Empowering Families and Lighting the Path to Stability
No family should ever have to choose between putting food on the table and keeping their lights on. UCC wants to bridge that gap. We provide essential support to low-income individuals and families across Essex County, ensuring their homes remain safe, warm in the winter, and cool in the summer.
Core Programs: LIHEAP & USF
We help residents navigate two primary state-managed programs administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA):
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Provides financial assistance to help meet home heating costs and medically necessary cooling expenses.
Universal Service Fund (USF)
Provides monthly credits on gas and electric bills to make energy costs more affordable year-round.
Our Impact: Restoring Peace of Mind
UCC is there to step in during socioeconomic crises. We have had a tremendous cumulative impact, serving as a trusted partner for a growing community.
Preventing Darkness
We intervene in moments of vulnerability to prevent utility shutoffs, ensuring families don’t have to face the cold or dark.
Increasing Reach
Our impact is evident in our numbers, which grow every day as more residents count on us to protect their well-being.
Why Utilities Assistance Exists
Utilities Assistance exists to provide low-income families and seniors with peace of mind and energy security, ensuring that vulnerable residents never have to make the impossible choice between purchasing food or maintaining essential heat and electricity in their homes
Cumulative
Impact
Utilities Assistance expanded its reach last year across all five Newark wards, serving more than 1,000 individuals and preventing service disconnections.
Through high-impact events and streamlined program management, the department processed more than 6,300 applications to assist clients in getting the essential financial relief needed to manage their home heating and medically necessary cooling costs.
Processed Applications
0
Do You Qualify for Assistance?
Eligibility for LIHEAP and USF is based on your household size and income level:
Income Limit:
Household gross income must be at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI).
Target Population:
While we serve all eligible Essex residents, we prioritize those with the highest need and high energy burdens.
How to Access Utilities Assistance
How to Apply
UCC makes applying for assistance easier through multiple accessible channels:
Online Application (Preferred): The most efficient way to apply is directly through the DCAid Portal. Once you submit your application, it is assigned to local agencies like UCC for processing.
On-Site Support: We provide iPads at our locations where staff can help you create a User ID. This allows you to reapply in the future and access other programs like Weatherization and Lead Safe Homes.
Special Assistance: For seniors, individuals with disabilities, or those without internet access, UCC staff will collect your paperwork and complete the application on your behalf.
Community Outreach: Look for the UCC team at local partner events throughout Essex County where we provide on-the-spot enrollment assistance.
