Massachusetts HEAP 2026: Fuel Assistance Income Limits

To see how Massachusetts' line compares with other states, our LIHEAP income limits by state guide has the table. The rest of this guide is Massachusetts only.

Massachusetts HEAP Income Limits for FY 2027

The FY 2027 HEAP limit is $103,049 for a household of four, up from $99,573 in FY 2026, a rise of $3,476. EOHLC says household income can't exceed 60% of the state's estimated median income, and agencies use gross income for the 30 days before your application date.

Sources: FY 2027 limits from EOHLC's HEAP overview (opens in a new tab), matching ACF's FY2027 state median income table (opens in a new tab); FY 2026 limits from the state's FY2026 benefit chart on the LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Monthly figures are Grantsights arithmetic. FY 2027 runs October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.

Three income rules to know:

• Not all income counts. EOHLC's page says so directly and tells applicants to confirm with the local agency.
• Renters can apply, including households whose heat is in the rent.
• Benefits are prorated when some household members don't meet citizenship or qualified alien rules, per the FY2027 plan.

For households larger than 10, EOHLC says to contact the local agency. The next income chart is due with FY 2028 on October 1, 2027.

How Much HEAP Pays: $200 to $600 for FY 2027

The accepted FY2027 plan Massachusetts filed with ACF lists a minimum heating benefit of $200 and a maximum of $600. The benefit is a fixed amount set by your poverty level and household size, then adjusted for housing type and, for some households, a High Energy Cost Supplement (HECS) when last year's heating costs passed a set threshold.

EOHLC hadn't posted a working FY 2027 benefit chart as of November 3, 2026. The latest chart with dollar amounts by income band is FY 2026's, shown here so you can see how the bands work:

Source: Massachusetts FY 2026 HEAP Income Eligibility and Benefit Levels chart, posted by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse. HECS amounts were listed as "TBD" on that chart. FY 2027 amounts may differ; the FY2027 plan's $200 floor is lower than FY 2026's $250.

Other HEAP components, from the FY2027 plan:

Payments go straight to your heating vendor for usage between November 1 and April 30. Heat-in-rent households get a check from the local agency once the landlord verifies the tenancy.

Season Dates and Deadlines

Massachusetts' heating season runs November 1 to April 30, and EOHLC says the online application opens on October 1 each year. The accepted FY2027 plan adds the closing rules:

• April 30, 2027 is the last day to apply. If it falls on a weekend, the last business day in April counts.
• May 31, 2027 is the deadline to finish an application received on April 30.
• The state may extend the application date into May because of a harsh winter, higher prices, low application numbers or a longer moratorium.

Returning households usually get a renewal application in the mail and can renew online, in person or by mail. New applicants need an intake appointment first, which you can book online.

How to Apply for Massachusetts Fuel Assistance

EOHLC offers 3 ways to apply: online, in person at your local agency, or by mail. It's free, and EOHLC asks you to report anyone who charges a fee.

1. Start online through the HEAP portal at toapply.org/MassLIHEAP, linked from EOHLC's application page (opens in a new tab). You can prescreen, book an appointment and upload documents there.
2. Or call the Cold Relief Heatline at 1-800-632-8175. Enter your zip code to get your local agency, or leave a voicemail.
3. Call Mass 211 at (877) 211-6277 for 24-hour help with HLC programs, with interpreters.

Documents EOHLC asks for:

• Photo ID for the head of household
• A list of everyone in the household
• Heating bill details, such as the company name and account number
• Proof of your housing situation, such as a lease or mortgage statement
• Proof of income for the 30 days before you apply, such as pay stubs or a pension statement

For example, a family of three in Worcester earning $3,500 a month ($42,000 a year) heats with oil and rents a private apartment. That's well under the FY 2027 limit of $86,561. On last year's chart, $42,000 for three fell in the 151% to 175% band, which paid $470 toward oil. Being HEAP eligible also qualifies the family for the electric company's discount rate all year, and if it owes an old balance, an arrearage management plan. Its agency will place it on the FY 2027 chart once that chart is final. Specifically, if the FY 2027 band amount matches last year's, the family's oil dealer would get a $470 credit.

Shutoff Protection and the November 15 Moratorium

Massachusetts' winter rule runs November 15 to March 15. According to the Attorney General's electric and gas FAQ (opens in a new tab), customers of investor-owned utilities such as Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty and Berkshire Gas are protected during that window if the service is needed to heat the home and they've shown financial hardship.

Protection outside the winter window, per the Attorney General's FAQ:

1. If every resident is 65 or older, the utility needs DPU permission to shut off service.
2. With financial hardship, the DPU must approve a shutoff if someone in the home is seriously ill.
3. The same applies if there's an infant under 12 months in the home.
4. It also applies if all adults are 65 or older and a minor child lives there.

The moratorium has limits. The FY2027 plan notes that charges keep running during the winter, you still owe them, and the moratorium doesn't cover debt from before November 15. Customers on a payment plan stay protected as long as they keep making the payments.

Municipal light plants are different. If a town utility serves you, the Attorney General's office says to call it directly, because it may or may not follow the same shutoff practice.

If a utility won't help, call the Department of Public Utilities consumer line at 877-886-5066 or the Attorney General's hotline at 617-727-8400.

Discount Rates, AMP and Other Help That Stacks With HEAP

The biggest money for most families isn't the HEAP check, and that's worth knowing before you decide whether applying is worth it. It's the year-round discount that comes with it. The FY2027 plan says all income-eligible HEAP applicants automatically qualify for investor-owned utility discounts, and that the tiered discounts can save up to 94% on each bill.

Sources: Attorney General's electric and gas FAQ, EOHLC's HEARTWAP page (opens in a new tab), and the FY 2026 Cold Relief brochure.

Utility contacts the Attorney General lists: Eversource Eastern Mass 866-861-6225, Western Mass 877-963-2632; National Grid 800-322-3223; Unitil 888-301-7700; Liberty 800-544-4944; Berkshire Gas 800-292-5012.

EOHLC says HEARTWAP mostly serves homeowners, because the State Sanitary Code makes landlords maintain tenants' heating systems, and some households may owe a co-payment. For bigger home repairs, our home repair grants guide covers other routes.

Massachusetts' LIHEAP Money: $142.3 Million Released So Far

ACF sent Massachusetts $142,330,091 in FY2027 LIHEAP block grant funds on October 9, 2026, per the ACF first FY2027 allocation table (opens in a new tab). According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, which tracks federal releases on its funding page (opens in a new tab), that payment was 90% of the money available under Public Law 119-103, the continuing resolution signed September 2, 2026.

Sources: ACF FY2027 first release table and FY2026 final release table (opens in a new tab); Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (Massachusetts: 7,154,084).

Grantsights analysis of Massachusetts' FY2026 LIHEAP total against its Census population shows $22.82 per resident, almost double the national $11.90, ranking 7th of 51. The October 2026 release is 2.0% larger than the first release a year earlier and equals $19.89 per resident so far. EOHLC's own page warns that the amount households get changes each year with the federal allocation, and as of November 3, 2026, ACF's funding releases page (opens in a new tab) shows no second FY2027 release. The FY2027 plan says the Legislature has at times added state money on top of federal HEAP funds.

What EOHLC's HEAP Pages Don't Tell You

EOHLC's pages cover the basics. These 6 details come from the FY2027 plan and the Attorney General's guidance.

1. The discount is worth more than the grant. A $400 or $500 HEAP payment helps once. The utility discount and AMP run all year and can cut a bill by up to 94%, per the plan.
2. The FY 2027 floor dropped. The plan's minimum heating benefit is $200, down from $250 on the FY 2026 chart, so the lowest awards may shrink this year.
3. Subsidized tenants get less. On the FY 2026 chart, a subsidized tenant with utility heat at the top band got $250, against $355 for a private renter.
4. Appeals actually change outcomes. The plan reports 28 fair hearings in the prior year, and 3 of them reversed the first decision.
5. The state may extend the deadline. The plan allows extending the April 30 cutoff into May after a severe winter or price spike. Ask your agency before you give up.
6. Oil customers get a price check built in. Agencies pay dealers a capped margin of 75 cents over the daily rack price, or the dealer's posted price if lower.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

The most common mistake is applying in March. HEAP pays for heat from November 1, and the earlier you're certified, the sooner your discount rate starts. Another one people underestimate: skipping the renewal form that arrives by mail. Returning households who don't send it back lose the benefit and the discount.

Other errors that slow Massachusetts files:

• Missing the 30-day income window. Stubs must cover the 30 days before your application date.
• Applying in the wrong name. The heating account and the applicant should match, or bring proof of who pays.
• Not telling the utility about hardship before November 15, when the moratorium starts.
• Paying someone to apply. EOHLC says the program is 100% free.

Scam red flags. EOHLC's HEAP page warns about people charging an "application fee." The FTC's utility impostor scam guide (opens in a new tab) adds that real utilities don't demand gift cards, wire transfers or crypto, and ACF's LIHEAP page (opens in a new tab) explains that states and local agencies, not federal websites, take applications. Watch for:

• A caller posing as Eversource or National Grid demanding payment within the hour
• Texts promising a "Massachusetts heating rebate" that link to a site other than mass.gov or toapply.org
• Anyone asking for a fee to get you to the front of the HEAP line

Report a problem with a HEAP provider at 1-800-632-8175, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab).

What to Do If You're Denied or Funds Run Short

The FY2027 plan sets 20 working days as the window to appeal a local agency decision. You can also file an appeal if you haven't heard about your application within 45 days. Local appeals are accepted from November 1 through the fourth Friday in June. If the agency's decision on appeal still goes against you, you have another 20 working days to appeal in writing to the state, which accepts appeals through the fourth Friday in August.

If HEAP isn't enough or you're over the limit:

• Call the Good Neighbor Energy Fund at 1-800-334-3047, or 1-800-262-1320 in area code 413.
• Ask your local agency about combined fuel funds, which the FY2027 plan says some agencies use for HEAP-eligible and over-income households.
• Ask your utility for a deferred payment arrangement or budget billing. The Attorney General's office says most investor-owned utilities offer both.
• Cut other costs. Our guides to SNAP in Massachusetts, Massachusetts Medicaid income limits, rental assistance programs and help for seniors cover help that frees up money for heat.

Helping family nearby? We also cover CEAP in Connecticut, LIHEAP in Rhode Island, fuel assistance in New Hampshire and HEAP in New York. Our national LIHEAP guide explains the federal rules.

If you're not sure which Massachusetts programs fit, the Grantsights free eligibility checker sorts the public options in a couple of minutes. Pick "Individual," then "Personal financial help." It won't list grants for personal bills, since there aren't any; it points you to official routes like the USA.gov benefit finder, bill help and 211, which in Massachusetts lead back to HEAP and the Cold Relief Heatline.

FAQ: Massachusetts HEAP

What is the income limit for Massachusetts HEAP in 2026-27?

60% of state median income: $53,585 for one person, $103,049 for four and $142,207 for eight in FY 2027.

How much does Massachusetts fuel assistance pay?

$200 to $600 for heating under the accepted FY2027 plan, plus a possible High Energy Cost Supplement and up to $600 in emergency help.

When can I apply for HEAP in Massachusetts?

From October 1 through April 30, with the file completed by May 31. Benefits cover November 1 to April 30.

How do I apply for Massachusetts HEAP?

Online at the state HEAP portal, or through your local agency by calling 1-800-632-8175.

Can my heat be shut off in Massachusetts in winter?

Not between November 15 and March 15 if the service heats your home and you've shown financial hardship.

Does HEAP lower my electric and gas bills all year?

Yes. HEAP eligibility gives you the utility discount rate and access to arrearage management programs.

What if I earn too much for Massachusetts HEAP?

Try the Good Neighbor Energy Fund if you're between 60% and 80% of state median income, and ask your utility for a payment plan.

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Sources

1. EOHLC: Learn about Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts FY 2027 income limits, season, documents
2. EOHLC: Apply for Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts application portal, Heatline, fees
3. EOHLC: Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HEARTWAP) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts heating repair rules
4. Massachusetts Attorney General: Electric and Gas Utilities FAQ (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts shutoff protections, discount rate and AMP eligibility, utility phone numbers
5. EOHLC: FY 2026 Cold Relief Brochure (PDF) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund contacts
6. LIHEAP Clearinghouse: Massachusetts FY2027 Detailed Model Plan (PDF) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts benefit range, crisis cap, deadlines, appeals, discounts (ACF-funded resource)
7. LIHEAP Clearinghouse: Massachusetts FY2026 Benefit Chart (PDF) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts FY 2026 benefit bands and income limits
8. LIHEAP Clearinghouse: Funding for States (opens in a new tab) - FY2027 continuing resolution release
9. ACF: FY2027 State Median Income Table (PDF) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts 60% median income figures
10. ACF: FY2027 First Release Table (PDF) (opens in a new tab) and FY2026 Final Release Table (PDF) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts allocations
11. ACF: LIHEAP Funding Releases (opens in a new tab) and ACF: LIHEAP program page (opens in a new tab)
12. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 State Population Estimates (CSV) (opens in a new tab) - Massachusetts population
13. FTC: Scammers Pretend To Be Your Utility Company (opens in a new tab)