Where to get free home heating oil.
Households that heat with oil continue to face some of the highest winter energy costs in the country, and the cost of the fuel can be severe for older adults, people with disabilities and families with a limited income. While some of the financial help that is available varies year to year, the main options still include federal LIHEAP grants (or your state’s equivalent), special winter crisis services, charitable assistance and oil-company charitable programs. Find where to get, and how to apply, for low cost or free emergency home heating oil below
These heating oil assistance programs operate with limited funding, the terms and conditions can vary, and often close early in the season when allocations or donations are exhausted. Federal and state government programs, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, set new income limits each year and require re-application. Local fuel-aid charities also change their criteria annually based on donations and how severe the winter is.
Find free heating oil in an emergency from government programs
There are a number of emergency resources that are available, both on a regular basis as well as in a crisis situation. LIHEAP grants to pay for heating oil is available in each state. Every state distributes LIHEAP funds through Community Action agencies, Departments of Social Services or similar local partners. The program helps pay for home heating oil, kerosene, propane and natural gas. Some states refer to it as HEAP, Energy Assistance, Fuel Assistance or Winter Heating Assistance or even a different name.
- LIHEAP funds, including to pay for heating oil, are limited and approved by the federal government yearly. The number of households helped changes each year. Only a small percentage of eligible families are served before funds are depleted. However, when money is available, the program pays a portion of a tank fill or provides a fixed-benefit grant toward the cost of heating oil. Many states give higher benefit amounts to seniors, households with disabilities or those with young children. Learn more about Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Most states also operate a LIHEAP Crisis or Emergency component, which is especially important for oil-heat households. This service is designed for winter shutoff prevention, out-of-fuel emergencies, inoperable heating systems or households facing a life-threatening situation. Emergency oil deliveries under this part of the program can sometimes be arranged in only a day or two, depending on weather conditions and vendor availability.
- The LIHEAP crisis program expedites the application process and also delivers heating fuel in short order. This crisis service helps millions of very low income families during the winter. Read more on financial assistance as well as heating oil from this emergency LIHEAP service.
Access to heat during the winter is regulated by most state governments as well. There are laws that protect the disabled, elderly and sick, kids and others, such as people with a medical crisis. In addition to government financial assistance to pay for, or provide free heating oil, utility, gas and electric companies need to follow laws. Read more on can heat be shut off during the winter.
Access to heat is also protected by state regulations in many parts of the country. Numerous states prohibit utility disconnections or cut off from a heating oil company during extreme weather or for vulnerable residents with medical needs. Even though heating-oil companies are not typically regulated in the same way as electric and gas utilities, state winter-protection rules often help residents qualify for emergency government assistance faster and some states do put regulations on propane and heating oil companies. Current rules are summarized by state utility commissions at https://www.naruc.org/commissions..
Get free emergency heating oil or fuel from charities
When a household does not qualify for LIHEAP or when funds are exhausted as most of the fuel assistance programs from the government are first come-served, charitable organizations remain a critical resource. The structure of aid varies, but most charities provide either a direct oil delivery, a voucher to a local oil dealer or a cash grant paid to the vendor. Charities or non-profits (as listed below) may also give out free heating oil, including to people in a financial hardship Some of the main organizations including the following. Or use the search bar on this website to search.
- Community Action Agencies continue to be one of the best starting points for help with home heating fuel needs. They they process LIHEAP applications, coordinate crisis funds and maintain referrals to every oil-aid program in the region. They are a source of information and local referrals. Local agency directories are at community action center programs.
- Salvation Army branches in many states provide emergency heating-oil help. Some offer a voucher for a partial tank fill, while others operate winter-only fuel funds supported by local donors. These programs also help with electricity, heating equipment repairs and warm clothing. More on free fuel vouchers from Salvation Army.
- Many churches and nonprofits help struggling families who suddenly run out of heating oil when other programs are closed. Catholic Charities, Volunteers of America, local aging agencies and neighborhood ministries raise money throughout the winter for small emergency oil deliveries. The availability of free oil changes yearly but remains a common resource in rural counties and older urban neighborhoods. Statewide directories of charitable assistance, including for heating oil, can be found at the needhelppayingbills charity organization list.
Oil-buying networks are also helpful for lowering the cost of a refill of a tank. These networks negotiate bulk pricing with oil dealers. While they do not replace emergency fuel programs, they can reduce the amount that a family must pay out of pocket and sometimes offer hardship assistance when a household is completely out of heating fuel. A general explanation of how buying groups work is at this page of what are heating oil buying networks.
It is also possible to save a significant amount of money on heating oil. Small often neighborhood buying networks are available for discounts. Some may also offer free home heating oil in a crisis as well. Low to moderate income families can learn how they can save a substantial amount of money on their annual home heating oil costs from an oil buying network. Click here to learn more on low cost heating oil buying networks.
Companies that help people pay for home heating oil
Energy companies and heating oil dealers have offered winter fuel assistance for decades, and many continue to operate special programs in partnership with nonprofit agencies. These programs change frequently because they depend on corporate donations and yearly contributions from the public and/or oil-heat trade groups, but a number of them remain active today.
Utility companies in many states now administer their own hardship funds that cover heating oil as well as electric and gas bills. These programs help older adults, families with children and people receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability. Options range from payment plans to shut off protection, emergency financial help and more. The guidelines and applications vary by state, and details for individual utilities are listed at heating and utility assistance from electric or gas companies.
A separate resource is the long-running directory maintained by the Oil Heat Council and regional fuel associations that list participating dealers offering hardship assistance for people struggling to buy fuel or reduced-rate deliveries. These programs are not advertised widely, but many heating-oil companies partner with nonprofit fuel funds during the winter months. They coordinate with social-service agencies to provide small emergency fills, often between 25 and 75 gallons, when a household is in danger of running out.
- While each dealer offers help only within its own delivery territory, the combined network spans dozens of states and reaches many rural communities. The most current contacts are usually posted by the regional associations, including the New England Fuel Institute at https://www.nefi.com and the Energy Marketers Association of New York at https://www.emany.com. These associations update their information each winter as new dealers join.
The non-profit Dollar Energy Fund is a heating oil and bill assistance program created by a number of utility companies. Participating utilities contribute matching funds, and households facing a winter crisis can receive help with oil deliveries. The program, including free fuel oil, is offered in a number of states, including WV, NY, PA, VA, AR, OK, TN, MD, MA and others. Call 1-888-282-6816, or read more on Dollar Energy Fund assistance program.
Oil-company charitable assistance still exists in several regions, especially in the Northeast, Upper Midwest and parts of the Northwest. These programs coordinate with local fuel dealers, social services and winterization agencies to provide either free or discounted heating oil during severe weather or when a family is at immediate risk of losing heat.
- In partnership with gas company Shell, Chevron, CITGO, Marathon or Exxon, charitable foundations also works closely with thousands of heating oil and fuel dealers across the nation to help low income families or those in a crisis. In prior years, some programs delivered one-time allotments of 50 to 100 gallons, depending on funding. While benefit sizes vary, these efforts continue to support low-income households during the coldest months.
- Some years include additional regions when oil-heat associations or local foundations contribute extra funding. Households can check availability through their state energy-assistance office or by calling 211.
Utility companies, often in partnership with local government offices or other groups, now administer their own hardship funds in many states. These are in addition to options above. The programs cover heating oil as well as electric and gas bills. These programs help older adults, families with children and people receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability. The guidelines and applications vary by state, with more information here at state heating bill relief programs.
Do you have questions or want even more possible resources? As our forum discussing heating oil assistance programs may be an option. You can read real people’s experiences from all over the US and some of the community may post other programs there.
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
