Help paying for heat in Grafton and Sullivan counties, NH
Fuel assistance is run by local Community Action Agencies for the state. In the Upper Valley, Grafton County (Lebanon, Hanover, Enfield, Canaan, Lyme, Orford) is served by Tri-County CAP and Sullivan County (Claremont, Newport, Plainfield, Cornish) by Southwestern Community Services. Dates differ a little by agency. Agencies advise applying early with complete paperwork; incomplete applications slow things down (NHPR, Oct 12; Magic 102, Oct 6, 2026).
Tri-County Community Action Partnership (Tri-County CAP)
Serves: Grafton County (includes Lebanon, Hanover, Enfield, Canaan, Lyme, Orford)
Call to apply: 603-968-3560
Office: Grafton County outreach office, 41 School St., Ashland, NH
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (as listed by the agency)
Dates:
- July 1: priority households (children under 6, disabled and/or elderly individuals, or wood/pellet heat) can apply
- September 1: all other households can apply
- December 1: program opens and payments begin to be sent to fuel vendors
- April 30: last date to apply for the current year
Emergencies: Emergency fuel applications can only be processed once the program opens (Dec 1). Call for an appointment; a same-day appointment is offered if you can get to the outreach office. Applicants who cannot come in are asked to use their town welfare office (fax) and mail the signed original. The City of Lebanon page lists the emergency conditions: less than 1 week of fuel available to the household, or heat included in rent and a Landlord/Tenant Writ citing an eviction hearing date.
Weatherization: Tri-County CAP Weatherization Program (income-eligible)
Sources (read Oct 17, 2026 (ET); re-read Oct 18 and Oct 20, 2026 (ET), no changes found): Tri-County CAP, Energy Assistance Services · City of Lebanon, Fuel and Electric Assistance
Southwestern Community Services (SCS)
Serves: Sullivan County (includes Claremont, Newport, Plainfield, Cornish, Charlestown) and Cheshire County
Call to apply: 603-542-9528
Office: Claremont office, 27 Pleasant St., Claremont, NH (Keene main office: 63 Community Way, 603-352-7512)
Hours: Claremont office open 8:30-4:30 Monday-Friday (per SCS brochure)
Dates:
- Applications for fuel assistance accepted until April 30, 2027; electric assistance year-round (SCS application form)
- Program runs Dec 1 to April 30; general applications became available Sept 1 (Magic 102, Oct 6, 2026)
- Wood-heat households get priority so suppliers can prepare; other eligible applicants hear about benefits mid- to late November (Magic 102)
Emergencies: SCS says households out of or low on heating oil still wait until Dec 1 for the state program and should contact their town or city welfare office for immediate help (NHPR, Oct 12, 2026).
Weatherization: The application form asks whether you want weatherization assistance.
Sources (read Oct 17, 2026 (ET); re-read Oct 18 and Oct 20, 2026 (ET), no changes found): SCS fuel assistance brochure (PDF, Aug 2026) · SCS 2026-27 application (PDF) · Magic 102, Oct 6, 2026 · NHPR, Oct 12, 2026
Income limits, program year 2026-2027
Program year 2026-2027 income limit, 60% of state median income (gross). Households at or under the limit may qualify; other factors apply and agencies decide.
| Household size | Gross per 30 days | Gross per 365 days |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,059 | $48,713 |
| 2 | $5,309 | $63,702 |
| 3 | $6,558 | $78,691 |
| 4 | $7,807 | $93,680 |
| 5 | $9,056 | $108,668 |
| 6 | $10,305 | $123,657 |
| 7 | $10,539 | $126,468 |
| 8 | $10,773 | $129,278 |
Source: City of Lebanon page quoting the program, read Oct 17, 2026 (ET); re-read Oct 18 and Oct 20, 2026 (ET), same figures. Confirm with your agency.
What to know
- Fuel assistance is a grant and does not have to be repaid. Benefits range from $188 to $2,500 depending on income and energy costs; the state page lists an average benefit of $1,002 (NH Dept of Energy, read Oct 17, 2026). SCS's director put the average in her area at about $1,200 (NHPR, Oct 12, 2026).
- The Electric Assistance Program gives a 5% to 86% discount on the monthly electric bill by income; applications are taken year-round (Lebanon city page; Tri-County CAP).
- Neighbor Helping Neighbor (SCS): no income limit, based on hardship with an active disconnect/shut-off notice; maximum $200 for oil or propane heat or $300 for electric heat (SCS brochure, Aug 2026).
- Section 8 and some subsidized housing, and heat-included-in-rent households, may not be eligible: tell the agency on the first call (Lebanon city page; Tri-County CAP).
Winter shelter: nowhere warm to sleep
- 24/7 help finding shelter: call 2-1-1 (or 1-866-444-4211 if you dial a "9" first), or the Upper Valley Haven at 802-295-6500.
- Lebanon: the city's Emergency Winter Shelter has permanently closed; its 2025-2026 season was its third and final one. The City of Lebanon says the Upper Valley Haven's low-barrier shelter at 608 North Main Street, White River Junction, Vermont, is intended to serve the region's need for adult shelter beds in the 2026-2027 winter. Lebanon Human Services: 603-448-2944.
- Year-round shelters: Upper Valley Haven, 802-295-6500 (Hixon House adult shelter and Byrne House family shelter); Southwestern Community Services, 603-542-3160, for the Claremont shelter.
- Claremont, seasonal: Warm Welcome Shelter, hosted by Trinity Church, 120 Broad Street, Claremont (church phone 603-542-2103). Its page lists an anticipated 2026-27 opening day of December 1, 2026, with room for up to 24 guests.
- We did not find a posted 2026-27 daytime warming-center schedule on these pages. During extreme cold, check your town's website or call 2-1-1.
Sources, read Oct 20, 2026 (ET): City of Lebanon, Emergency Winter Shelter (permanently closed) · City of Lebanon, Homeless Information (this page still lists a phone number for the closed Lebanon winter shelter, so we do not repeat it) · Trinity Church Claremont, Warm Welcome Shelter. Confirm hours and space by phone before you go.
Other programs
- NH Dept of Energy: Fuel Assistance Program overview, Energy Efficiency Rebates, and SAFETANK (help repairing or replacing aging home heating-oil tank systems). Also: call your dealer at least ten days before you need oil; keep the path to the tank clear; flag your tank.
- NHSaves Home Energy Assistance Program: weatherization and equipment replacement at no cost to income-eligible homeowners and renters. Ask your county Community Action Agency to qualify you.
- NHSaves heat pump rebates: Eversource, Liberty and Unitil electric customers switching from oil, gas or propane get $250 per ton for qualifying air-source heat pumps (limit 5 tons per account); NH Electric Co-op members have their own rebate list; instant point-of-sale incentives may also exist through the New England Heat Pump Accelerator (nehpa.org). Install window: installed Jan 1 to Dec 30, 2026 (the page's rebate table says Dec 31 in one place) and rebate forms postmarked by Jan 30, 2027; funds are limited and may change. Households that now heat mainly with permanent electric resistance heat and install a qualified heat pump may get up to $1,750 per ton on top of the standard $250 per ton (up to $2,000 per ton in total) for installations on or after Mar 23, 2026; this enhanced rebate requires pre-verification at NHSaves.com/GetVerified before installation. A Wi-Fi thermostat rebate of $85 per unit applies when installed with a qualified heat pump. Read on the NHSaves page Oct 17 and re-read Oct 18 and Oct 20, 2026 (ET). Confirm current rules and your utility before buying.
- COVER Home Repair & Weatherization (Vermont-based, sliding scale; listed on the Lebanon city page): 802-296-7241. Listed by the City of Lebanon; check eligibility with COVER.
We do not take applications, collect any personal or income information, or recommend a particular dealer or contractor. Call the agency using the number above. Vermont-side Upper Valley towns have different programs and are not covered here yet.