Asap Utilities Cost
Janita Locklin
If you need help with your utility bills, are in danger of utility shut off or are currently disconnected, apply for one of the free utility grant programs below and inform your utility company immediately.
If you are having trouble affording your utility bills, there is good news! New Jersey offers a diverse portfolio of utility assistance and energy efficiency programs for low- and moderate-income households. See income limits and program information below:
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has a variety of programs that can help you with utility bills, rent and removal of lead hazards from your home. Use the anonymous "DCAid" screening tool to determine if you are eligible for assistance, and for more information on how to apply.
The Universal Service Fund (USF) provides monthly credits on electric and gas bills to help make bills more affordable. Credits are based on the amount you spend on energy that are over a certain percentage of income.
USF-Fresh Start: Eligible electric and gas customers with overdue balances of $60 or more will be automatically enrolled by their utility company into the Fresh Start program when they enroll in the USF program. Fresh Start provides forgiveness on the overdue balance amount that existed at the time of USF enrollment. Beginning October 1, 2024, eligible USF enrollees will be enrolled into Fresh Start no more than once every five years. The gas and electric utility companies administer the Fresh Start program with oversight by the BPU.
*USF shares its application with the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). You can apply for both programs at the same time during the HEAP season (10/1 - 6/30), or apply online for USF only during the summer months.
The Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) Program provides relief on gas and electric bills for low- to moderate-income New Jersey households (see income limits above). Those who are income eligible for USF should apply for USF first before seeking supplemental assistance from PAGE. To self-screen for program eligibility, apply online, or print an application, please visit www.njshares.org or call 1-866-657-4273.
Note: Households with undocumented individuals may apply for USF, PAGE and HEAP described above. Please note that while HEAP requires at least one household member to have a social security number, this is not a requirement for the USF and PAGE programs. For more information, call 2-1-1.
The New Jersey Comfort Partners Program is a free program that helps income-eligible customers reduce their utility bills through implementing cost effective measures which save energy and money while improving their home's safety and comfort at no cost to them. Through Comfort Partners, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and your electric and natural gas utilities partner with you to reduce your energy use and utility bills, improve your comfort, and increase the health and safety of your home. For more information, click here or call (866) 378-4345.
The federal Lifeline telephone assistance program offers a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 towards phone or internet services for eligible subscribers (up to $34.25 for those living on Tribal lands). Eligibility is determined based on your income (135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines) or participation in other assistance programs. In general, if you participate in any of the following programs you also may qualify for telephone assistance: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, Tribal programs and Medicaid.
Telephone assistance is available to you if you are a qualified residential telephone customer. When you are seeking telephone assistance, please keep in mind that each telephone company and/or each program has different eligibility requirements, different benefits available and different restrictions. Some programs have restrictions on the optional services available to participants.
Please contact your local telephone company to participate in any of these programs. Also to find out more information, you may also call the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), which administer Lifeline for the Federal Communications Commission by calling 888-641-8722 or by visiting their website www.lifelinesupport.org.
The cost of housing and housing-related expenses, like water and power, has been increasing across the U.S. for many years. Many households spend more than half what they earn on housing expenses, and the 211 network receives more calls from people looking for help paying housing and utilities bills than any other need.
If you are experiencing difficulties making your mortgage payments, you are encouraged to contact your lender or loan servicer directly to inquire about foreclosure prevention options that are available. Your lender will be aware of any federal protections or programs offering additional assistance to borrowers because of the pandemic.
If you are experiencing difficulty communicating with your mortgage lender or servicer about your need for mortgage relief, there are organizations that can help by contacting lenders and servicers on your behalf.
Many utilities providers offer programs to assist households when they cannot pay their bills on time. Companies may offer a payment plan or temporary discount on your bill if you can pay some, but not all, of what you owe. Some companies also work with local non-profits to provide additional financial assistance to qualifying households.
Healthcare costs in the United States are hard to manage for millions of families, especially when an unforeseen injury or illness occurs. You can always call 211 to speak to someone who can help, or start by using the resources below.
Even if you have health insurance, many plans do not provide sufficient coverage for areas like mental health or substance use treatment. Contact 211 to learn about low-cost or free services in your area.
Already a SNAP recipient? Fresh EBT is a free smart phone app available to check your SNAP balance and purchase history. Fresh EBT also includes a COVID response help center with information about changes to government benefits programs and connections to local organizations and resources. Learn more or download Fresh EBT at www.freshebt.com.
WIC is a federal financial assistance program offered through state governments to assist low-income households in purchasing essential food and supplies for pregnant women, infants, and young children.
WIC benefits can be used to purchase infant food and formula as well as nutritional foods like eggs, milk, cereal, peanut butter, fruits, and vegetables. Households enrolled in WIC can access health screenings, breastfeeding counseling, and immunization referrals.
Occasionally programs exist for certain financial situations. When resources are limited or you may not qualify for services, it's okay to call 211 again and ask about other ideas or options. Exploring new ways to reduce your expenditures or applying for another program can sometimes provide temporary help in difficult situations.
If you are homeless or in need of housing assistance, visit the Web site of the Missouri Interagency Council on Homelessness to see a directory of Missouri agencies that can provide an assessment and resources (updated 1/26/2023).
The Dept. of Mental Health has a state-funded program called the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) that can provide one-time assistance to prevent homelessness or help you move into safer and more secure rental housing. RAP can assist with late rent, late utilities, and move-in costs such as security deposits, first month's rent, and utility deposits.
Please see the DMH RAP web page for complete program information and funding status. This page also has a list of other similar resources that may be able to help when RAP doesn't have funds available.
Community mental health centers are agencies that contract with DMH to provide psychiatric services and alcohol and substance use treatment services (also known collectively as behavioral health services). Many of these agencies over the past several years have also become housing providers for people in need of these types of services.
DMH/DOC Reentry Housing Resources Map - The Department of Mental Health, Department of Corrections and the Missouri Interagency Council on Homelessness, collaborated to create an interactive map of housing resources in Missouri for people reentering the community from incarceration. The map is an ongoing process to collect information about every program in Missouri that provides permanent housing, transitional housing, and emergency shelter, and so can also be used to locate resources for persons experiencing homelessness generally.
The map's search function is county-based. To find resources, choose the appropriate county by clicking on the map or choose a county from the drop-down menu in the lower left corner. Choosing a county shows all the resources entered for that county. You can limit the results to programs most appropriate to your needs by clicking boxes in the list on the right. For instance, limit your search to programs for women only by clicking the "Serves females only" box.
Community Action Agencies - Missouri has 19 Community Action Agencies (CAA's), and most counties have at least one CAA office. Community Action Agencies are dedicated to fighting the causes as well as the effects of poverty. Many of them can help pay rent or energy bills, and many operate their own low-cost housing programs that include housing for people experiencing homelessness. Many more have money to use for home repairs that must be made in order to avoid having your home condemned. If you are in danger of losing your home, getting evicted, or having your power shut off, contact your local CAA to see if they can help.
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