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Delaware program

Help with the heating bill (Delaware Energy Assistance Program)

Seasonal heating-bill help administered statewide by Catholic Charities.

What it is

Seasonal heating-bill help administered statewide by Catholic Charities.

This program can reduce a qualifying household’s heating bill. Income is measured against 60% of the state median income. Catholic Charities checks the limit for your household and the season’s requirements.

Eligibility rules
  • You must live in Delaware and meet the season’s income rules based on 60% of state median income.
  • The 2026–27 winter application window is August 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
  • The line is 60% of the state median income: about $5,436 a month for three people, $6,471 for four (2026 to 2027 season).
What you get
  • A seasonal credit toward the heating account if you qualify.
What the help includes
  • The general heating-assistance season runs October 1 through March 31.
  • Awards run from about $170 to $1,350 a season for electric or gas heat and up to about $2,500 for oil or propane, depending on income and heating cost.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask Catholic Charities for the current winter application and your household’s income limit.
  2. Have a recent heating bill, proof of income and household identity documents ready.

Catholic Charities DEAP: New Castle 302-654-9295; Kent 302-674-1782; Sussex 302-856-6310 · Official page ↗

What happens next
  • If approved, the assistance is credited to the heating account.
Good to know

The application window opens before the heating-assistance season. The dated seasonal form gives the application dates.

Other details
  • Your county office can confirm current funds, processing time and crisis help for a shutoff or fuel emergency. Summer assistance and utility discounts have separate dates and rules.

Federal background: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could heating assistance help with our bill? What are the limits and requirements, and could you help us apply if we qualify?”

Why I’m asking: I want to know the current household income limit and how much of the heating bill help could cover.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Apply inside the window with the season’s own form, and ask what the income limit is for your household size.

Your social worker

The social worker can tell you whether the agency is taking applications now.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
Catholic Charities, as the state’s administrator.
Ask your social worker
“Is the Delaware energy assistance window open, and what is the income limit for a household our size this season?”

How to apply

First step: Apply through Catholic Charities during the winter window, which runs from August 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

  1. Apply during the winter window and ask for the income limit for your household size in writing.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Apply during the winter window using the season’s application form.

What to gather

  • A recent heating bill
  • Proof of household income
  • Identity documents for the household

How long: Not published.

Clock: The winter application period runs from August 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

What a yes looks like

A credit applied to the heating account.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Usually income. Ask for the limit that was used and for the household size they counted.

Watch out

  • The generic page says July; the dated application for this season says August 1. Use the dated form.
  • The published PY2027 table gives annual household limits. The agency confirms household size, income, housing and the resulting assistance amount.

Dates that change this

2026-08-01: The income guidelines are set at 60 percent of the state median income, but the published table would not open, so its dollar figures have no verified time unit and are not printed here. Ask Catholic Charities for the current limit for your household size. (not yet confirmed against the final rule)

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Help with the winter heating bill. The application window for this season runs from August 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

  • $60 — Income basis, as a share of the state median income

Covers: A payment towards the heating bill · A route to the agency that handles energy crisis help

What it costs the family: None.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
PY2027 uses 60% of state median income. Published annual limits for households 1–12: $40,380; $52,804; $65,229; $77,654; $90,078; $102,503; $104,832; $107,162; $109,492; $111,821; $114,151; $116,481. Household and income counting remain the program’s decision.
Season
winter application period August 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027; the general heating assistance season runs October 1 to March 31
Residency
Delaware

The trap: The generic web page says applications start in July; the dated application for this season says August 1. Use the dated form.

Where I read this

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