Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Season is Open

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Season is Open

• Posted on: 11/18/2024

Eligible Residents are Encouraged to Apply for Help to Pay Energy Bills 

TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is reminding residents that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is accepting applications for the fall 2024/winter 2025 heating season. New Jersey residents can now apply for LIHEAP and other utility assistance programs available to help with utility bills.

"Access to essential utilities like heat and electricity is a fundamental part of maintaining a safe and healthy home," said Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. "The LIHEAP program is important because it helps people pay their utility bills, especially during periods of economic hardship. No family should have to choose between staying warm, keeping the lights on, and putting food on the table."

LIHEAP is one of several programs DCA provides to help New Jersey households in need with basic resources such as housing and heating to promote long-term physical well-being. These programs include LIHEAP, which is a federal program that helps households at or below 60% of the state median income ($7,676 a month for a family of four) pay for energy costs (electric, gas, deliverable fuels, and those included in rent), and the Universal Service Fund (USF) program, which provides a monthly credit on electric and gas bills for households at or below 60% of the state median income ($92,108 a year for a family of four). To qualify for USF, the household must pay more than 2% of its annual income for electric or for natural gas. If a household has electric heat, it must spend more than 4% of its annual income on electricity to be eligible.

FY 2025 USFHEA Gross Income Limits

*Any additional member after 12: Add $231 to the monthly income for both LIHEAP and USF.

Households may visit the DCAid portal at www.nj.gov/dca/dcaid to apply for LIHEAP or other assistance programs. The DCAid portal has a tool that allows residents to review other benefits for which they may qualify. Residents who do not have access to computers or the internet may call 1-800-510-3102 to be directed to one of the community action agencies partnering with DCA to assist them with starting, completing, and applying online. A list of the community organizations providing such assistance is available on the DCA website at:

https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/pdf/LIHEAP_Agencies%20updated.pdf.

LIHEAP applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and assistance is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applicants should not wait to apply.

The Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA is committed to strengthening neighborhoods through the delivery of affordable housing and supportive services and to providing financial and technical assistance to municipalities, community action agencies, and other nonprofit organizations for community and economic development projects that improve the quality of life for residents, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged.

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

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