Message from Maine Housing, March 12, 2025:
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a program that provides a fixed amount of funding to Maine each year from the federal government. Based on our most current projections, we will stop processing new applications for the program at 5:00PM on March 28, 2025. We will make every effort to provide assistance to eligible applicants who submit a completed application by the deadline, but cannot guarantee that assistance will be available.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
If you need assistance after the deadline, apply and we will keep a waiting list should there be funding available. We will work through the pipeline as quickly as possible, but please know that assistance is not guaranteed.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), is a federally funded program to help income eligible homeowners and renters pay a portion of their annual heating expenses. Penquis serves Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties.
The program provides a one-time, per-season, direct payment to heat vendors for homes heated with oil, kerosene, wood, propane, natural gas, electricity and other fuels.
For the HEAP appointment line, please call 207-973-3500 or 1-800-215-4942. You can also try any of these local numbers:
- Bangor: 207-973-3500
- Dover: 207-564-7116
- Lincoln: 207-794-3093
- Rockland: 207596-0361
You can also schedule your appointment online.
What is my eligibility based on?
- Dwelling Type
- Fuel Type (electricity, heating oil, kerosene, propane, natural gas, wood)
- Poverty Level (total gross income)
- Geographic area
When can I apply and what do I bring to my appointment?
Penquis has scheduled over 6,500 priority households (60 and older, 72 month and younger and disabled) that pay for they heat, which takes us to the end of the year. HEAP applications are scheduled by appointment (phone or in person) from the end of July through the last working day of May. To determine eligibility, please review the income guidelines for eligibility.
To apply for HEAP benefits, you need the following documents:
- Unexpired photo ID for primary applicant only (driver’s license, state ID, etc)
- Social Security Cards and dates of birth for all household members (or SSN verification document)
- Citizenship/Legal Status Verification: U.S. Birth Certificate, Unexpired Passport, Unexpired Maine Real ID
- Fuel Vendor name and account number
- Most recent electric bill (Note: bill must be in a household member’s name to apply for any of the low-income assistance programs.
- Proof of gross income for all household members
- Wages, unemployment, worker compensation, etc – 28 days prior to the date of application
- SS/SSD, SSI, Pension, etc – monthly statement or award letter
- Self-employment – Tax Return (from the past year) or Self-employment Worksheet for one year prior to date of application if no tax return.
