Help with Winter Utility Bills
Heating our homes is hard for many people in Maine this winter. Please know that MAIN and MEJP are
joining with others in trying to find other resources to help. More details at
"Federal Updates"
Below is a list of programs in Maine that may be able to help with your utility costs. You can learn more
about some of these programs at from the
Maine State
Housing Authority. You can also go to Pine Tree Legal
Assistance Heating News to find updates on resources that are known to them.
Other programs may be able to help you with your household costs. This can help free up money so that
you have enough to pay for your heating costs. Some of these programs are Food Stamps, Women, Infants and
Children (WIC), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Other programs are the Property Tax and
Rent Rebate Program, Earned Income Tax Credit, Transitional Child Care, and Transitional Transportation
assistance. There are different eligibility criteria for each of these programs.
More details here
Contact Maine Equal Justice if you more have questions about these programs.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP helps both homeowners and renters with their heating costs.
Household income must be lower than 150% of the poverty level. (This equals about $1,712 per month for a
family of 2.) If anyone over age 60 or below age 2 lives in the household, then the income limit can be
higher - 170% of poverty level. (This equals about $1,940 per month for a family of 2.) Go to poverty level income
chart
If heat is included in your rent, you can still get help.
If you apply and get even a little bit of help,
then your monthly Food Stamps benefit may go up. If you get LIHEAP, then you may also get lower electric rates.
You can apply for LIHEAP through your local
Community Action Program. You need to bring proof of income,
social security numbers, and your address. You can use a utility bill to prove your address.
Weatherization and Furnace Repair or Replacement
- Gives grants to homeowners and renters for weatherization and/or repair or replacement of central
heating system.
- Income guidelines are the same as for LIHEAP.
- You can apply for LIHEAP and you will be considered for this program.
Low-Income Assistance Plan (LIAP)
- LIAP helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for electricity costs by providing a credit on their
electric bills.
- If you get LIHEAP, then you may be able to get help from LIAP as well.
- You can apply for LIHEAP through your Community Action Program.
- Please note that people who get help paying their rent may not be able to get help from LIAP.
Maine Home Repair Network
- Gives 1% mortgages or 0% deferred/forgivable mortgages to low-income homeowners for necessary
home repairs. This can include repairs to heating systems, roofs and chimneys, wells and septic systems.
(A 0% deferred/forgivable mortgage means it has 0% interest rate and no monthly payment.)
- To be eligible you must:
Meet the income guidelines, and
Live in and own the home that needs repairs.
- You can apply through your local Community
Action Program.
Alternative Aid (AA)
- Helps families with children.
- Family cannot be getting TANF but must meet some TANF eligibility criteria such as deprivation.
- To get aid, family must need the help to keep a job or get a job.
- AA can help with many things, like car repairs, housing costs, etc.
- AA can give up to 3 times the monthly TANF benefit. This equals about $1,455 for a family of 3.
- You can only get Alternative Aid once every 12 months.
- Family income limit is 133% of the federal poverty limit.
(The equals about $1,904 per month for a family
of 3.)
- You can apply for AA at your local DHHS office.
More details
Emergency Assistance
- Helps families with children under age 21.
- Family income must be less than 100% of the federal poverty limit.
This equals about $1,431 per month
for a family of 3.
- Helps with different types of emergencies when you don’t have enough money. These can be housing costs
like a security deposit, mortgage, or rent; utility bills; home repairs; clothing; or special medical
equipment.
- You can only get help once every 12 months.
- You can apply at your local DHHS office. You will need proof of the emergency.
More details
General Assistance (GA)
- Helps with basic necessities, like housing, fuel, food, utilities, clothing, and medical expenses.
- You must be very low-income. You may need to prove that you have spent your money on basic necessities.
- All towns and cities have this program. You can apply at your local Town Office or City Hall.
Call DHHS at 1-800-442-6003 if you have trouble applying.
More details
Citizens Energy (no longer taking applications)
Citizens Energy Corporation is a non-profit company started by Joseph P. Kennedy II in 1979. In partnership
with CITGO, Citizens Energy works with thousands of oil heat dealers and local fuel assistance agencies in
16 states to provide deliveries of home heating oil to those in need. This year they provided eligible
families a one-time delivery of 100 gallons of home heating oil.
Unfortunately, Citizens Energy Corp. is no longer accepting applications for the 2007-2008 heating season.
Due to the high demand for assistance, they have currently exhausted all of their available resources for
this program.
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