CT To Provide $12.7M In Heating Assistance: Who Qualifies, How To Apply

Gov. Ned Lamont is directing an additional $12.7 million toward home heating assistance to help Connecticut households manage rising fuel costs this winter.

Lamont announced Tuesday that he is allocating the funding from the state's Federal Cuts Response Fund to supplement the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) for the 2026-27 heating season.

The additional aid is intended to help eligible low-income households, particularly those that rely on delivered heating fuels such as oil.

"Families across the U.S. are paying the price for rising heating oil costs driven by President Trump's war in Iran, and we cannot leave these households out in the cold," Lamont said in a statement.

The governor also urged Congress and the Trump administration to provide additional federal funding for heating assistance.

CEAP helps eligible Connecticut households pay their winter heating bills. The Connecticut Department of Social Services administers the program through nine community action agencies and is primarily funded by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The state expects approximately 94,291 households to receive assistance during the 2026-27 heating season, including about 32,893 households that rely on delivered heating fuels.

According to Department of Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves, the supplemental funding will allow eligible households to access their heating assistance benefits at the same time rather than exhausting one benefit before receiving another.

"We encourage residents to apply early and not wait until they are facing a heating emergency," Barton Reeves said.

Who Qualifies For Heating Assistance In Connecticut?

Connecticut households may qualify for CEAP if their annual gross income is at or below 60 percent of the state median income.

For the 2026-27 heating season, the income limit is $93,681 for a family of four.

Households receiving certain government benefits, including SNAP, Temporary Family Assistance or Supplemental Security Income, may also qualify through categorical income eligibility.

The program prioritizes vulnerable households, including those with residents age 60 or older, children younger than 6 and people with disabilities.

How To Apply For Heating Assistance

Applications for the 2026-27 heating season are now being accepted.

Residents can apply through several methods:

• Online: Visit ct.gov/heatinghelp.
• By phone: Contact a local community action agency for help completing an application.
• By email or mail: Download an application and submit it with the required documents to a local community action agency.
• In person: Schedule an appointment with a participating community action agency.

Contact information for local agencies, along with application forms in English and Spanish, is available on the state's heating assistance website.

Residents who need help locating their community action agency can call 2-1-1.

CEAP is an annual benefit, meaning households must submit a new application each year to receive assistance.

The first day for program-paid fuel deliveries is Nov. 2, 2026. The deadline to apply for the 2026-27 heating season is May 31, 2027.

Where Is The Additional Funding Coming From?

The $12.7 million allocation is part of the sixth proposed use of Connecticut's Federal Cuts Response Fund, which was established in 2025 to help the state respond to changes in federal policies and funding.

Lamont's administration notified Democratic and Republican legislative leaders of the proposed allocation Tuesday. Under state law, the leaders have 24 hours to review the proposal and may vote to reject it.

All five previous proposals to use the fund were approved.

Following the latest proposed allocation, approximately $250.6 million would remain available for future needs.