Maine to get $38 million in heat assistance early from federal government
Maine to Receive Early $38 Million Heating‑Assistance Boost as Oil Prices Soar
Portland, Oct. 13, 2026 – Maine’s winter heating budget is getting an unexpected lift. The federal government will disburse roughly $38 million in Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) funds to the state earlier than usual, a move that comes as heating‑oil prices have climbed to a record‑high level of more than $6 per gallon.
The decision follows a letter signed last month by 31 U.S. senators—including Maine’s own Republican Senator Susan Collins and Independent Senator Angus King—requesting the Department of Health and Human Services to expedite the release. “I am pleased that these funds are being released to help Mainers afford to heat their homes this winter without having to choose between staying warm and paying for other basic necessities,” Collins said in a news release Friday.
A Lifeline for Low‑Income Households
MaineHousing, the state agency that administers HEAP, estimates that the average award this winter will be about $700. In 2025, the agency allocated $23 million of HEAP dollars to heating‑oil vendors; last year that amount jumped to roughly $31 million, reflecting the spike in fuel costs.
About 45 000 Mainers received LIHEAP assistance last year, according to MaineHousing data. The state, which is the most reliant on heating oil in the country, stands to benefit the most from the early disbursement.
MaineHousing has already earmarked $4 million of leftover funds from last winter to help roughly 4,400 vulnerable households. Even with that supplemental money, officials say the new $38 million will not stretch as far this winter as it would have in previous years because oil prices have surged dramatically over the summer and into the fall.
Funds Split Across the State and Tribal Nations
Of the $38 million, about $36.7 million will go to MaineHousing, while $1.4 million will be distributed to five tribal nations:
- Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe – $457,771
- Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe – $316,098
- Penobscot Nation – $303,530
- Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians – $165,665
- Mi’kmaq Nation – $165,665
Senator Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, highlighted her role in increasing national HEAP funding by $20 million and noted recent discussions with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought about the urgency of releasing the funds.
Governor Mills Urges Further Assistance
Maine Gov. Janet Mills sent a letter to the congressional delegation last week urging additional federal support, citing the war in Iran as a driver of soaring fuel prices. “Federal funding levels appropriated for LIHEAP this winter did not fully consider the drastic impacts of the president’s war that has sent fuel prices skyrocketing and are now insufficient for the circumstances that Maine and other cold‑climate states now face,” Mills wrote.
Political Spotlight on Heating Costs
With the election just weeks away, heating‑oil prices have become a campaign issue. Republican Senator Collins and Democratic gubernatorial challenger Troy Jackson have exchanged blame over rising living costs, while the governor and all three major candidates—Democrat Hannah Pingree, Republican Bobby Charles, and independent Rick Bennett—have called for more aid to keep households warm.
Applying for Assistance
Applications for the new HEAP allocation are open now. Low‑income Mainers can apply online at MaineHousing’s website, contact their local community action program, or call 211. The state also publishes an annual Winter Heating Guide with cost‑saving tips for households of all incomes.
As the cold season approaches, the early release of federal aid offers a glimmer of relief for many Mainers struggling with the dual burden of high heating costs and other living expenses.
