As Mainers Face Rising Home Heating Oil Costs, Senator Collins Announces Release of More Than $38 Million in Federal Home Heating Aid for Maine Households

BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Community Services will release Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to help low-income Maine households and seniors with limited incomes afford their energy bills. This will mark one of the earliest releases in the program’s history as home heating oil prices rise in Maine as families prepare for winter. Specifically, $36,675,395 in LIHEAP funding will be released for the State of Maine and $1,408,729 for Maine tribes. Included in the funding for Maine tribes is $457,771 for the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe, $316,098 for the Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe, $303,530 for the Penobscot Nation, $165,665 for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and $165,665 for the Mi’kmaq Nation. This announcement follows Senator Collins’ conversations this week with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and OMB Director Russell Vought about the importance of the quick release of LIHEAP funding. “With home heating oil costs soaring, many Maine families and seniors on limited incomes are facing the prospect of extraordinarily high heating bills this winter. That is why I urged the Administration to expedite the release of this critical assistance, and why I fought so hard to protect and increase funding for LIHEAP. I am pleased that these funds are being released to help Mainers afford to heat their homes this winter without having to choose between staying warm and paying for other basic necessities,” said Senator Collins. Last month, Senators Collins, Jack Reed (D-RI), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) along with a bipartisan group of 28 other Senators, including Angus King, urged HHS to release LIHEAP funding swiftly and at the highest level possible. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured a $20 million increase in funding for LIHEAP in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act . The legislation also included a provision requiring 90% of LIHEAP funds to be distributed no later than November 1st. The legislation was signed into law in February, providing more than $4 billion in funding for LIHEAP nationwide. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, household size, and the availability of resources. LIHEAP applications are now open for income-eligible households. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Maine residents can click here to learn more about eligibility and how to apply for assistance. ###