To help you get the word out to your tenants about Utility Assistance, we’ve created a flyer that you can post around your apartment communities, download here.
Electric Assistance
Electrical Universal Service Program (EUSP)
The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) is a state program that helps customers pay their electric bills. Customers are eligible to receive a grant once per program year (July- June).
Eligibility is based on the size of your household and how much money you made in the last 30 days.
Additionally, the State of Maryland has a program to help customers with past-due electric bills. The Arrearage Retirement Assistance (ARA) grant is determined by the amount of the outstanding arrearage. The maximum amount payable is $2,000 once every seven years, with certain exceptions. The arrearage grant is sent to the Electric Company. Applicants must be eligible to receive a EUSP grant in order to receive an arrearage grant. Income eligibility for the EUSP is listed below.
To apply for the EUSP or ARA online, visit the Office of Home Energy Programs Applying for Energy Assistance page.
Water Assistance
WSSC Water Fund
Need help paying your water or sewer bill? Eligible customers can access the WSSC Water Fund multiple times, or up to $500 per year. The program is administered by The Salvation Army and funded by generous donations from WSSC Water customers, employees and community partners.
The Water Fund eligibility criteria is primarily based on household income and size. Listed below are the documents needed to apply for emergency financial assistance from The Salvation Army:
- Copy of your past due WSSC Water water/sewer bill in your name
- Driver’s license, Maryland ID or passport for each adult living in the household;
- Proof of all household income and cash benefits (eligibility for the Water Fund is outlined below);
- First page of lease, mortgage statement or Housing Choice (HOC) voucher;
- If your household receives SNAP (food stamps), a copy of your award letter or card; and
- Birth certificates for children living in the household.
To apply, complete the application located here, save it to your device and email it to NCV.MCC.SocialServices@uss.salvationarmy.org.
Visit https://salvationarmynca.org/gethelp/ for more information regarding the WSSC Water Fund.
Low Income Household Water Assistance
The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a new program providing benefits for water and wastewater costs for low-income households experiencing hardship with their water bills. LIHWAP will assist Maryland families who are behind on their drinking water and wastewater bills focusing on accounts that are 30 days or more past due.
Eligible households may receive up to $2,000. LIHWAP funding is limited and applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Eligibility and income guidelines are below:
- The applicant (or a member of the household) must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.
- The applicant must be a Maryland resident who is responsible for a water and/or wastewater bill issued by a public water system or treatment works and must live at the property for which assistance is being provided.
- The applicant must submit a current water and/or wastewater bill showing accrued arrearages of at least $100.
- The total household income (previous 30 days) may not exceed the gross income threshold which is 60% of the State Median Income.
- An applicant may be categorically eligible if they (or someone in their household) are receiving one of the following benefits at the time of application:
- Low Income Household Energy Assistance (MEAP)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP)
- Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
- Temporary Disability Assistance (TDAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP)
- Means Tested Veterans Benefits
Visit https://mymdthink.maryland.gov/home/#/ to begin your application and learn more about LIHWAP.
Heating Assistance
Maryland Energy Assistance Program
The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), is a state program that helps customers pay their heating bills.
This grant is available to households once per program year (July-June). The grant is delivered to your heating or utility company in one lump sum, which is applied to your account in monthly installments.
In addition, the State of Maryland has a program to help customers with past-due natural gas bills: the Gas Arrearage Retirement Assistance grant (GARA). The size of these grants will depend on the size of your past-due balance, but GARA can provide grants of up to $2,000. To qualify, you must have a past-due bill of at least $300 in your name and be approved for MEAP. Income eligibility is listed below.
To apply for MEAP online, visit the Office of Home Energy Programs Applying for Energy Assistance page.
Washington Area Fuel Fund
The Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) is able to assist you if you are behind or struggling to pay your heating bill. The WAFF is in partnership with the Salvation Army.
If you are a gas or electric heating customer, you must already have received a termination notice or warning of future disconnection from the utility providing the primary source of heat, and no longer eligible for any government energy assistance programs. Income eligibility is listed below.
Applications are typically accepted from January 1 through May 31. To apply for help, you must complete this application, save it to your device and email it to NCV.MCC.SocialServices@uss.salvationarmy.org
For more information on the Washington Area Fuel Fund, visit https://salvationarmynca.org/gethelp/
To help you get the word out to your tenants about Utility Assistance, we’ve created a flyer that you can post around your apartment communities, download here.
Electric Assistance
Electrical Universal Service Program (EUSP)
The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) is a state program that helps customers pay their electric bills. Customers are eligible to receive a grant once per program year (July- June).
Eligibility is based on the size of your household and how much money you made in the last 30 days.
Additionally, the State of Maryland has a program to help customers with past-due electric bills. The Arrearage Retirement Assistance (ARA) grant is determined by the amount of the outstanding arrearage. The maximum amount payable is $2,000 once every seven years, with certain exceptions. The arrearage grant is sent to the Electric Company. Applicants must be eligible to receive a EUSP grant in order to receive an arrearage grant. Income eligibility for the EUSP is listed below.
To apply for the EUSP or ARA online, visit the Office of Home Energy Programs Applying for Energy Assistance page.
Water Assistance
WSSC Water Fund
Need help paying your water or sewer bill? Eligible customers can access the WSSC Water Fund multiple times, or up to $500 per year. The program is administered by The Salvation Army and funded by generous donations from WSSC Water customers, employees and community partners.
The Water Fund eligibility criteria is primarily based on household income and size. Listed below are the documents needed to apply for emergency financial assistance from The Salvation Army:
- Copy of your past due WSSC Water water/sewer bill in your name
- Driver’s license, Maryland ID or passport for each adult living in the household;
- Proof of all household income and cash benefits (eligibility for the Water Fund is outlined below);
- First page of lease, mortgage statement or Housing Choice (HOC) voucher;
- If your household receives SNAP (food stamps), a copy of your award letter or card; and
- Birth certificates for children living in the household.
To apply, complete the application located here, save it to your device and email it to NCV.MCC.SocialServices@uss.salvationarmy.org.
Visit https://salvationarmynca.org/gethelp/ for more information regarding the WSSC Water Fund.
Heating Assistance
Maryland Energy Assistance Program
The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), is a state program that helps customers pay their heating bills.
This grant is available to households once per program year (July-June). The grant is delivered to your heating or utility company in one lump sum, which is applied to your account in monthly installments.
In addition, the State of Maryland has a program to help customers with past-due natural gas bills: the Gas Arrearage Retirement Assistance grant (GARA). The size of these grants will depend on the size of your past-due balance, but GARA can provide grants of up to $2,000. To qualify, you must have a past-due bill of at least $300 in your name and be approved for MEAP. Income eligibility is listed below.
To apply for MEAP online, visit the Office of Home Energy Programs Applying for Energy Assistance page.
Washington Area Fuel Fund
The Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) is able to assist you if you are behind or struggling to pay your heating bill. The WAFF is in partnership with the Salvation Army.
If you are a gas or electric heating customer, you must already have received a termination notice or warning of future disconnection from the utility providing the primary source of heat, and no longer eligible for any government energy assistance programs. Income eligibility is listed below.
Applications are typically accepted from January 1 through May 31. To apply for help, you must complete this application, save it to your device and email it to NCV.MCC.SocialServices@uss.salvationarmy.org
For more information on the Washington Area Fuel Fund, visit https://salvationarmynca.org/gethelp/
