Help paying for heat this winter
If heating your home is a strain this year, there is help. Dartmouth residents can apply for fuel assistance through PACE in New Bedford. It's free, it covers every kind of heat, and renters qualify too.
What it is
- The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), often called fuel assistance, pays part of your winter heating bill, straight to your heating company.
- It works for oil, natural gas, electric, propane, kerosene, wood and coal.
- Homeowners and renters can apply, including renters whose heat is included in the rent.
- If you qualify, your gas and electric company also gives you a monthly discount on your bills.
- Your application also counts toward free heating system repair or replacement and weatherization (insulation and air sealing), if your home needs it. Mention it when you apply.
- This season runs November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
Who qualifies
It depends on how many people live in your home and your household's total yearly income before taxes. For this season, the limits are:
| Household | Yearly income up to |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $53,585 |
| 2 people | $70,073 |
| 3 people | $86,561 |
| 4 people | $103,049 |
| 5 people | $119,536 |
| 6 people | $136,024 |
Larger households have higher limits. Not every kind of income counts, so if you're close, apply anyway and let PACE work it out.
How to apply
- Online: toapply.org/PACE. You can save and come back. Have your documents handy to upload from your phone.
- In person: PACE, 255 Union Street, New Bedford. Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Walk-ins welcome.
- By mail: if you applied before, PACE mails you this year's application. Fill it in and send it back. There's also a drop box at 261 Union Street.
- By phone, for help: 508-525-4271. Call right away if you're facing a shutoff or running out of fuel.
What to have ready
- Proof of identity for everyone in the household, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card.
- Proof of income: your last 30 days of pay stubs, or benefit letters.
- Your lease or mortgage statement.
You can send documents after you apply. PACE's fuel assistance page has the full checklist and extra forms. Processing can take 4 to 6 weeks, so apply early.
Sources: PACE Home Energy Assistance Program and Mass.gov, Learn about Home Energy Assistance, checked November 3, 2026. The Almanac isn't part of PACE; for decisions about your application, PACE has the final word.