How to Apply for the Citizens Energy Fuel Assistance Program

As the winter weather turns colder and the cost of heating fuel rises, low-income families sometimes have to make hard choices about how to budget their money. Knowing this, Citizens Energy (in conjunction with CITGO) has instituted a number of Fuel Assistance Programs to help individual households and shelters heat their homes and buildings without having to sacrifice other basic necessities. It's quick and easy to apply for the Citizens Energy Fuel Assistance Program. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Application form
• Income information
• Copy of your natural gas bill
• Massachusetts residency

Apply for Individual Household Assistance

1. Determine whether or not your state participates in the program. The fuel assistance program is designed to help families in states hit hardest by the cold winter temperatures. Participating states include, but may not be limited to: Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Virginia and Alaska.

2. Know the pertinent household information. You'll need to know how many people live in the household, what the gross annual income is, whether there are any members over 65 years old, under 18 and under 5, and whether or not the household receives federal fuel assistance funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). You should also have the name and phone number of your fuel company handy.

3. Visit the website Citizens Energy has set up specifically for the Fuel Assistance program to apply online or download an application (see Resources below). You may also call the hotline at 1-877-JOE-4-OIL (1-877-563-4645) to apply over the phone.

4. Mail in or submit your application and wait to hear if you've been approved. This can take up to three weeks and you will be notified by mail. Citizens Energy will send a letter and a voucher for heating oil. If your oil company doesn't participate, the voucher will specify a company in your area from which you must receive your delivery.

Apply for Assistance in Heating a Shelter

5. Be aware that the funds for this program, which helps to offset the fuel costs incurred by qualified shelters, have a set limit and Citizens Energy can't guarantee that funding will be available to all shelters that apply.

6. Download an application from the Citizens Energy website. You can access the specific application by clicking on "Oil Heat Program," then "Need Assistance," then "Shelters."

7. Fill out the application, attach a copy of your shelter's tax exemption paperwork (501c3) and send it to the address listed on the application.

Apply for the Citizens Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance Program

8. Apply for assistance with your heating bills if you are a Massachusetts resident who heats your home with natural gas and are struggling to make the payments.

9. Gather your household's financial information and call 1-866-GAS-9918 to leave your contact information with the answering service. Citizens Energy will then mail you an application, which you must fill out to the best of your ability.

10. Return the application along with a copy of your natural gas bill and wait to hear whether the company can assist with your costs.

Tips & Warnings

• Both the application period and the time in which you can use your voucher are limited to a range of time each winter. Check the website or ask the customer service representative about these deadlines.

Resources

• Citizens Energy website to dowload applications