Home Energy Assistance Hotline

To quickly identify DCA benefits you may qualify for, visit this self-screening tool: dcaid.dca.nj.gov/en-US/are-you-eligible/

To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits:

• The applicant must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, with payments made directly to the utility company or included in the rental agreement.
• Those who live in public housing and/or receive rental assistance must pay their heating/cooling costs directly to the fuel supplier.
• Household gross income is at or below 60% of the NJ State Median Income level. See table below for specific gross income maximums for FFY 2026.

To be eligible for USF benefits:

• Household gross income is at or below 60% of the NJ State Median Income level. See table below for specific gross income maximums for FFY 2026.
• Households must pay a minimum percentage of annual income toward utility costs.
  • Natural Gas: pay more than 2% of its annual income for natural gas
  • Electric: Pay more than 4% if a household has electric heat OR more than 2% for electric if heat is from another source.
  • However, if a customer does not spend the required percentage of income on energy, they will default to the minimum $5 monthly benefit.
• Must be a customer of one of the seven regulated electric (energy) companies in NJ: New Jersey Natural Gas Company; Elizabethtown Gas Company; South Jersey Gas Company; Public Service Electric & Gas Company; Rockland Electric Company; Jersey Central Power & Light and Atlantic City Electric Company.

To be eligible for Weatherization:

• Household gross income is at or below 60% of the NJ State Median Income Level. See table below for specific gross income maximums for FFY 2026.
• If ineligible, seniors and those with disabilities may qualify for Comfort Partners. To learn more, click here.

The application period for 2026 opens from October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

• LIHEAP Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as they are eligible.
• If seeking assistance with medically necessary cooling costs, apply for this benefit at the same time as you apply for help with heating costs.

Complete one simple application to apply for all three HEA programs - LIHEAP, USF, and Weatherization.

Submit an application, register on the DCA online portal or find a local application agency in your area. 

Documents Required:

Please ensure that all required documentation is uploaded at the time of submitting the application to avoid delays in the processing of your application.

1. Proof of Identification (Social Security cards for all household members and birth certificates for those under 12 months of age; custody papers for minors not living with parents; documentation for all foster children in the household)
2. Proof of income for every household member who is 18 years of age or older
3. Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Legal Residency Status (provide one of the following: social security card; copy of Medicaid/Medicare card; documentation from the U.S. Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services; or USCIS Temporary Work Permit)
4. Copy of your most recent utility bill
5. Copy of your tax bill, mortgage, or rental lease (if you are in public housing, bring your Housing Authority proof of residence letter or lease agreement)

HEA recipients must be recertified annually. Recertification instructions are sent out at the start of the application season with the latest guidance, typically late September or early October. 

FFY 2026 Recertification: You may recertify from the DCA online portal or contact the local application agency listed on your mailer.

• If you moved since last year, follow the instructions for a New Applicant.
• Changes in household size may result in changes in eligibility and the benefit amount received from the HEA/USF program.
• USF benefit amount may change during your enrollment in the program

Documents Required (copies of the following):

Please ensure that all required documentation is uploaded at the time of submitting the application to avoid delays in the processing of your application.

1. Current income information for all household members 18 years of age or older,
2. A recent heating bill from your primary home heating supplier,
3. A recent bill from your electric utility and natural gas utility (all pages), and
4. Current lease or Tenant Verification Form.

Visit this link to access the DCA online portal.

New users must select ‘Register Now’, then follow the prompts to:

1. Request access to DCAid Service Portal
2. Link DCAid Service Portal to your myNJ account
3. Use DCAid Service Portal

Returning users must select ‘Login’, then follow the prompts to either link DCAid Service Portal to your myNJ account OR login to myNJ account directly.

Applications are processed approximately 60 days after submission. Incomplete applications will significantly delay processing time. 

If you applied online, go to the DCA online portal and sign in as a Returning Applicant to view your status.

If you have questions or cannot see your status, please contact the HEA Hotline to speak with a hotline specialist, dial 2-1-1 or 800-510-3102. The HEA Hotline is available Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm.

If you move,

• The USF benefits are stopped until you contact your new utility company and inform them that you were receiving USF at your former residence.
• It is then the responsibility of the new utility company to associate your USF benefits with the new account.
• Once this has been done, your USF benefit level will be reevaluated. The level of benefits you receive may change because it is in part based upon the history of utility use in your new location.
• You will NOT be able to complete a streamlined annual recertification; a new application is required.