State Guide October 2026 · 13 min read

State guide · Maryland

Maryland assistance programs 2026: MEAP pays $100 to $1,325 by fuel

Maryland sets its heating grant by fuel as much as by income, and OHEP has up to 45 days to decide. Here is how to claim both grants, the 48 hour crisis benefit and the winter shut-off rule.

By Vincent Wesley Couey · Compiled and verified 24 October 2026 · How we check programs

Short answer: Maryland's heating grant (MEAP) depends more on what you burn than on how little you earn: at the lowest income level it pays $100 to an electric-heat household and $1,325 to a propane household, a 13.25 to 1 gap. The electric home's real money is the separate electric bill grant (EUSP), $730 to $1,125, so apply for both through MarylandBenefits.gov, which OHEP decides in at most 45 days, and ask your utility about winter shut-off protection from 1 November.

To get help in Maryland this season:

Apply for energy assistance and SNAP at MarylandBenefits.gov, and upload every document with the application, because the 14 day review clock does not start until the packet is complete.
If you already get SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance, do nothing extra: OHEP treats you as eligible after your redetermination.
If heat is off or a shut-off is within three days, tell your local OHEP office: winter crisis help of up to $600 is due in 48 hours.
From 1 November, ask your utility for winter termination protection and enroll in the Utility Service Protection Program.
Call 2-1-1 for local funds; no program on this page charges to apply.

Maryland MEAP and EUSP: the fuel you burn sets the grant

Maryland's Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) is a one-time heating grant, and the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) is a separate grant against your electric bill. The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) says on its How Are Grants Determined page that the MEAP amount rests on three factors: "type of fuel used, household income, area within the state where you live." EUSP rests on household income and electric use over the past 12 months. The FY27 MEAP matrix shows how heavily fuel counts: at income Level 1 (0 to 25% of poverty) electric heat pays $100, wood or coal $550, gas $700, oil or kerosene $1,225 and propane $1,325, and the electric figure stays $100 at every level through 200% of poverty.

That would be a trap for an all-electric household, except that the FY27 EUSP matrix pays electric-heat homes far more than anyone else. At Level 1 an electric-heat household gets $730 at 0 to 4,000 kWh, $955 at 4,001 to 8,000, $1,065 at 8,001 to 12,000 and $1,125 above that, while every other fuel gets $360, $475, $530 and $560. The practical rule: if you heat with electricity, EUSP is the larger grant, and you should not stop after MEAP. OHEP's August 2026 public report shows the average MEAP benefit was $397.93 and the average EUSP benefit $558.78 that month, so a typical household sees both grants.

The same Level 1 household gets $830 or $1,685 depending on its fuelFY27 MEAP grant plus the lowest-usage EUSP grant, 0 to 25% of poverty

Amounts are the Level 1 (0 to 25% of poverty) column of the FY27 MEAP Benefit Matrix and the Level 1, 0 to 4,000 kWh row of the FY27 EUSP Benefit Matrix, both on dhs.maryland.gov, read 24 October 2026. EUSP rises with electricity use, to $1,125 for electric heat above 12,000 kWh, so the EUSP segments are floors. Garrett County has its own matrix about 10% higher.

What to do while you wait for Maryland benefits

Maryland OHEP has up to 14 days to review a complete application and up to 45 days to decide, SNAP has 30 days (7 if expedited), and winter crisis help is due in 48 hours. These steps cover the gap, and none of them is a loan.

Ask for expedited SNAP if you have very little cash. Federal rules give it to households with less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid resources, and the EBT card is due by the seventh calendar day (7 CFR 273.2(i)).
Tell your local OHEP office if heat is off or a shut-off is within three days. Maryland's FFY27 LIHEAP plan commits to 48 hours and 18 hours when there is no fuel, no service or a broken furnace.
Call your utility before the notice runs out, then the Public Service Commission's Consumer Affairs Division at 1-800-492-0474 (option 3, then 1) for an extension or payment arrangement; a serious illness certificate holds a shut-off an extra 30 days.
Ask for the Utility Service Protection Program (USPP) on your OHEP application: it sets an even monthly payment, and the PSC says participants can be reconnected from 1 November to 31 March without a reconnection fee or deposit.
Call 2-1-1 for local emergency funds and use the Feeding America food bank locator for groceries this week; BGE customers can also try the Fuel Fund of Maryland.
If you are working, ask whether your employer or an app offers earned wage access: it lets you draw part of the pay you have already earned before payday. It is not a loan; check the fee before you use it.

Maryland assistance programs compared for 2026-27

The table gives each Maryland program's agency, income test and speed. Figures were read on each agency's own page on 24 October 2026.

Program	Agency	Income test	Speed	Amount
MEAP heating grant	DHS OHEP, local office	200% of poverty	14 day review, 45 day decision	$25 to $1,325, once a season
EUSP electric bill grant	DHS OHEP	200% of poverty	14 and 45 days	$160 to $1,125 by level and use
Arrearage grants (EARA, GARA)	DHS OHEP	EUSP or MEAP eligible	14 and 45 days	Up to $2,000, once per five years
Winter crisis benefit	DHS OHEP	Crisis, 1 Nov to 31 Mar	48 hours; 18 if life-threatening	Up to $600
Winter termination rule	Public Service Commission	Any residential customer	Affidavit 24 hours ahead	Delays shut-off, pays nothing
SNAP	DHS, local department	130% gross; 200% categorical	30 days; 7 expedited	By household size
Weatherization	Housing and Community Development	Automatic referral	Office contacts you	Home improvements

The Maryland Benefits portal and the OHEP clock

MarylandBenefits.gov is the single online door for Maryland SNAP, cash assistance, medical assistance and energy assistance. The Department of Human Services (DHS) invites Marylanders to "check their eligibility and apply or renew benefits on their smartphone, tablet, or a computer through MarylandBenefits.gov." You can instead use a paper application at a drop box, mail, telephone (documents follow by email or mail) or an in-person visit at your local OHEP office.

The clock starts only with a complete packet. The OHEP FAQ says "the 14-day review period will not start until we receive ALL supporting documents along with the application," and that OHEP must make a final determination within 45 days of the full packet. Clear photos of documents are accepted, an application sent to the wrong county is only processed once it reaches the right office, and status appears at myohepstatus.org after about 15 days. The figure compares those limits with the other clocks on this page.

Maryland clocks, from the fastest to the slowest, in dayslongest legal time to act once a complete application is in

Crisis hours are from COMAR 07.03.21.10 as stated in Maryland's FFY27 LIHEAP plan; the 7 and 30 day SNAP limits are 7 CFR 273.2(i) and (g)(1); the 14 and 45 day OHEP limits are on the OHEP FAQ. OHEP's 45 days is 15 days (50%) longer than the SNAP standard and 6.4 times the expedited SNAP limit (45 divided by 7). Read 24 October 2026.

Maryland winter shut-off protection: an affidavit, not a ban

Maryland's winter rule slows a shut-off but does not forbid it. COMAR 20.31.03.03, published at regs.maryland.gov, says a utility "may not terminate gas or electric service to occupants of residential buildings for nonpayment of bills during the period November 1 through and including March 31" unless it "first certifies to the Commission by an affidavit filed at least 24 hours before the termination, that the termination does not constitute a threat to the life or health of the residential occupants."

The rest of the rule is where your leverage sits. The affidavit must state that the arrears exceed $200 for a single-service utility or $300 for a dual-service utility and exceed your deposit, and it is valid for 12 days after the last personal contact. The utility must try to reach you twice, on separate days, between mailing the notice and the shut-off date. A second rule bars shut-offs when the 6 a.m. forecast for your weather station is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. For the 50-state picture, see our shut-off protection by state guide.

Maryland energy help and winter protection, program year 2026-27OHEP program year, winter crisis period and the winter termination rule

The OHEP program year runs 1 July to 30 June (OHEP page). The crisis period and the COMAR 20.31.03.03 rule both run 1 November to 31 March, 151 days; the winter rule starts 8 days after the date of this reading. Read 24 October 2026.

Maryland winter crisis grant: up to $600 in 48 hours

Maryland's crisis help is an add-on, not a separate program. Its FFY27 LIHEAP plan defines a crisis as "no heat, has an insufficient fuel supply, or faces an imminent utility shutoff within three days" during 1 November to 31 March, and pays "the difference between the customer's regular benefit and what is needed to resolve the crisis," up to $600. The plan promises intervention within 48 hours, or 18 hours when the household has no fuel supply, is disconnected or has a broken furnace.

Two limits matter. OHEP issues the crisis benefit only when the full amount can restore service, and not when your balance exceeds the $600 cap; in that case the plan says you must get help from a partner agency, pay part yourself or find another source. Households with someone aged 60 or older, a disability, a child under five or a Critical Medical Needs certification get priority processing.

Maryland OHEP denials: more than half of arrearage requests failed in August

OHEP's August 2026 public report shows 54.89% of electric arrearage (EARA) applications and 45.21% of gas arrearage (GARA) applications denied, against 24.56% for MEAP and 23.33% for EUSP. The arithmetic is 10,312 denied of 18,788 received for EARA. The OHEP grants page says an arrearage grant pays up to $2,000 once every five years, only to applicants eligible for EUSP, with exceptions for households that include someone 60 or older, under two or medically fragile. The Public Service Commission's FAQ says "seven years" for electric arrears, so ask your local office which period applies to you.

Share of Maryland OHEP applications denied, August 2026denied divided by applications received, OHEP public report, FY27

OHEP's public report for 1 to 31 August 2026 lists applications received, denied and the denial rate for each grant; we checked each rate by dividing (6,243 / 25,420 = 24.56%). One month only, and the first of the program year, so it shows the pattern and not a forecast. Read 24 October 2026.

Maryland income levels: find your MEAP level

Your MEAP and EUSP level is your gross income as a share of the federal poverty level, counted for everyone over 18 over the 30 days before you apply. The ASPE 2026 guideline is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for four, so 100% is $1,330 and $2,750 a month; the FY27 OHEP ceiling of 200% is $2,660 and $5,500. Full-time students' income is not counted if their status is documented.

Level	Share of poverty	One person, monthly	Four people, monthly
Level 1	0 to 25%	up to $332.50	up to $687.50
Level 2	26 to 50%	up to $665	up to $1,375
Level 3	51 to 100%	up to $1,330	up to $2,750
Level 4	101 to 150%	up to $1,995	up to $4,125
Level 5	151 to 200%	up to $2,660	up to $5,500

The dollar cutoffs are our arithmetic: monthly poverty line (annual guideline divided by 12) times the share. For one person 15,960 / 12 = $1,330, and 25% of that is $332.50. For four, 33,000 / 12 = $2,750 and 25% is $687.50. The matrix, not this table, decides your grant; households of 11 or more are tested against 60% of state median income per the FY27 OHEP income guidelines.

SNAP in Maryland: the same portal, a different clock

Maryland SNAP is applied for at MarylandBenefits.gov, in person at your local department of social services, by mail or by fax. DHS says some households with little or no money can get expedited benefits after an interview and identity check. DHS's SNAP page links its October 2026 income table: gross monthly income up to $1,729 for one person and $3,575 for four, with households that qualify through categorical eligibility tested at 200% of poverty ($2,660 and $5,500).

The federal limits are in 7 CFR 273.2(g)(1): the state must give eligible households an opportunity to participate "no later than 30 calendar days following the date the application was filed." The DHS H.R. 1 page also says able-bodied adults up to age 64 without a child under 14 must now work or train 20 hours a week (or earn $217.50 a week) to keep SNAP. For the national picture, see how long SNAP approval takes by state.

What if you are denied, self-employed or already waiting?

A household that is already waiting should count days. Maryland OHEP's 45 days run from a complete packet, so call your local office after day 14 with your application date, and if your service is off say so, because OHEP's FAQ tells callers to report a disconnection when asking for an application. A denied household may reapply after 30 days if circumstances change, or ask for a hearing within 30 days; the notice explains how.

Self-employed applicants should bring the latest Schedule SE (divided by 12) plus the Income Verification of Self-Employment form, or 30 days of invoices and bank deposits; the OHEP acceptable documents page lists both. If you are not sure how a Schedule SE is built, ceocult's freelance tax filing guide walks through it. Households with no income must complete a Declaration of Zero Income and a Household Worksheet.

Scams follow benefit seasons. The OHEP pages we read charge nothing to apply, so be suspicious of anyone who asks for a fee or a gift card; confirm with DHS at 1-800-332-6347 or your local office, and apply only through MarylandBenefits.gov or an office listed on dhs.maryland.gov.

How to apply in Maryland

Maryland has one portal and 20 local administering agencies for energy help. The card below holds the order to call in and a script for your utility; copy it into your notes.

Maryland application checklist and call script, 2026-27

ENERGY ASSISTANCE (OHEP: MEAP and EUSP) - Apply: MarylandBenefits.gov, paper drop box, mail, phone or your local OHEP office. Call 1-800-332-6347 for a paper form. - Send ALL documents with the application. The 14 day review does not start until the packet is complete; the final decision is due in 45 days. - Bring: government photo ID, Social Security cards for everyone, proof of income for the last 30 days for everyone over 18, your electric and heating bills. - Already on SNAP or TCA? OHEP treats you as eligible after your redetermination. - Check status after about 15 days: myohepstatus.org IF HEAT IS OFF OR A SHUT-OFF IS WITHIN 3 DAYS (Nov 1 to Mar 31) - Call your local OHEP office: "I have no heat / a shutoff within three days. I am requesting the winter crisis benefit." - Ask for the Utility Service Protection Program on the application. SCRIPT FOR YOUR UTILITY - "I applied for OHEP energy assistance on [date]. I am asking for winter termination protection under COMAR 20.31.03.03 and a payment arrangement. Please note my account. [Someone in the home has a serious illness: I will send the certificate.]" IF YOU HEAR NOTHING - Day 14: call your local OHEP office with your application date. Day 45: ask for the written decision and hearing instructions. - Public Service Commission Consumer Affairs: 1-800-492-0474, option 3, then 1. - 2-1-1 for local funds.

For the general steps and documents, see our guide on how to apply for government assistance, and use the GrantProbe state assistance finder to find your office.

Who qualifies for Maryland assistance programs

Likely eligible for at least one program

Households with gross income up to 200% of poverty ($5,500 a month for four) for MEAP and EUSP, including renters and sub-metered households
Households that receive SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance, who are categorically eligible for OHEP
Households with no heat, or a shut-off within three days, from 1 November to 31 March, for the crisis benefit
Any residential gas or electric customer, for the winter termination affidavit rule

May not qualify

Households above 200% of poverty that do not receive SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance
Households that already received an arrearage grant in the past five years, unless a vulnerable-member exception applies
Households whose balance exceeds the $600 crisis cap, for the crisis benefit
Customers of utilities other than BGE, for the Fuel Fund of Maryland, which serves BGE residential customers

Which Maryland program to start with

If you haveNo cash this weekApply for SNAP and say "expedited" today, because the EBT card is due by day seven.
If yourHeat is off or a shut-off is nearCall your local OHEP office about the crisis benefit, because it is due in 48 hours and pays up to $600.
If you heat withElectricityMake sure EUSP is on your application, because it pays $730 to $1,125 at Level 1 against a $100 MEAP grant.
If you heat withPropane, oil or woodApply early in the program year, because MEAP is the larger grant for you, up to $1,325.
If you owe a large billOver $200Ask for USPP and the winter affidavit rule, because a utility needs more than $200 of arrears and an affidavit before a winter shut-off.

📬 Get the free application document checklist (PDF): the documents SNAP, energy assistance and most state programs ask for, in one list

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for Maryland energy assistance in 2026-27?

OHEP's FY27 guidelines set the monthly gross income limit for MEAP and EUSP at 200% of the federal poverty level: $2,660 for one person, $3,607 for two, $4,553 for three and $5,500 for four, with $947 added for each extra person up to ten. Renters, homeowners, public housing residents and sub-metered households can qualify, and households that receive SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance in Maryland are categorically eligible without a separate application.

How much does Maryland MEAP pay in 2026-27?

The FY27 MEAP matrix pays $25 to $1,325 a year, set by fuel type, income level and where you live. At the lowest income level it pays $100 for electric heat, $550 for wood or coal, $700 for gas, $1,225 for oil or kerosene and $1,325 for propane. Garrett County has a separate matrix about 10% higher. The grant is paid once per heating season to your fuel supplier.

How long does Maryland OHEP take to decide?

OHEP says it must review a complete application within 14 days of receipt and make a final decision within 45 days. The 14 days do not start until all supporting documents arrive, so send them with the application. You can check status at myohepstatus.org, which may take 15 days to show your application.

Can my gas or electric be shut off in a Maryland winter?

From 1 November through 31 March a utility may not terminate residential gas or electric service for nonpayment unless it first files an affidavit with the Public Service Commission at least 24 hours earlier certifying that the shut-off is not a threat to life or health (COMAR 20.31.03.03). The affidavit lasts 12 days, the arrears must exceed $200 for a single-service utility or $300 for dual service, and no shut-off is allowed when the 6 a.m. forecast is 32 degrees or below.

What is the Maryland winter crisis grant?

Maryland's FFY27 LIHEAP plan defines a winter energy crisis as no heat, an insufficient fuel supply or an imminent utility shutoff within three days, from 1 November to 31 March. It offers an extra one-time benefit of up to $600 when the regular benefit cannot resolve the crisis, with a 48 hour response and 18 hours when the household has no fuel, no service or a broken furnace.

Do I need a shut-off notice to apply in Maryland?

No. OHEP's FAQ says not to wait for a turn-off notice and that applying before one arrives can prevent it. OHEP also says your utility is not told automatically: it learns you applied when OHEP places a hold or commits a payment, so tell the utility yourself.

Do SNAP households in Maryland have to apply for OHEP?

No. OHEP says households receiving SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance are categorically eligible and do not need to complete an application or send more documents; benefits are issued after the SNAP or TCA redetermination is approved.

What if I am self-employed and applying for Maryland energy assistance?

OHEP says your most recent Schedule SE is the best proof; the amount is divided by 12 for a 30 day income figure, and you also complete and sign the Income Verification of Self-Employment form. If you have not filed taxes, give books, ledgers, invoices, cancelled checks or bank deposits for the last 30 days.

What if Maryland OHEP denies my application?

The FFY27 plan says a denied household may reapply after 30 days if its circumstances change, or request a formal hearing within 30 days, held through the Office of Administrative Hearings. Every notice carries the hearing instructions. In August 2026 OHEP denied 24.56% of MEAP applications, so a first denial is common and often about documents.

Does it cost anything to apply for Maryland energy assistance?

The OHEP pages we read charge no application fee. Apply through MarylandBenefits.gov, your local OHEP office or the DHS line at 1-800-332-6347, and treat anyone who asks you to pay to be approved as a scam.

What can I do while waiting for Maryland benefits?

Ask for expedited SNAP if you have very little cash (7 days), tell your local OHEP office and utility if your service is off or a shutoff is near (winter crisis help takes 48 hours), request winter shut-off protection and the Utility Service Protection Program, call the Public Service Commission at 1-800-492-0474 for an extension, call 2-1-1 for local funds, find a food bank, and if you are working ask whether your employer or an app offers earned wage access, which is not a loan.

Bottom line

Maryland's MEAP grant is a fuel matrix: $100 for electric heat and up to $1,325 for propane at the lowest income level, with EUSP narrowing the gap to 2.03 to 1 at its floor, so apply for both. OHEP has 45 days from a complete packet to decide, the winter crisis benefit takes 48 hours, and from 1 November your utility needs a Public Service Commission affidavit before cutting you off. Send every document at once, ask for USPP, and call 2-1-1 if you need money before the decision.

For comparison, see our Virginia and Pennsylvania guides, how fast LIHEAP crisis help arrives, rental and utility assistance at the same time and government assistance programs for families.

How we built this page: compiled and verified on first-party sources, read 24 October 2026: Maryland DHS Office of Home Energy Programs pages, FY27 income guidelines and MEAP and EUSP benefit matrices, its August 2026 public report and FFY27 LIHEAP plan, DHS SNAP and H.R. 1 pages and October 2026 income guidelines, Maryland Public Service Commission consumer FAQs, COMAR 20.31.03.03, 7 CFR 273.2 on eCFR, ASPE 2026 poverty guidelines and the Fuel Fund of Maryland. We did not apply to any program, and eligibility is decided by the agency. OHEP's FAQ still carries some FY25 funding wording, which we did not use, and we found no closing date for FY27 MEAP applications. This is not legal or benefits advice. See our methodology.