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Chapter 3: Applying for Energy Assistance

3.0 Applying for Energy Assistance Benefits Application Period Applicants may apply for energy assistance at any point during the program year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Applications are processed based on specific program guidelines, funding availability, and individual customer circumstances, following the schedule outlined below. No applicant may be turned away due to the time of year.

Period Programs and Processing Details July 1 – June 30 Applications are accepted for all programs (MEAP and EUSP). Applicants who have not received OHEP benefits during the current fiscal year will have their applications processed for the current year. Applications from customers who have already received benefits during the same fiscal year will be held for processing in the next program year. November 1 – March 31 Crisis applications for MEAP are accepted and processed during this time period.

3.1 Applying for Energy Assistance Benefits Categorical Eligibility Applications: Categorical Eligibility applications are transferred nightly through batch processing from the MDTHINK Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E) system to the OHEP Data Management system. These applications are identified by their E&E Case ID in the OHEP system.

Updated May 2025