BOSTON — As Massachusetts experiences one of its coldest winters in recent years, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is increasing Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits for tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents who rely on the federally funded program to  help pay for home heating. 

 

Persistent below-average freezing temperatures have resulted in one of the coldest Massachusetts winters in recent history. As a result, 72 percent  of HEAP clients (approximately 54,000 households) have less than $100 remaining in heating benefitsfor the rest of the heating season, which runs from November through April. 

 

"We know heating costs are putting a strain on families, especially during a winter like this one. And costs are only increasing because of President Trump's war in Iran," said Governor Maura Healey. "Increasing these benefits will help make sure seniors, families with children and other residents can keep their homes warm during the coldest weeks of the year." 

 

During the 2024-2025 heating season, the HEAP program provided financial assistance to more than 159,000 Massachusetts households. The majority of households  served by HEAP- 54 percent- are seniors living on fixed incomes, and approximately 11 percent of participating households assisted by HEAP include children under the age of six. 

  

Currently, the maximum HEAP benefit for households using deliverable fuels such as oil, propane, and kerosene is $1,000, while the maximum benefit for households using  utilities  such as natural gas or electric is $850.  The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) projects increasing the maximum deliverable fuel benefit from $1,000 to $1,400 and the maximum utility benefit from $850 to $925 in anticipation of receiving the final $15 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the coming months. 

 

Historically, HHS provides the final 10 percent of Massachusetts' annual HEAP funding late in the winter season, allowing the state to adjust and often increase benefit levels based on demand. In prior years, the state has typically waited to increase benefits until this final funding allocation is received. 

 

In November 2025, at the start of this year's heating season and despite a federal government shutdown, the Healey-Driscoll Administration was able to leverage carryover HEAP funding to provide emergency heating assistance to households with the greatest need and initiated the winter utility shut-off moratorium weeks early to ensure residents would not lose heat during the coldest months.