Heating assistance available; application deadline May 31, 2026
The Ohio Department of Development and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) want to remind older Ohioans that assistance is available to help with their home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of up to eight members and 60% of State Median Income for a household of nine or more members to pay their heating bills.
Applied directly to the customer’s utility or bulk fuel bill, the benefit can help manage heating costs. Older Ohioans may go to their local Area Agency on Aging office for help with assembling the required documents and completing their HEAP application. They may also visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply online or to download a copy of the application.
When applying, individuals need to have copies of the following documents:
Most recent utility bills.
A list of all household members (including birth dates and Social Security numbers).
Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members (12 months for certain income types).
Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
Proof of disability (if applicable).
HEAP benefits are applied to an individual’s energy bill after January 1st. Applications for the HEAP program must be received by May 31, 2026.
For more information or assistance with applying for a HEAP benefit, contact the AAA7 at 1-800-582-7277 or e-mail info@aaa7.org.
To be connected to your local Energy Assistance Provider, call (800) 282-0880 (hearing impaired clients may dial 711 for assistance) or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov.
Local partners in the AAA7’s core 10-county district include:
Adams County – Adams County Senior Citizens Center
Brown County – Adams-Brown Economic Opportunities, Inc.
Gallia County – Gallia-Meigs Community Action
Highland County – Highland County Community Action
Jackson County – Jackson-Vinton Community Action
Lawrence County – Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action
Pike County – Community Action Committee of Pike County
Ross County – Ross County Community Action
Scioto County – Scioto County Community Action
Vinton County – Jackson-Vinton Community Action
Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their residence of choice through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay. The AAA7’s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.
Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a specially-trained Resource Specialist who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e-mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.