Maryland energy assistance
In Maryland, a household of 4 qualifies for energy assistance (MEAP and EUSP) with gross income up to $5,500 a month, or $66,000 a year (FY2027 programme, Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs).
- Programme
- Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP)
- Run by
- Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP), Maryland Department of Human Services
- Programme year
- FY2027: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
- Also called
- MEAP and EUSP, OHEP, Maryland LIHEAP, Maryland energy assistance
- Official page
- dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs
Maryland income limits, FY2027
Maximum household gross income by household size: 200% of the federal poverty level.
| Household size | One month (tested) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $2,660 | $31,920 |
| 2 people | $3,607 | $43,280 |
| 3 people | $4,553 | $54,640 |
| 4 people | $5,500 | $66,000 |
| 5 people | $6,447 | $77,360 |
| 6 people | $7,393 | $88,720 |
| 7 people | $8,340 | $100,080 |
| 8 people | $9,287 | $111,440 |
| 9 people | $10,233 | $122,800 |
| 10 people | $11,180 | $134,160 |
Households of 11 or more have separate limits: EUSP stays at 200% of the poverty level, but MEAP is capped at 60% of state median income (for 11 people, $11,627 a month for MEAP against $12,127 for EUSP). Both are on the FY27 income guidelines sheet.
OHEP counts the household's gross income for the last 30 days, so the monthly column is the one an application is checked against. Households already receiving SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) in Maryland are eligible without a separate application.
Source: FY27 OHEP Income Guidelines (our copy, PDF).
How much you can get
The MEAP heating grant is a one-time payment per heating season, sent to the fuel supplier or utility. It depends on the fuel, household income and where in the state the household lives: in FY2027 it runs from $25 to $1,325 statewide, with propane and oil households at the top. EUSP, the separate electric grant, is paid once per July–June programme year and depends on income and the last 12 months of electricity use: from $25 up to $1,125 for the lowest-income electric-heat households using more than 12,000 kWh a year.
Source: FY27 MEAP Benefit Matrices; FY27 EUSP Benefit Matrix (our copy, PDF).
MEAP heating grant, FY2027, statewide (Garrett County has its own, higher matrix). Columns are household income as a share of the federal poverty level.
| 0–25% | 26–50% | 51–100% | 101–150% | 151–200% | Subsidized / sub-metered | Over 200% (categorically eligible) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $25 |
| Gas | $700 | $665 | $630 | $560 | $455 | $315 | $25 |
| Oil / kerosene | $1,225 | $1,160 | $1,080 | $980 | $795 | $550 | $25 |
| Propane | $1,325 | $1,255 | $1,190 | $1,060 | $860 | $595 | $25 |
| Wood / coal | $550 | $520 | $495 | $440 | $355 | $245 | $25 |
Source: FY27 MEAP Benefit Matrices (our copy, PDF).
When to apply
OHEP takes applications year-round; the programme year runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. OHEP must review a complete application within 14 days and decide within 45 days of receiving the full packet; the clock starts only when every document is in. OHEP's advice is not to wait for a turn-off notice before applying.
Emergency and crisis help
The FY27 Winter Crisis Assistance season runs from November 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. A household that has received MEAP, or is applying when the crisis happens, can ask for up to $600, set by what it takes to resolve the crisis. Qualifying crises include having no fuel, a disconnected utility, a 3–4 day fuel supply, broken heating equipment and an imminent disconnection. Separately, Arrearage Retirement Assistance pays up to $2,000 toward a past-due electric bill and up to $1,000 toward a past-due gas bill, for balances of $300 or more, once every five years with some exceptions.
Source: OHEP Advisory Board meeting, October 8, 2026 (our copy, PDF).
How to apply
- Online. Apply through Maryland Benefits and upload all documents with the application; documents sent separately delay it. marylandbenefits.gov
- Phone. Call 1-800-332-6347 (TTY 1-800-735-2258) or your local office. Local offices take applications by phone; you then email or mail your documents, and clear photos are accepted.
- Paper, by mail or drop box. Print the Application for Energy Assistance (DHS/FIA 9780), sign it by hand, and mail it or leave it in a local office drop box with copies of your documents. Download the form (PDF)
- In person. Each county and Baltimore City has a local Home Energy Program office; apply to your own, as an application sent to another county is delayed. dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs/local-home-energy-program-office
- Check your status. Allow about 15 days for an application to appear. myohepstatus.maryland.gov
What to bring
- Photo ID for the applicant (driver's license or other government-issued ID)
- Proof of residence, such as a lease, rent receipt, mortgage statement or property tax bill
- Social Security cards for everyone in the household
- Proof of gross income for everyone in the household for the last 30 days (pay stubs, Social Security award letters, pension statements)
- Your utility bill, and a heating bill if you heat with oil, propane, wood or kerosene
Source: DHS/FIA 9780 Application for Energy Assistance; OHEP, How to Apply (our copy, PDF).
Also worth knowing
MEAP households can join the Utility Service Protection Program (USPP), which protects against utility turn-offs during the heating season in exchange for year-round even monthly budget billing.
Source: OHEP, Energy Assistance.
Applicants are referred to the Weatherization Assistance Program unless they opt out on the application.
Source: OHEP, How are Grants Determined?.
OHEP told its advisory board on October 8, 2026 that it plans two changes from January 1, 2027: Maryland Fuel Assistance (MFA), a state-funded heating grant for households at or below 200% of the poverty level who cannot get federally funded MEAP, including undocumented residents and mixed-status households; and R-CAP, monthly utility bill discounts approved by the Public Service Commission, with OHEP grant recipients enrolled automatically for 18 months. MFA has no crisis component for now.
Source: OHEP Advisory Board meeting, October 8, 2026 (our copy, PDF).
Energy assistance does not reduce other benefits such as TCA, SNAP or Social Security.
Source: OHEP, Energy Assistance.
Official documents
Unchanged copies of Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs’s documents, hosted here so they stay reachable. Each links to the original on the agency’s site.
- FY27 OHEP Income Guidelines PDF · FY2027
Weekly, monthly and annual income limits by household size, 1 to 15 people.
Original on the agency site - FY27 MEAP Benefit Matrices PDF · FY2027
Heating grant by fuel and income level, statewide and for Garrett County.
Original on the agency site - FY27 EUSP Benefit Matrix PDF · FY2027
How the electric grant is set from income and electricity use.
Original on the agency site - Application for Energy Assistance (DHS/FIA 9780) PDF · Current form
The paper application, with the list of documents to include.
Original on the agency site - OHEP Advisory Board meeting, October 8, 2026 PDF · FY2027
Winter crisis season dates and the $600 crisis maximum, application numbers, and the January 2027 launches of Maryland Fuel Assistance and R-CAP.
Original on the agency site
Not published yet, or not found
- An application deadline (OHEP takes applications year-round)
Figures checked against the official documents on November 1, 2026. Programmes can change amounts during the season when federal funding changes; the agency’s own page is the final word.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Maryland energy assistance in 2026–27?
For FY2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), OHEP's limit is 200% of the federal poverty level: $2,660 a month for one person, $4,553 for three and $5,500 for a household of four ($66,000 a year). OHEP checks the household's gross income for the last 30 days.
When can I apply for Maryland energy assistance?
Any time. OHEP takes applications year-round, and the programme year runs from July 1 to June 30. Crisis help for the winter runs from November 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
How much is the MEAP grant?
It depends on fuel, income and county. On the FY2027 statewide matrix it ranges from $25 to $1,325: up to $1,325 for propane, $1,225 for oil or kerosene, $700 for gas and $550 for wood or coal at the lowest income level, and $100 for electric heat. Garrett County has a higher matrix.
Do I have to apply if I get SNAP?
No. Households receiving SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance in Maryland are categorically eligible and do not need to file a separate application or documents; OHEP issues the benefit after the SNAP or TCA redetermination is approved.
How long does Maryland energy assistance take?
OHEP must review an application within 14 days of receiving the complete packet and make a final decision within 45 days. The clock does not start until every required document has been received.
Can I get help with a past-due BGE or Pepco bill?
Arrearage Retirement Assistance pays up to $2,000 toward a past-due electric bill and up to $1,000 toward a past-due gas bill, if the balance is $300 or more; for the electric grant you must also qualify for EUSP. It is available once every five years, with some exceptions.