The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Arrearage Forgiveness Program is offered to help low income households that are not currently enrolled in an energy assistance program, such as LIHEAP or USF. If you have already applied for LIHEAP and/or USF, you are not eligible for this program; however if you received a notice to apply, please do so. An ARP grant may assist households that have fallen behind on their utility (gas and electric) payments, and the program is funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the American Rescue Plan
Email from LRRC
The HEAP/USF income limits have gone up significantly.
Applications are currently being processed for the new season. If your income is below the limits in the chart and you live in Ocean County, you should apply to HEAP and USF through O.C.E.A.N. Inc. Households approved for USF may be eligible for the Fresh Start forgiveness program to help with past-due balances.
The LRRC will be collaborating with O.C.E.A.N. Inc to accept new HEAP and USF applications. You can access the LRRC/HEAP Utility Assistance Application Portal here: heap.lrrcenter.org
The portal includes links to download the application and required forms. The portal also allows you to upload complete applications and documentation for the LRRC to submit to O.C.E.A.N. Inc on your behalf. Do not submit an incomplete application using this portal. Should you have any questions or need assistance completing the paperwork, schedule a call with an LRRC case worker by calling 732-523-1789 or walk into our office during open hours. If you would prefer not to utilize the portal, you can also bring complete applications to the LRRC for us to submit on your behalf.
If you received a notice from the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) stating that you are eligible for utility relief from the American Rescue Plan, follow the instructions in the letter to apply.
This program has a deadline of November 4, 2021. Benefit amounts will be determined after that deadline. This program is separate from the HEAP/USF program described above, and you should still follow the instructions above for applying for HEAP/USF from O.C.E.A.N. Inc. If you did not receive this notice from the DCA, you are not eligible for this additional benefit.
If you received HEAP/USF benefits last year, you likely received recertification paperwork from the State. The LRRC does not recommend e-mailing completed paperwork to the e-mail address on the recertification paperwork. Those e-mails go directly to the State and are difficult to follow-up on. Complete the recertification and e-mail it directly to O.C.E.A.N. Inc. at oceanhea@oceaninc.org.
