Senator Collins Announces Release of More than $4.3 Million in Additional Federal Home Heating Aid for Mainers

Release of funding follows bipartisan letter to OMB led by Senators Collins, Reed, and Murkowski urging immediate release of remaining LIHEAP funding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that $427,400,000 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding has been released, with $4,375,915 being allocated for the State of Maine. 

This release of funding follows a letter to OMB last week led by Senators Collins, Jack

Reed (D-RI), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) along with a bipartisan group of 35 other Senators urging the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to immediately release the approximately $400 million in remaining LIHEAP funds that Congress delivered in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Senator Collins also spoke personally with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to request that these remaining funds be released. 

“It is welcome news that following our recent outreach, the funding for this critical program has been released to states,” said Senator Collins. “LIHEAP provides vital relief to thousands of Mainers, helping them avoid the constant worry of choosing between heating their homes and covering other basic necessities. That is why I am proud that the Senate Appropriations Committee worked in a bipartisan manner to increase funding for the program this year.”

Overriding the Administration’s proposed elimination of LIHEAP, Senators Collins, Reed, and Murkowski successfully led bipartisan efforts to provide a total of $4.045 billion for the program in FY26 – a $20 million increase over the previous year. Much of that funding has been distributed to help low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes, with more than $38 million already distributed to households in Maine this winter.

Nationwide, an estimated 6.2 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP last year. In Maine, households received $41.6 million in LIHEAP funding last year.

Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through May 29, 2026, or until program funding is exhausted. Maine residents can check their eligibility and apply for the program here.