Maryland Energy Assistance for Kinship Caregivers: MEAP and OHEP

Adding a child to a household raises your utility bills — more laundry, more hot water, lights on longer, heat running in rooms that used to stay closed. If you're a grandparent or relative raising a child in Maryland on a fixed income, the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) offers real bill relief, and applying is simpler than you might expect.

What OHEP Covers

Maryland's Office of Home Energy Programs runs two main assistance tracks:

Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP): A direct grant toward your heating costs — gas, oil, propane, or electric heat. The grant goes directly to your utility provider, not to you, and the amount depends on household size, income, and fuel type. You don't repay it.

Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP): A separate grant specifically for electric bills. If your heating is electric, you can receive both MEAP and EUSP in the same year. EUSP also pays directly to your utility company.

Maryland's energy assistance program year runs July 1 through June 30, but OHEP accepts applications year-round. You can apply through MarylandBenefits.gov or your local OHEP office; ask about grant availability and start dates.

How Kinship Caregivers Qualify

If your household already receives TCA or SNAP, you're categorically eligible for OHEP energy assistance. No separate income verification is needed — the existing benefit enrollment is proof enough.

Even without TCA or SNAP, income-eligible households may qualify based on household size and income. Follow OHEP's instructions for household size and whose income to report.

The application is integrated into Form DHS/FIA 9701 — the same Application for Assistance used for TCA and SNAP. If you're applying for cash or food benefits, you can check the energy assistance box on the same form and apply for everything at once through MarylandBenefits.gov or at your local DSS office.

What to Bring

• Social Security numbers for all household members
• Proof of income (Social Security statements, pension letters, pay stubs)
• A recent utility bill or a statement from your landlord showing utility costs
• If the child receives TCA or SNAP, the approval notice showing active enrollment

Beyond OHEP: Utility Company Programs

Several utilities serving Maryland, including BGE (Baltimore Gas & Electric), Pepco, and Potomac Edison, offer customer-assistance or payment-arrangement options. Programs and eligibility differ by provider; contact your utility to ask what help is available and how it interacts with OHEP.

If your utility account is in immediate shutoff danger, your local DSS can also process Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC) under COMAR 07.03.08, which provides a one-time vendor payment specifically to prevent utility disconnection.

The Financial Help for Relatives Raising a Child in Maryland guide covers energy assistance alongside every other program available to kinship caregivers — TCA, SNAP, MCHP, childcare scholarships, and emergency grants — in one organized system with tracking tools for every application.

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