The program, announced by Gov. Maura Healey in October as part of a broader winter energy relief package, will provide an estimated one-time emergency benefit of up to $680 to eligible households. Applications are set to open in December 2026, but residents can already fill out an online interest form to be notified when the application becomes available.

The need is acute. The price of heating oil has risen 74% since last year, prompting Healey to declare an energy affordability emergency and broaden assistance programs. The announcement came after reports of residents like Lorna McCafferty, a retiree in Douglas, who said keeping her small home warm was straining her budget.

Wendy Trinks, community services coordinator for the town of Boxborough, said the new program fills a gap for families caught between eligibility thresholds.

"This helps middle-income people," Trinks said. "We go by Area Median Income, so it goes from 60% to 100%. It's a brand new program just for oil because the cost is so high."

Under the expanded program, eligibility is based on household size and income. For a two-person household, the annual income range is $70,074 to $111,788. For a four-person household, it is $103,050 to $171,749.

The existing Home Energy Assistance Program, known as HEAP, remains available for lower-income households. HEAP eligibility is capped at 60% of the state median income; for example, a two-person household can qualify with a maximum combined annual income of $70,073. Residents can apply through their local service agency or the state's online application.

Trinks said she regularly connects residents to fuel assistance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food pantries and other resources. For seniors, she recommends contacting the local Council on Aging or Human Services department for help applying for SNAP and other aid.

She also pointed to nonprofit organizations that can provide one-time financial help, including St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army's Good Neighbor Energy Fund. Local groups such as Acton Boxborough Community Compass and A Friend in Need, which serves Acton, Boxborough and Maynard, offer emergency assistance for utilities, rent, mortgage payments and even car repairs for residents referred by a caseworker, social worker or clergyperson.

For those behind on bills, Trinks advises calling the utility provider directly to ask about payment plans or forgiveness programs.

"Sometimes, you can call your energy company and work something out with them to help you be able to pay month to month to get you back on track," she said.

The expanded oil assistance program represents a targeted response to a heating season that is already proving difficult for many Massachusetts residents, with energy costs climbing and federal and state aid programs struggling to keep pace. State officials say the interest form is the first step for households that expect to qualify.