Start here6 min read

I need help with my bills

If heat, electricity, or rent is more than you can cover, there's real help — but you have to ask for it, and there are deadlines. Here's what to do now and how a case manager can help.

Shut-off notice or no heat?

Call 211 now (free, 24/7) and your local Community Action Agency(below) — say it's urgent. Applying for Fuel Assistance can also protect you from a winter shut-off, so don't wait.

What you can do right now

Get help with heat, electricity, and past-due bills.

1
Find your local Community Action Agency
Fuel Assistance and the Electric Assistance Program are run locally. Find your agency with the Community Action lookup or call 211 and ask which agency serves your town.
2
Apply for Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP) + Electric Assistance
Call your agency and ask to apply — you can do both at the same appointment. Fuel Assistance helps pay your heating bill; the Electric Assistance Program gives a discount on your monthly electric bill. Apply early; the season usually closes around April 30.
3
Ask your utility about a payment plan
Call the number on your bill (Eversource, Unitil, Liberty, or your co-op) and ask about budget billing, arrearage forgiveness, and winter shut-off protection for income-eligible customers.
4
Call 211 for one-time emergency help
Local charities and churches sometimes cover a past-due bill or a security deposit. 211 knows what's available near you right now.

How a case manager can help

If you're helping a client meet this need.

Identify the client's Community Action Agency and make the referral; call together to book the Fuel Assistance appointment and note the deadline.
Help gather the required documents — income for everyone in the home, SSNs, and recent heating/electric bills — and screen for automatic eligibility via SNAP or Medicaid.
Contact the utility on the client's behalf (with a signed release) to set up a payment plan, flag winter shut-off protections, and stop a pending disconnection.
Add weatherization to the Community Action application to lower future bills, and check for one-time crisis funds through 211 and local charities.
Screen for related benefits at the same time — SNAP, Medicaid, and cash assistance often free up money for bills.