up ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development) by name. Its Boston office takes fuel assistance applications for Boston, Brookline, and Newton at 617-357-6012, and its Malden office covers Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn at 781-322-6284. (Mass.gov, FY 2026 Cold Relief Brochure)
Two areas trip people up. Springfield residents apply through Valley Opportunity Council, not the City of Springfield or Springfield Partners. Cape Cod and the Islands apply through South Shore Community Action Council, not Housing Assistance Corporation. Those three organizations appear in the brochure for weatherization or heating system services, not fuel assistance intake. (Mass.gov, FY 2026 Cold Relief Brochure)
| Agency | Cities and towns for fuel assistance | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Boston office | Boston, Brookline, Newton | 617-357-6012 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Malden office | Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester, Woburn | 781-322-6284 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Action, Inc. | Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Wenham | 978-281-3900 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) | Adams, Alford, Becket, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Egremont, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, North Adams, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, West Stockbridge, Williamstown, Windsor | 413-445-4503 (Pittsfield) or 413-663-3014 (North Adams) | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Community Action, Inc. (CAI) | Amesbury, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, West Newbury | 978-373-1971 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| City of Cambridge, Department of Human Service Programs | Cambridge, Somerville | 617-665-6234 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Community Action Programs Inter-City (CAPIC) | Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop | 617-884-6130 (press 1) | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Citizens for Citizens (CFC) | Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Westport | 508-679-0041 (Fall River area) or 508-823-6346 (Taunton area) | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Community Teamwork (CTI) | Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lexington, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Waltham, Watertown, Westford, Wilmington | 978-459-6161 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Community Action Pioneer Valley (CAPV) | Amherst, Ashfield, Belchertown, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Chesterfield, Colrain, Conway, Cummington, Deerfield, Easthampton, Erving, Gill, Goshen, Granby, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Hawley, Heath, Huntington, Leverett, Leyden, Middlefield, Monroe, Montague, New Salem, Northampton, Northfield, Orange, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Southampton, Sunderland, Ware, Warwick, Wendell, Westhampton, Whately, Williamsburg, Worthington | 413-774-2310 or 800-370-0940 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC) | Andover, Lawrence, Methuen, North Andover, North Reading, Reading | 978-681-4950 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| LEO, Inc. | Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus, Swampscott, Wakefield | 781-581-7220 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Making Opportunity Count (MOC) | Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Barre, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, New Braintree, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Shirley, Sterling, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster, Winchendon | 978-342-4520 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP) | Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody, Salem, Topsfield | 978-531-0767 ext. 136 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| People Acting in Community Endeavors (PACE) | Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester | 508-525-4271 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Quincy Community Action Programs (QCAP) | Braintree, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth | 617-657-5301 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Self Help, Inc. (SHI) | Abington, Attleboro, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Dedham, East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Franklin, Hanson, Holbrook, Mansfield, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Norwood, Plainville, Randolph, Raynham, Rockland, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, West Bridgewater, Westwood, Whitman, Wrentham | 508-588-5440 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) | Acton, Ashland, Bellingham, Blackstone, Boxborough, Concord, Dover, Framingham, Grafton, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Upton, Uxbridge, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Weston | 508-620-2342 (HEAP reception) or 508-620-1230 (main line) | Agency fuel assistance page |
| South Shore Community Action Council (SSCAC) | Aquinnah, Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Carver, Chatham, Chilmark, Cohasset, Dennis, Duxbury, Eastham, Edgartown, Falmouth, Gosnold, Halifax, Hanover, Harwich, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Mashpee, Middleborough, Nantucket, Norwell, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Provincetown, Sandwich, Scituate, Tisbury, Truro, Wareham, Wellfleet, West Tisbury, Yarmouth | 508-746-6707 or toll-free 877-383-5243 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) | Agawam, Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Southwick, Springfield, Tolland, Wales, West Springfield, Westfield, Wilbraham | 413-552-1548 | Agency fuel assistance page |
| Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC) | Auburn, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Worcester | 508-754-1176 | Agency fuel assistance page |
The state's town list is from the 2025 to 2026 brochure, and mass.gov had not posted a 2026 to 2027 version as of October 17, 2026. Before you apply, confirm your agency on the official Mass.gov HEAP page or by calling 2-1-1. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
Find your town in the table, then call that agency or start the online application. If your town is not where you expect, check with 2-1-1 before you send anything.
How does LIHEAP confirm income?
HEAP asks for proof of income for the 30 days before your application date, such as pay stubs or pension statements. Have these ready too: (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
- Photo ID for the head of household or main applicant, such as a driver's license
- A list of everyone in your household
- Your heating bill information, such as the heating company name and account number
- Your housing information, such as an active lease or mortgage statement
The state says the list is not complete, so your agency may ask for more. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
Gather 30 days of income proof for every working adult in one folder before your intake appointment. A missing pay stub can hold up your file.
How can I get help paying my gas bill in Massachusetts?
If you heat with natural gas, HEAP can pay part of that bill, with an estimated $600 to $1,000 for utility heat this season. (Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs) Households found eligible also get discounts automatically on electric and gas bills from investor-owned utilities. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance)
If your heating system is broken, HEARTWAP provides emergency repair and replacement for low-income households, and you reach it through the same HEAP application. (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) For more ways to trim the bill, see 7 Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills.
Tell your agency if your furnace or boiler is failing when you apply. The repair program rides on the same application.
What Massachusetts fuel assistance numbers should you know?
- $53,585
- Official HEAP annual income limit, 1 person, FY 2027
- $103,049
- Official HEAP annual income limit, 4 people, FY 2027
- $870 to $1,450
- Estimated benefit for delivered fuels like oil, 2026 to 2027
- Up to $680
- Estimated one-time oil relief above the HEAP limit, opens December 2026
See which Massachusetts programs may fit your household, with estimated values and official links.
Sources: (Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance) (Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs)
What this adds up to
If your household earns up to the official HEAP limit, $103,049 a year for a family of four, you may qualify for an estimated $600 to $1,450 toward this winter's heat, paid to your vendor. If you heat with oil and earn a bit more, the new one-time relief opens in December. Your local agency makes the decision, and applying costs nothing.
Sources
Every claim above links to the source it came from. Figures checked October 2026. Last updated October 17, 2026. Agency phone numbers in section 6 were also checked against each agency's own fuel assistance page, linked in that table.
- Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Mass.gov, Home Energy Assistance Programs (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Mass.gov, Governor Healey Announces New Winter Energy Bill Relief for Massachusetts Families (Winter Energy Bill Relief announcement), October 5, 2026 (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Mass.gov, FY 2026 Cold Relief Brochure (2025 to 2026, PDF), energy assistance agencies and community listings (accessed October 17, 2026)
- City of Cambridge, Apply for Heating Help (Department of Human Service Programs) (accessed October 17, 2026)
- City of Cambridge, FY 2027 HEAP Income Eligibility and Benefit Levels (state chart dated June 22, 2026, PDF). Used for income figures and benefit structure only; its dollar benefit amounts were replaced on October 5, 2026 (accessed October 17, 2026)
