Get Help From The Maryland Energy Assistance Program

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program provides residents with funds to help pay heating and utility bills. Qualified families can get up to 25% of their home heating bill paid for.

As with most assistance programs, families and individuals that benefit from the programs must meet certain income requirements and program guidelines. As an example, a family of four with an income of up to $38,587 can qualify for aid. Some of the other criteria that must be met in order to qualify for this benefit program include:

• The applicant must be a resident of the State of Maryland.
• They need to be struggling with paying their energy bills and they must need financial assistance for home energy bills.
• The applicants household's annual income before taxes must not exceed $18,953 if one person lives in the household. And there is an increasing scale. The income must not exceed $25,498 if two people live in the household; $32,043 if three people live in the household; $38,588 if four people live in the household; $45,133 if five people live in the household; $51,678 if six people live in the household; $58,223 if seven people live in the household; $64,768 if eight people live in the household; and $71,313 if more than eight people live in the household.

When someone is accepted into the Maryland Energy Assistance Program, the cash benefit that is paid for each household is sent as a lump sum to the utility company providing fuel such as natural gas. The funds will not be sent directly to the household.

The bottom line is that the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) provides assistance with home heating as well as utility bills. Payments will always be made directly to your utility company on your behalf. As another benefit under this program, there is additional limited assistance available to replace broken or inefficient refrigerators, furnaces, and other heating units.