The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) began accepting applications on Oct. 1 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for fiscal year 2027. A single application also screens households for the Universal Service Fund (USF), which reduces gas and electric bills. Because funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, eligible households are better off applying early. In New York, applications for regular benefits under the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) open Nov. 2.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) began accepting applications on Oct. 1 for the fiscal year 2027 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Applications will be accepted through June 30 next year, but because funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, state officials urged eligible households to apply as early as possible. Applications can be submitted online at energyassistance.nj.gov or through the designated application agency in your county of residence.
There are two eligibility requirements. Applicants must pay home heating costs or medically necessary cooling costs directly or as part of their rent, and the household's pre-tax income must be at or below 60 percent of the state median income. For fiscal year 2027, the limits are $4,273 a month ($51,273 a year) for a one-person household, $5,587 a month ($67,049 a year) for two people, and $8,217 a month ($98,602 a year) for four people. For households with more than 12 members, add $246 a month, or $2,952 a year, for each additional person.
One Application Also Screens for USF
The LIHEAP application also serves as an application for the Universal Service Fund (USF). Households can receive benefits from both programs. USF, created by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and administered by the Department of Community Affairs, covers gas bills and non-heating electric bills that exceed a set percentage of household income, up to $200 a month. To apply, the electric or gas bill must be in the name of a household member, and the income limit is the same as for LIHEAP: 60 percent of median income or below.
How benefits are delivered depends on the heating fuel. Households that heat with natural gas or electricity may have benefits deposited directly into their utility account. Households that pay a fuel supplier directly, such as for oil or propane, generally receive a check made out jointly to the applicant and the supplier, while households whose heating costs are included in their rent receive a check in the applicant's name only. The medically necessary cooling benefit is fixed at $300 and, if an electric account is on file, is applied to the account as a credit.
There are some caveats. Households in public housing or receiving rental assistance are not eligible for LIHEAP heating assistance unless they pay a fuel supplier directly for heat. Applicants who are 60 or older or have a disability can receive an application by mail and mail it back, or ask the county agency for a home visit. Other households may also apply by mail if their local agency allows it. For inquiries, call 1-800-510-3102.
New York Opens Nov. 2; Heating Equipment Repair Assistance Already Available
New York State's schedule is slightly different. According to the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), applications for regular benefits under the 2026–2027 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) open Monday, Nov. 2. The benefit that helps pay to repair or replace heating equipment such as boilers and furnaces has been accepting applications since Oct. 1. The emergency benefit for households that have run out of fuel or face a utility shutoff opens Jan. 4 next year and runs through April 16.
Applications for New York's regular benefit can be submitted online at mybenefits.ny.gov, by mail, or in person at your local Department of Social Services office. Benefit amounts vary widely, from $21 to more than $990 depending on heating fuel, type of residence, and whether the household includes a child under 6, someone 60 or older, or a permanently disabled person. Additional benefits are available for those who qualify. For inquiries, call the OTDA hotline at 1-800-342-3009.