Baltimore County Energy Assistance: Eligibility and How to Apply

Baltimore County energy assistance is administered by Maryland’s Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP), which pays grants directly to your utility company or fuel supplier to cover heating costs, a portion of your electric bill, or a large past-due balance. For fiscal year 2026, your household must earn at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and you can apply any time of year. Households already receiving SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance qualify automatically, without a separate application.

Who Qualifies

Eligibility turns on your total household income during the 30 days before you apply.¹ That figure includes wages, Social Security, and any other money coming into the home from every household member during that window. For fiscal year 2026, the monthly limits are:²

1 person: $2,608
2 people: $3,525
3 people: $4,441
4 people: $5,358
5 people: $6,275
6 people: $7,191
7 people: $8,108
8 people: $9,025
9 people: $9,942
10 people: $10,859

Households of 11 or more should call the local office for their threshold. You must live in Baltimore County, and you must count every household member accurately, because the correct income limit depends on the size of the home.

If you already receive SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance in Maryland, you are categorically eligible. No separate OHEP application or income documentation is required, and benefits are issued after your SNAP or TCA redetermination is approved.²

What the Grants Cover

OHEP runs several programs, and you can receive benefits from more than one in the same year. Which one applies depends on the bill you need help with.

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) pays toward home heating, whether you heat with gas, oil, propane, electric, or wood. The grant goes straight to your fuel supplier or utility on your behalf.³ You do not need a shutoff notice to qualify. OHEP encourages applying before you fall behind so the funds reach your account sooner.⁴

The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) covers a portion of your current monthly electric bill, and some participants also get help with past-due electric balances and referrals to efficiency programs.³

Arrearage retirement assistance is a one-time grant of up to $2,000 toward a past-due electric bill and up to $1,000 toward a past-due gas bill. Your overdue balance must be at least $300, and you can only receive this benefit once every five years.⁴

The Utility Service Protection Program (USPP) is meant to keep heat on through the winter. If you qualify for MEAP, you can enroll in USPP, which subtracts your MEAP benefit from your annual utility cost and divides the remainder into twelve equal monthly payments.⁵ Falling behind on those payments can push you out of the program, so treat the monthly figure as fixed.

How to Apply in Baltimore County

Applications are accepted year-round, but you can only receive benefits once per fiscal year (July through June) and you must reapply each year.⁴ You have several ways to file:

Online through MarylandBenefits.gov, the state’s benefits portal.
By phone at 1-800-332-6347. Staff can take your application over the phone, but you will still need to send in copies of your documents afterward. Clear photos are accepted.
In person at the Baltimore County Department of Social Services, Drumcastle Government Center, 6401 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.⁶
By mail, using Form DHS-FIA-9780 from the DHS website or requested by phone, sent to the Drumcastle address.
Through a drop box at locations that offer one.

For questions specific to Baltimore County, the local office number is (410) 853-3994, and the email address is ohep.mailrequest@maryland.gov.⁶

Documents to Gather First

If you are not categorically eligible through SNAP or TCA, have these ready before you file:⁴

A copy of the applicant’s valid photo ID.
Proof of your Baltimore County address.
Social Security cards for every household member, children included.
Proof of gross income for all household members during the 30 days before you apply, such as pay stubs, benefit statements, or an employer letter.
Your most recent electric or gas bill, plus any shutoff notice.
If you heat with oil, propane, or wood, your most recent fuel bill or delivery receipt.

Incomplete paperwork is one of the most common reasons applications stall. If something is missing, OHEP sends a request for more information, and you have 15 days to respond before the file is denied.

After You Apply

The local office reviews your file to confirm eligibility. Processing generally takes three to four weeks, after which you receive a written notice of approval or denial. Approved grants are paid directly to your utility or fuel supplier and credited to your account. You will not receive cash.

If You Are Denied

A denial letter must be mailed within seven calendar days and must explain why you were turned down. It also includes instructions for requesting an appeal. You have 30 days from the mailing date to request a fair hearing through Maryland’s Office of Administrative Hearings, where an administrative law judge will review the case and issue a written decision.

If the denial was because documents were missing rather than because you did not qualify, submit the missing paperwork within 15 days of the denial notice and OHEP can process the original application. Otherwise, you can reapply 30 days after the denial date, as long as the program is still accepting applications for that fiscal year.

Weatherization for Next Year’s Bills

Energy grants help with this year’s bills. If your home leaks heat through thin insulation or drafty windows, next winter’s bills will be just as high. Maryland’s Weatherization Assistance Program, run by the Department of Housing and Community Development, provides free energy-efficiency work to eligible homes after an energy audit.⁷ Improvements can include attic, wall, and floor insulation, air sealing around doors and windows, hot water system upgrades, lighting replacements, and furnace repairs or replacements.

If you have received MEAP, EUSP, SNAP, TANF, or SSI benefits in the past 12 months, you are automatically income-eligible. Otherwise, household income must be at or below 60 percent of the state median income, which for 2026 means a single person under $48,085 or a family of four under $92,470. Homeowners and renters both qualify.⁷

1
Cornell Law School. Maryland Code of Regulations 07.03.22.04 – Income Requirements
2
Department of Human Services. Frequently Asked Questions
3
MyOHEPStatus. Office of Home Energy Programs
4
Department of Human Services. Applying For Energy Assistance
5
The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Maryland
6
Department of Human Services. Local Home Energy Program Office
7
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. WAP