Payment Assistance Programs
LIHEAP/USF
If you need help paying your bill, you may be eligible for LIHEAP or USF – one application for both programs.
NJ SHARES
If you have an outstanding balance on your bill, you may be eligible to receive assistance through NJ SHARES.
NJ Lifeline for Seniors and Disabled Adults
You may be eligible to receive an annual credit on your bill.
The state of New Jersey offers multiple payment assistance programs for customers struggling to pay their energy bill. Descriptions of the programs, application periods and eligibility guidelines are available below. You can also download a flyer in English and Spanish to learn more about the programs here.
To apply for these programs, the following documents are required:
- Social security cards (entire household) or 2023 filed income tax returns (not handwritten), if applicable
- Identification for entire household, if applicable (driver’s license, passport or government issued ID)
- Proof of income for the previous 30 days, entire household
- Lease if you rent, copy of mortgage or property tax bill if you own a home
- Most current PSE&G bill (all pages)
- Note: Other documentation may be required for application processing.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- LIHEAP helps customers pay for winter heating bills and medically-necessary cooling costs. Homeowners and renters are eligible, and you don’t have to be behind on your bill to apply. Income-eligible customers can receive an average of $350 toward their PSE&G heating bill and $300 toward medically-necessary cooling costs.
LIHEAP and USF use the same application. If you apply for LIHEAP, you are also applying for USF.
Universal Service Fund (USF) and Fresh Start Program (FSP)
Applications accepted year-round.
- USF helps make energy bills more affordable. Income-eligible customers can receive a $5 to $180 monthly USF credit toward their bill.
- The Fresh Start Program (part of USF) offers forgiveness of past-due balances of over $60. Customers who apply for USF will be screened for FSP and do not have to apply for FSP. As of Oct. 1, 2024, customers are only eligible for FSP every 5 years.
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Household Size Maximum Gross Monthly Income 1 $3,991 2 $5,219 3 $6,448 4 $7,676 5 $8,904 6 $10,132 7 $10,362 8 $10,592 9 $10,823 10 $11,053
11 $11,283
12 $11,514 Amount for each additional member
for households greater than 12$213 *Gross income is income before taxes.
How you can apply:
- Apply online here.
- Apply in-person:
- Download an application and submit it to the social-service intake agency in your county via mail, fax or email with all the required documents. To find local social-service agencies that can process your application, you can also call 1-800-510-3102.
- Pick up an application at one of the PSE&G’s Customer Service Centers and submit it to the social-service intake agency in your county via mail, fax or email with all the required documents.
For more information, visit NJ Department of Community Affairs Energy Assistance, or call 1-800-510-3102, 7 days a week, 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
SHARES Energy Assistance Grants
- Income-eligible customers with a balance on their energy bill can receive assistance through the following programs:
- NJ Board of Public Utilities Payment Assistance Gas and Electric (PAGE)
- SMART Utility Assistance
- SHARES Energy Assistance
- To apply for PAGE and SMART Utility, you must first complete the LIHEAP/USF application process. If you do not qualify for or have been denied from LIHEAP/USF, you may be eligible for SHARES Energy Assistance.
- A "good faith" payment of up to $100 may be required within 90 days prior to applying.
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Household Size Payment Assistance Gas and Electric (PAGE) Program
SHARES SMART Utility Assistance Program
SHARES Energy Assistance Grants 1 $6,652 $5,217 2 $8,699 $7,050 3 $10,746 $8,883 4 $12,793 $10,717 5 $14,840 $12,550 6 $16,887 $14,383 7 $17,270 $16,217 8 $17,654 $18,050 9 $18,038 $19,883 10 $18,422 $21,717 11 $18,806 $23,550 12 $19,189 $25,383 For households greater than 12 people, add $1,833 per additional person.
How you can apply:
- Apply Online
- Apply in-person: Download an application in English or Spanish and submit it at one of SHARES’ 200 application sites. Call 1-866-657-4273 to find the closest application site or visit sharesnation.org/agencies/.
- For more information, visit SHARES or call 1-866-657-4273 or text help to 64405.
New Jersey Lifeline for Seniors and Disabled Adults
Applications accepted year-round.
- NJ Lifeline is a $225 yearly electric or gas bill credit for seniors or disabled adults. To qualify, you must be a New Jersey resident, 65 years of age or older, or 18 years of age or older and receiving Social Security Title II Disability benefits.
- Income limits (not the household income) for 2025 are less than $53,466 for a single person and less than $60,690 if married.
How you can apply:
- Apply online
- Apply by mail: Download an application and send to:
- P.O. Box 637, Trenton, NJ 08646-0637 (English applications)
- P.O. Box 715, Trenton, NJ 08625-0715 (Spanish applications)
- Apply in-person: Download an application and submit it to your local county agency.
For more information, visit NJ Lifeline or call the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Aging at 1-800-792-9745.
