The household and heating bill matter
New Jersey's federal fiscal year 2027 LIHEAP application period opened October 1, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2027 while funds last. The state fact sheet sets a gross-income limit of 60 percent of state median income. For a four-person household, it lists $8,217 monthly and $98,602 annually.
That income ceiling is not a benefit amount. Applicants must be responsible for heating or medically necessary cooling costs, directly or through rent. The fact sheet says public-housing or rental-assistance households generally do not qualify for heating assistance unless they pay heating costs directly to the fuel supplier.
One application can reach two programs
Heating benefits depend on income, household size, fuel and region. The fact sheet describes a $300 medically necessary cooling benefit and different payment routes depending on how the household pays its energy costs. Help may go directly to a utility or be issued through the specified check route, not as unrestricted annual cash.
The LIHEAP application also serves as a Universal Service Fund application, and eligible households may receive both. Keep income and energy-bill records and apply through state or authorized local channels. The opening date is an opportunity to apply, not confirmation that every applicant is approved; first-come processing and available funding remain important.