The first real cold nights have arrived in Massachusetts, and for many families the worry starts before the furnace does. Oil tanks need filling, gas bills climb, and a household that is fine in October can feel squeezed by January. Our faith teaches us to plan ahead and to look after one another, so here is a plain guide to the state's heating help, written for Muslim families from Lowell to Worcester to Quincy, and for the masjids and neighbors who want to help them.

The short version: Massachusetts' Home Energy Assistance Program, known as HEAP or simply "fuel assistance," helps pay heating costs from Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. Applications opened Oct. 1, so you can apply now. And this year, the state's winter protection against heat shut-offs is set to run from Nov. 1 to April 1.

Who can apply

HEAP is open to both homeowners and renters, including families whose heat is included in their rent. Eligibility is based mainly on household size and combined gross income, and the limit is 60 percent of the state's estimated median income. For the 2026–2027 season, the maximum annual income is:

  • 1 person: $53,585
  • 2 people: $70,073
  • 3 people: $86,561
  • 4 people: $103,049
  • 5 people: $119,536
  • 6 people: $136,024

These limits are higher than many people expect. A two-parent family of five with one full-time salary, a common picture in our community, may well qualify. Mass.gov notes that not all income counts, so if you are close to the line, apply anyway and let your local agency decide.

What it pays

HEAP pays a portion of the cost of your main heat source: oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, kerosene, wood and more. According to the state's FY 2027 benefit chart, published by MASSCAP, the association of Massachusetts community action agencies, base benefits for homeowners and non-subsidized renters range from $600 to $1,450 for the season, depending on income and fuel type, with a possible high-energy-cost supplement of $120 to $200. Lower-income households get more.

There is a second benefit many families miss. If you qualify for HEAP and your gas or electricity comes from an investor-owned utility such as Eversource, National Grid or Unitil, you are automatically given a discounted rate on those bills, all year.

How to apply

You can apply online through the state's HEAP portal at mass.gov/heatinghelp, in person at your local community action agency, or by mail. To find your agency, use the portal's lookup tool or call the state's Heat Line at 1-800-632-8175. First-time applicants will have an intake appointment. Returning households must reapply every year; the state mails a renewal application after the first year.

Gather these before you start:

  • photo ID for the head of household, such as a driver's license
  • a list of everyone who lives in the home
  • your heating company's name and account number
  • a lease or mortgage statement
  • proof of income for the 30 days before you apply, such as pay stubs or pension statements

If English is not your first language, ask your agency for help in Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Bengali, Portuguese or another language. Bring a trusted friend if that makes it easier. There is no shame in asking. This program exists precisely so that no family in the Commonwealth has to choose between heat and food.

Keeping the heat on: the winter protection

Massachusetts law protects households in financial hardship from having gas or electric service shut off in winter when that service heats the home. Normally the protection runs Nov. 15 to March 15. For this winter, the state Department of Public Utilities extended it to Nov. 1, 2026, through April 1, 2027, according to Mass.gov.

You qualify as having a financial hardship if you cannot pay an overdue bill and your income meets the HEAP limits above. The protection is not automatic. Call your utility, tell them you are struggling, ask for their financial hardship form, fill it out, keep a copy and send it back quickly. If your service is shut off or the company refuses, call the DPU Consumer Division at 617-737-2836 or toll-free at 877-886-5066.

Two more things to know. If you received fuel assistance last winter, your utility must protect your account through at least Jan. 1 so you have time to reapply. And the bills keep coming during the protection, so you still owe them. Ask about budget billing or a payment plan to spread the cost out.

Separate year-round protections also apply when someone in the home is seriously ill, when there is a baby under 12 months, or when all the adults are 65 or older and a minor child lives with them.

How masjids and neighbors can help

Many Massachusetts masjids already run zakat and emergency funds, and heating season is when those funds are tested. A few practical ideas:

  • Announce it at Jummah. A two-minute reminder about HEAP and the hardship form, with the Heat Line number, can reach families who would never search for it.
  • Host an application night. Volunteers who can read a form and translate can walk families through the online portal.
  • Check on elders. Older community members living alone are often the last to ask. A phone call when the first cold snap hits is the kind of care our tradition prizes.
  • Use zakat wisely. HEAP covers only part of a winter's heat. Masjid funds can fill the gap for an oil delivery or an overdue balance, especially for families who just missed the income limit.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that the believers in their mutual love and mercy are like one body: when one part aches, the whole body responds. In a New England winter, that can be as simple as making sure a neighbor's furnace is running.

Where to start tonight: visit mass.gov/heatinghelp or call 1-800-632-8175. If you already know your bills will be hard this winter, call your gas or electric company this week and ask for the financial hardship form.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Income limits and benefit amounts are from Mass.gov and MASSCAP for the 2026–2027 season; confirm your eligibility with your local agency.