Montgomery County Energy Assistance: How Older Adults Can Get Help With Utility Bills

If a heating or electric bill is putting pressure on your budget, Montgomery County residents can apply for Maryland’s Office of Home Energy Programs, commonly called OHEP. You do not need to be behind on the bill or have a shutoff notice to apply, and the program serves eligible renters, homeowners, public-housing residents, and some households that pay energy costs indirectly.

I put this guide together for older adults and family caregivers who want a clear starting point. OHEP is a public assistance program administered locally by Montgomery County. Forest Brook Financial is not affiliated with the county, Maryland DHS, a utility company, or OHEP.

What Montgomery County energy assistance can cover

OHEP is not one single discount. The Maryland Department of Human Services administers several forms of help through one application:

• Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP). Helps with home-heating costs. An approved grant is generally paid to the heating supplier or utility on the household’s behalf.

• Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP). Provides electric-bill assistance once per program year. The state says recipients may choose budget billing, but it is not required for the EUSP grant itself.

• Arrearage Retirement Assistance. May help with a large past-due electric or gas balance. Current state guidance lists a $300 minimum past-due balance, with limited funding and other eligibility rules.

• Utility Service Protection Program (USPP). Available to MEAP-eligible households that agree to year-round budget billing. It is designed to reduce the risk of a heating-season shutoff as long as required payments are made.

OHEP may also refer applicants to weatherization services unless they opt out. That referral does not guarantee approval, but it can connect a qualifying household with energy-saving improvements that may lower future bills.

Who may qualify under the current FY27 limits

Eligibility is based mainly on household size and gross income received during the last 30 days. For the FY27 program year, the state’s published monthly income limits are $2,660 for one person, $3,607 for two people, $4,553 for three people, and $5,500 for four people. The official table continues for larger households.

Those numbers are screening limits, not a promise of a grant. The local office reviews the complete application, household information, documents, and the type of assistance requested. A resident can apply even without a turnoff notice, and receiving energy assistance does not reduce Social Security, SNAP, or Temporary Cash Assistance benefits, according to Maryland DHS.

The program year runs from July 1 through June 30, and applications are accepted year-round. If a household has an urgent disconnection problem, say that clearly when contacting the local office; do not assume an online application alone will pause utility action.

How to apply in Montgomery County

The simplest route for many households is the Maryland Benefits portal. Upload the supporting documents with the application rather than sending them separately, because missing attachments can slow review.

Residents who prefer paper or need help can contact the Montgomery County OHEP office at 240-777-4450. The state’s current local-office directory lists the office at 1301 Piccard Drive, Suite 4200, Rockville, MD 20850, with lobby hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and phone hours until 5 p.m. The county also lists ohep@montgomerycountymd.gov for applications and questions. I would call before traveling to confirm the best drop-off option and current access instructions.

The county’s Energy Connection application page also links to online filing, paper forms in English and Spanish, and a video that walks through the application.

Documents to gather before you start

Most delays come from missing information. Maryland’s acceptable-document guide gives several options for each category. A practical starter file includes:

• A photo ID for the applicant. Applicants age 62 or older, disabled, or homebound may have additional acceptable alternatives listed by the state.

• Proof of the Montgomery County residence, such as a current lease, mortgage statement, property-tax bill, or qualifying benefit letter.

• Social Security number verification for household members, using an accepted document.

• Proof of gross income received by every household member during the last 30 days, including Social Security, wages, pensions, unemployment, interest, or other applicable income.

• The most recent electric bill and the heating or fuel bill, if separate.

• A zero-income declaration or other supplemental form when the household’s situation requires it.

Do not send original identification, tax papers, or benefit documents unless the program specifically instructs you to do so. Keep a copy of the completed application and note the date and method of submission.

A five-step application checklist

• Check the current income table for your household size.

• Collect identification, residence, income, Social Security, and utility documents before opening the application.

• Apply online or use the Montgomery County office’s paper or assisted-filing option.

• Save the confirmation number and copies of everything submitted.

• Use the state’s OHEP status checker after allowing at least 15 days for the application to appear, and respond promptly to requests for missing information.

Related Montgomery County help can reduce other monthly pressure

Utility assistance works best as part of a larger household plan. If food costs are also tight, the county’s home-delivered meal options may help; I explain the main starting points in my guide to Montgomery County meal delivery for older adults. Residents trying to remain safely at home can also review the guide to aging-in-place repairs and accessibility help.

If a billing dispute, debt-collection notice, lease issue, or other civil legal problem is mixed into the utility situation, the county’s navigation services and local nonprofit programs may be useful. My Montgomery County senior legal-help guide explains where to begin.

The best next step

Use the checklist above to gather the documents, then submit the official OHEP application or call 240-777-4450 for Montgomery County help. Applying before a bill becomes a crisis gives the local office more time to review the file and tell you whether anything is missing.