Maine Heating Assistance for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Maine Winters Are Expensive — LIHEAP Helps

Heating oil, propane, and electricity bills in Maine can run hundreds of dollars a month through the winter. For a grandparent or relative on a fixed income who just took in a grandchild, a heating bill on top of food, clothing, and childcare costs can push the household past the breaking point.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides direct payments toward heating costs. It is federally funded, administered in Maine through local Community Action Agencies, and available to qualifying households regardless of their kinship care status.

Who Qualifies

For Maine's 2026–2027 HEAP season, the maximum gross income for a two-person household is $49,784 per year; limits for other household sizes are listed by MaineHousing. A grandparent on Social Security raising one grandchild may qualify if the household meets the current limit.

If you already receive TANF, SNAP, or MaineCare, you may qualify automatically or face a simplified application process. Check with your local Community Action Agency to confirm.

What LIHEAP Covers

In most cases, once eligibility and the benefit amount are determined, the fuel provider receives the benefit as a credit to your account. The amount depends on household income, household size, fuel type, geographic location within the state, and other household expenses. Payments typically cover a portion of the heating season, not the full cost.

Maine also operates the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) for households with an immediate heating emergency, such as an extremely low fuel supply, a disconnection notice, or a broken furnace. For the 2026–2027 season, ECIP applications run from November 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Start with a HEAP application, then contact your local Community Action Agency to determine ECIP eligibility.

When to Apply

For the 2026–2027 season, HEAP applications opened August 3, 2026 and continue until funds are exhausted or May 29, 2027. Do not wait until your first winter bill arrives — apply as early as possible. Funding is limited, and once it runs out for the season, no more benefits are issued.

Contact your local Community Action Agency to apply. Maine has several agencies covering different counties: you can find yours through 211 Maine (dial 211) or the MaineHousing website.

The SNAP Utility Connection

If you receive SNAP, qualifying heating or cooling costs separate from rent or mortgage may allow your household to use the Standard Utility Allowance — a flat $718-per-month deduction that reduces your countable income for SNAP purposes. A LIHEAP payment by itself qualifies a household for the Full Standard Utility Allowance only if a payment over $20 was received in the current month or prior 12 months and at least one household member is elderly or disabled. This is separate from LIHEAP. You can and should receive both: LIHEAP pays part of your actual heating bill, while the SNAP utility allowance increases your food benefit.

The complete Maine kinship financial help guide covers LIHEAP alongside TANF, SNAP, MaineCare, and every other program available to kinship caregivers — including a worksheet for tracking application deadlines across all agencies.

See more Maine guides →