Last Chance to Apply for HEAP and Emergency Utility Assistance
The deadline to apply for HEAP and Emergency Assistance for gas and electric bills is June 30, 2026. Households with high utility balances are encouraged to act now, as utility assistance funding is limited, and additional assistance programs may not be available after June 30.
Who May Be Eligible?
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HEAP/USF - For details on eligibility and the application process, see
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Emergency Assistance - Households that applied for HEAP/USF this season and were approved may be eligible for Emergency Assistance. Emergency Assistance is a grant for gas or electric shut-off notices for HEAP recipients with a heating bill in their name and provides up to $800 for gas and $300 for electric.
How to Apply for Emergency Assistance
If you have received a shutoff notice, you may apply for Emergency Assistance:
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Through your DCAID online portal at dcaid.dca.nj.gov
- By visiting your assigned agency, including Ocean Inc., CARC, or JCP&L
- If you are unsure of your application agency, call 800-510-3102.
High balance, no shut off?
If you have a high gas balance but have not yet received a shutoff notice, do not assume that you are ineligible. Contact the LRRC for assistance in verifying whether you may qualify for Emergency Assistance. You can email the following information to utility@lrrcenter.org:
- Full name
- Address
- UAP number (if available)
- Copy of your gas bill
Our staff will attempt to verify your eligibility and advise you on the next steps.
If you have already received Emergency Assistance this season, please do not respond to this announcement.
Already applied for HEAP and awaiting a response?
If you previously submitted a utility assistance application and have not received a response, please contact the agency that submitted your application to follow up.
O.C.E.A.N., Inc.: 40 Main Street in Toms River - Call for walk-in and appointment hours at 732-244-9041.
CARC: Walk into their office at 215 Madison Avenue, Lakewood.
JCP&L: Call 732-212-4150 or e-mail njeaot@firstenergycorp.com.
If your application still shows “submitted” for more than four months, we can attempt to find out the status. You can e-mail a screenshot of your DCAID portal status to utility@lrrcenter.org. If you do not have access to a screenshot, you can also e-mail your name, application date, UAP ID#, assigned agency, and a copy of a recent gas bill.
Final JCP&L Outreach Day Before the HEAP June 30th Deadline
Representatives from JCP&L will be at the LRRC on Tuesday, June 23, from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. This will be the last opportunity to meet with JCP&L representatives at the LRRC before the June 30 deadline for HEAP and Emergency Assistance.
