Need Help Paying Your Utility Bills?
LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) and UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND (USF)
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark is partnering with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to provide utility assistance for residents of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties.
To schedule an appointment for a representative to assist with submitting an application please call 973-266-7954 or email LIHEAP-USF@ccannj.org.
Applications may be submitted online by creating an NJ.gov account at the link below:
NJ DCAid Online Application Portal.
Low-income residents of the State of New Jersey can apply for financial assistance via the online portal or have an agency representative submit an online application to assist in paying for their heating and energy costs. Applicants who submitted their application online should submit their UAP application ID to LIHEAP-USF@ccannj.org to begin the review process.
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income | Annual Gross Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,991 | $47,896 |
| 2 | $5,219 | $62,633 |
| 3 | $6,448 | $77,370 |
| 4 | $7,676 | $92,108 |
| 5 | $8,904 | $106,845 |
| 6 | $10,132 | $121,582 |
| 7 | $10,362 | $121,582 |
| 8 | $10,592 | $124,345 |
| 9 | $10,823 | $129,872 |
| 10 | $11,053 | $132,635 |
| 11 | $11,283 | $135,398 |
| 12 | $11,514 | $138,162 |
To be eligible for this program, individuals must be residents of Bergen, Hudson, Union or Essex Counties and meet specific income guidelines and provide all required documentation. Applicants must submit all required documentation for the application to be in a SUBMITTED status for processing, any applications submitted with missing required documents are not considered as submitted and will not be reviewed until all required documentation is submitted.
Required Documents
- Social Security cards for all household members **(undocumented individuals who may provide a passport)
- Renters must provide Full lease agreement (all pages) or Tenant Verification Form, or if you own you must provide a Mortgage Statement or Tax bill
- Full utility bills (Elizabethtown Gas, PSEG, JCPL, or Oil receipt)
- Proof of INCOME for everyone in the household over the age of 18
- Examples:
- Pay stubs must be consecutive, provide 4 pay stubs if paid weekly, provide 2 pay stubs if paid bi-weekly or bi-monthly.
- Self-employed individuals must provide their Schedule C Profit and Loss Statement
- Homeowners who rent must submit Schedule E showing home expenses deductions
- SSI, SSD, or SSA award letter, Pension paystub, General Assistance award letter from Social Services
- For persons receiving assistance from friends or family, and have an income less than $500 a month, a Family contributions letter and the Monthly Expense Report will be required as proof of household support.
Click the link below to download required verification forms and program requirements if needed:
Physician Certification Form
Landlord Tenant Verification Form
Affidavit of Zero Income
Household Monthly Expense Report
Required Documents List
Fair Hearing Acknowledgement
Completed required forms must be returned to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark through any of the following methods:
- Via email at LIHEAP-USF@ccannj.org (Preferred method)
- By appointment – 47 Miller Street, Newark, NJ
- Standard U.S. mail – 47 Miller Street, Newark, NJ (copies only)
- Online: https://dcaid.dca.nj.gov (for those who have a NJ.gov user account)
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance — Heating
Households eligible for LIHEAP can have their heating costs deferred during the winter months. Benefits are provided on a one-time basis per application period and are not continuous. Applications must be submitted annually, even if one was submitted the previous year and the household was approved.
The LIHEAP application period runs from October 1 to June 30. Households should be aware that processing completed applications takes 4-6 weeks, so submitting the application early will result in receiving benefits sooner.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance — Cooling
Those eligible to receive cooling assistance must provide proof that at least one person in the household has a medical necessity for air conditioning during the summer months. Benefits are given on a one-time per application period basis. Applications must be completed every year, even if you were approved in prior years. A doctor’s note must be provided to receive a $300 credit towards the cost of cooling.
The application period for the Cooling Assistance Program is October 1 through June 30.
Universal Service Fund
Households eligible to benefit from the Universal Service Fund may receive a monthly credit towards utilities costs that are above 2% of the household’s annual income. Qualifying households receive a monthly credit for twelve months that totals this cost.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark accepts applications for the Universal Service Fund year-round.
Re-Certifications
Clients who have previously applied and been approved should receive an annual recertification form via email to shorten the application process.
If you believe you are eligible for re-certification and have not yet received a form or would like more information on our programs please contact us:
Phone: 973-266-7954
Email: LIHEAP-USF@ccannj.org
Online: www.ccannj.org
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark
Energy Assistance
47 Miller Street
Newark, NJ 07114
Americo Soria, Program Supervisor
Email: asoria@ccannj.org
Ph# 973-266-7954