The Iran War and Your Basement Oil Tank [Up to $680 Est.]

Questions this episode answers

Key facts

• Heating oil in Massachusetts: about $6.19 a gallon, week of October 13, 2026, versus about $3.56 a year earlier (up 74 percent). Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-home-heating-fuels-prices
• October 5, 2026: Governor Healey declared a State of Energy Emergency. Source: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-announces-new-winter-energy-bill-relief-for-massachusetts-families
• Middle-Income Heating Oil Relief (new, one time, separate from HEAP): up to $680 per household (estimated), for oil heated households above 60 percent and below 100 percent of state median income. Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/middle-income-heating-oil-relief
• Applications for the new oil benefit open in December 2026, for the 2026 to 2027 season. Source: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-announces-new-winter-energy-bill-relief-for-massachusetts-families
• HEAP (the state's regular heating help): official FY 2027 limits, 2026 to 2027 season, gross annual income up to $53,585 for one person or $103,049 for four. Heat included in rent can count, no need to be on public assistance or behind on bills, free to apply. Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-home-energy-assistance-heap
• LIHEAP (national): find your state program at usa.gov/help-with-energy-bills or call 1-866-674-6327. No fee, ever. Source: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap
• Coming next episode: a charge on Massachusetts electric bills (the SMART charge) is removed for January through March 2027.

Chapters

1. 00:00Hook: what does a war in Iran have to do with your oil tank?
2. 00:24Welcome to Your Daily Benefit
3. 00:37Why heating oil costs so much more this year
4. 01:25A made up family and a much bigger oil bill
5. 01:44What people are doing: locking in a price, paying monthly
6. 01:58The new Massachusetts oil help, up to $680 (estimated)
7. 02:30HEAP, separate: renters and heat in rent
8. 02:57Not in Massachusetts? Where to apply: your state LIHEAP office, 1-866-674-6327
9. 03:24Wrap up and next episode

Find help

• See what help may be out there for you at Benefit Bull
• Massachusetts Fuel Assistance: Income Limits and Where to Apply
• More plain language guides

Benefit Bull helps you find programs you may be eligible for. You always apply yourself, through the official program, and applying is free.

Sources

Full transcript

1. 00:01

   Host 1: What does a war in Iran have to do with the oil tank in your basement?

2. 00:06

   Host 2: Um, at first glance, I mean, you'd think absolutely nothing.

3. 00:10

   Host 1: But everything. And, well, here's the big surprise. Some families who usually make too much to get help can now get up to $680 for heat, estimated.

4. 00:19

   Host 2: Wait, really? People who make too much for normal help? Okay, I'm listening.

5. 00:24

   Host 1: Yeah. This is Your Daily Benefit. Today we're looking at state price checks and news reports. We want to explain why heating your home costs so much this year, and how you can actually get help paying your heat bill.

6. 00:36

   Host 2: Exactly.

7. 00:37

   Host 1: Let's start with the hard math. Massachusetts checks the price of heating oil every week. Right now, it's around $6.19 a gallon, estimated.

8. 00:46

   Host 2: Wow.

9. 00:46

   Host 1: And a year ago, about $3.56, estimated. So for every $1 you spent last year, you're spending about $1.74 now, estimated.

10. 00:57

    Host 2: Oof, that hurts.

11. 00:58

    Host 1: It really does. But let's look at why this happens. When a war starts in a place that pumps a lot of oil, there's suddenly less oil for the whole world to share. And because everyone still needs it, the price just goes up.

12. 01:11

    Host 2: But why does it hit home heating oil so hard?

13. 01:14

    Host 1: Well, because heating oil and diesel fuel are basically the exact same thing.

14. 01:18

    Host 2: Wait, really? I didn't know that.

15. 01:20

    Host 1: Yes. And sellers told the news it could take months for prices to drop back down.

16. 01:25

    Host 1: So let's picture a totally made up family to show what this actually means. This is just a pretend story to show the math.

17. 01:31

    Host 2: Okay, I'm with you.

18. 01:32

    Host 1: Imagine they keep their thermostat at the exact same spot as last winter. They don't use a single drop more oil. But when the oil truck rolls up to fill their tank, the bill is nearly double.

19. 01:41

    Host 2: Exactly. That's rough.

20. 01:44

    Host 1: I mean, the news says people are trying a few things to handle it. You can call your oil company and lock in one flat price for the whole winter, so it doesn't jump around.

21. 01:52

    Host 2: Right.

22. 01:53

    Host 1: Or you can set up a plan to pay a little bit each month. Or you can ask for help.

23. 01:58

    Host 2: Which brings us to the big news.

24. 02:00

    Host 1: Yes. The state saw these prices, said this is an emergency, and created the new oil help.

25. 02:07

    Host 2: And how does that work exactly?

26. 02:08

    Host 1: This is a brand new, one time payment, just for this winter.

27. 02:11

    Host 2: Oh, wow.

28. 02:12

    Host 1: Yeah, specifically for families who heat with oil and make a little too much money for the regular help, but are still stuck in the middle.

29. 02:18

    Host 2: So the state basically built a one time bridge for people in the middle.

30. 02:22

    Host 1: You got it. If you're in that middle group, you can apply to get up to $680, and applications open in December.

31. 02:30

    Host 1: Now, we need to be really clear. The new oil help is totally separate from the state's regular help paying your heat bill.

32. 02:36

    Host 2: Completely separate.

33. 02:37

    Host 1: Right. The regular program is called HEAP, and the rules for HEAP are very different.

34. 02:42

    Host 2: Okay, so for the regular HEAP program, what if heat is already part of my rent? Does HEAP still care?

35. 02:47

    Host 1: Yes, that still counts for HEAP. And you don't need to be behind on your bill to apply.

36. 02:51

    Host 2: Well, that's great.

37. 02:52

    Host 1: Yeah. And you also don't need to be getting other help from the state to try for it. It's completely free to apply.

38. 02:57

    Host 2: Okay, but what if you're listening to this and you don't live in Massachusetts?

39. 03:01

    Host 1: Good question. There's a national program called LIHEAP. It helps pay your heat bill or stop a shutoff. Every state has its own version of it. You can find yours by going to energyhelp.us.

40. 03:12

    Host 2: Okay.

41. 03:12

    Host 1: Or you can call their free phone line at 1-866-674-6327. Just remember, you always apply yourself, on the real program's website or phone line.

42. 03:24

    Host 2: So, a war in Iran and the oil tank in your basement.

43. 03:28

    Host 1: Tied together. And remember, you might be able to get up to $680, estimated.

44. 03:32

    Host 2: You really love saying that word.

45. 03:34

    Host 1: I really do.

46. 03:36

    Host 2: So what's on the next episode?

47. 03:37

    Host 1: Well, we're looking at an electric bill charge in Massachusetts that actually goes away from January through March 2027.

48. 03:44

    Host 2: Wait, a charge that disappears? I'm so in.

49. 03:47

    Host 1: And hey, this and a lot more, you can find at benefitbull.com.