Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Application Period Now Open

DCA Encourages Eligible New Jersey Residents to Apply for Assistance with Home Heating and Cooling Costs

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is today announcing that applications for the Federal Fiscal Year 2027 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) opened on October 1, 2026. The program helps eligible New Jersey households pay for home heating costs and medically necessary cooling costs.

The LIHEAP application period runs from October 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, while funding is available. DCA encourages eligible residents to apply as soon as possible.

“DCA understands that energy costs can place a significant strain on household budgets, particularly as the colder months approach,” said DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “We encourage eligible New Jersey residents to apply for LIHEAP and learn about the other utility assistance programs available to help make their energy costs more manageable.”

LIHEAP is a federally funded program designed to help low-income families and individuals meet their home heating and medically necessary cooling costs. To qualify, a household must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or as part of its rent, and have a gross household income at or below 60 percent of the State Median Income.

Funding for the current grant round is dedicated from a voter-approved constitutional amendment that created the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund. The Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund continues the work of the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund and voter-supported referendums that have committed over $200 million to more than 1,000 historic preservation projects since 1990. All funded sites are listed or certified eligible in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, either individually or within designated historic districts.

FFY2027 LIHEAP AND USF INCOME LIMITS
Household #	Monthly	Annual
1	$4,273	$51,273
2	$5,587	$67,049
3	$6,902	$82,825
4	$8,217	$98,602
5	$9,532	$114,378
6	$10,846	$130,154
7	$11,093	$133,112
8	$11,339	$136,070
9	$11,586	$139,028
10	$11,832	$141,986
11	$12,079	$144,944
12	$12,325	$147,903

For household members greater than 12, please add $246 for each additional member for monthly income limit and add $2,952 for each additional household member for annual income limit.

The amount of the LIHEAP heating benefit is determined by income, household size, fuel type, and heating region. The medically necessary cooling assistance benefit for FY 2027 is $300.

In addition to LIHEAP, DCA administers the Universal Service Fund (USF), which helps make natural gas and electric bills more affordable for eligible low-income households. The LIHEAP application also serves as an application for USF, allowing eligible households to apply for both programs through a single application.

Residents can apply for energy assistance online at https://www.energyassistance.nj.gov or contact an authorized local agency in their county for assistance with the application process.

For residents age 60 or older or who have a disability, applications may be received and returned by mail, or a home visit may be requested from the agency in the applicant’s county of residence if needed. Other households may apply by mail at the discretion of the local agency.

For further information on LIHEAP or USF or to locate the nearest application agency, call 1-800-510-3102 or email utilityhelp@nj211.org and USFHEA-application@dca.nj.gov. Additional information, including income guidelines and local agency contacts, is available through DCA’s Energy Assistance resources.

DCA encourages residents who may be eligible not to wait to apply, as LIHEAP assistance is subject to available funding.

For more information about LIHEAP and other energy assistance programs, visit https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/hea.shtml.

DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources provides a wide range of services addressing needs in housing assistance, housing production, community development, neighborhood revitalization and improvement, energy assistance, and community services. 

DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including local government management and finance, affordable housing production, eviction and homelessness prevention, building and fire safety, community planning and development, historic preservation, disaster recovery and mitigation, and information privacy.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: 

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