Can I get both the Mass Save heat pump rebate AND HEAR?

Yes — they stack. A 60–80% AMI household typically qualifies for the Mass Save Enhanced rebate (up to $16,000 for air-source whole-home) plus the HEAR rebate (up to $8,000). The combined total can exceed the gross install cost on smaller projects; in that case the total payout is capped at the actual cost of the install — you cannot receive rebate money in excess of what you paid.

What income documents does HEAR require?

The two most recent pay stubs for every working adult in the household OR the most recent federal tax return (Form 1040), a household composition declaration listing every resident, a government-issued photo ID for the primary applicant, and a recent utility bill at the install address. Self-employed households generally need a Schedule C plus two years of tax returns. Exact document requirements can vary slightly by sponsor utility; the Mass Save income-eligible intake confirms what they need before the assessment.

How long does the HEAR application take in Massachusetts?

Plan 14–22 weeks end-to-end. Roughly: 4–6 weeks waiting for the Home Energy Assessment appointment, 2–4 weeks for the eligibility determination, 2–4 weeks for contractor selection and permitting, 1–10 days for the install itself, and 8–12 weeks for HEAR funds to arrive after the installer files paperwork. The longest single segment is typically the post-install HEAR processing window — slower than standard Mass Save.

Is HEAR a check or a deduction on my install invoice?

HEAR is typically a reimbursement check (or ACH deposit) sent after install completion and paperwork processing, NOT a deduction from the install invoice. This is the opposite of standard Mass Save, which is more commonly paid as a direct deduction by the installer. Plan to pay the gross install cost up front and receive the $8,000 HEAR check approximately 8–12 weeks later. Some installers offer bridge financing to cover the gap.

Can I apply for HEAR retroactively after my install?

No — retroactive HEAR applications are not accepted. The Home Energy Assessment must occur BEFORE the install, the income eligibility determination must be in hand BEFORE the install contract is signed, and the installer must be HPIN-enrolled at the time of install. This is the single most common reason for HEAR rejection. Mass Save standard rebates have the same restriction.

What happens if I move during the HEAR processing window?

HEAR is tied to both the household income at time of application AND the property address where the equipment was installed. If you sell or move out during the 8–12 week processing window, the rebate is generally still paid (the install is complete and the eligibility was valid at time of filing), but mail forwarding can complicate check delivery. Provide an updated mailing address to the installer and to MassCEC as soon as you know it; ACH deposit avoids the mail problem entirely.

How to Apply for the IRA HEAR Rebate in Massachusetts: Step-by-Step (2026)

By MassHVAC Editorial Team Reviewed by MassHVAC Editorial Team Last updated 2026-05-27

What HEAR is in 60 seconds

HEAR — Home Electrification & Appliance Rebates — is the Inflation Reduction Act–funded federal rebate program that pays income-qualified Massachusetts households up to $8,000 toward a heat pump install. Because HEAR is a federal appropriation (Congress wrote a check to the Department of Energy, which forwarded it to MassCEC) and not a tax credit, it was not affected by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that killed the §25C and §25D credits on December 31, 2025. HEAR is still operationally live in 2026.

This page is the procedural how-to. For the deeper "what HEAR is, where the money comes from, how MA got its $72.8M allocation, and how it differs from §25C" overview, see our companion guide: HEAR Rebates in Massachusetts.

Who qualifies — the 80% AMI threshold by Massachusetts county

HEAR uses HUD's Area Median Income framework. Your household qualifies if your annual income is at or below 80% of the AMI for your county, adjusted for household size. The thresholds below show the 80% AMI cutoff for a 4-person household per HUD's FY 2026 income limits for Massachusetts; smaller and larger households scale via the standard HUD multipliers in the second table.

County	Target cities	100% AMI (4-person)	80% AMI threshold
Suffolk	Boston	$159,400	$127,520
Middlesex	Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Somerville	$159,400	$127,520
Norfolk	Quincy, Brookline	$159,400	$127,520
Plymouth	Brockton	$159,400	$127,520
Essex	Lynn	$144,600	$115,680
Worcester	Worcester	$124,900	$99,920
Bristol	New Bedford, Fall River	$116,500	$93,200
Hampden	Springfield	$102,400	$81,920
Hampshire	Northampton, Amherst	$116,200	$92,960
Franklin	Greenfield	$99,500	$79,600
Berkshire	Pittsfield	$99,100	$79,280
Barnstable	Cape Cod	$124,300	$99,440

Source: HUD FY 2026 Income Limits for Massachusetts metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, as of 2026-05-27. HUD groups Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, and parts of Plymouth into the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy HMFA, which is why they share the same 4-person AMI base.

Adjusting the AMI threshold for your household size

HUD scales the 4-person AMI up or down for households of other sizes. Multiply the 80% AMI threshold in the table above by the factor below for your household size:

Household size	HUD factor	% of 4-person AMI
1 person	0.70×	70%
2 people	0.80×	80%
3 people	0.90×	90%
4 people	1.00×	100%
5 people	1.08×	108%
6 people	1.16×	116%
7 people	1.24×	124%
8 people	1.32×	132%

Example: a 2-person household in Worcester County qualifies for HEAR with annual income at or below $79,936 ($ 99,920 × 0.80). A 6-person household in the same county qualifies up to approximately $115,907.

Step-by-step: applying for HEAR in Massachusetts

1

Book a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment and flag the income-eligible pathway

Schedule a free Home Energy Assessment via masssave.com or your Mass Save sponsor utility. When booking, explicitly mention that you want to be evaluated for the income-eligible pathway — this triggers the auditor to bring HEAR / Enhanced rebate paperwork to the appointment. Expect a typical 4–6 week lead time for scheduling in 2026; book before contractor shopping. Massachusetts municipal-electric (MLP) towns like Reading, Wakefield, and Belmont do not participate in Mass Save and therefore cannot route into HEAR through this pathway.
2

Complete income verification — documents required at the assessment

Bring documentation that establishes household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Typical accepted documents include: the two most recent pay stubs for every working adult in the household OR the most recent federal tax return (Form 1040); a household composition declaration listing every resident and their age; a government-issued photo ID for the primary applicant; and a recent utility bill at the install address for address verification. Self-employed households generally need the most recent Schedule C and two years of tax returns. The auditor handles the actual eligibility determination on the spot or shortly after.
3

Wait for the HEAR eligibility determination

Following the assessment, MassCEC and the Mass Save income-eligible team review your documentation and issue an eligibility letter. This typically takes 2–4 weeks. Eligibility letters specify which tier you qualify for — Mass Save Turnkey (≤60% AMI / SMI), HEAR + Mass Save Enhanced (60–80% AMI), or Enhanced-only (80–135% SMI). Keep this letter — your installer needs it to file the combined rebate paperwork later.
4

Choose a Mass Save HPIN-enrolled installer with HEAR-pathway experience

HEAR paperwork is filed by your installer, not by you, and the installer must be enrolled in the Mass Save Heat Pump Installer Network (HPIN). Verify HPIN enrollment before signing — a non-HPIN install forfeits BOTH the standard Mass Save rebate and the stacked HEAR rebate. Ask prospective installers how many HEAR projects they have completed; the program is newer than standard Mass Save and not every HPIN contractor has run the income-eligible workflow.
5

Manual J load calculation and HPQPL equipment selection

Your installer must perform an ACCA Manual J load calculation to size the system to 90–120% of your home's design heating load. The proposed equipment must appear on the current Mass Save Heat Pump Qualified Products List (HPQPL), be ENERGY STAR Cold Climate certified, and use R-32 or R-454B refrigerant (R-410A units were removed from the HPQPL on January 1, 2026). Equipment that does not meet these three criteria disqualifies the project from both Mass Save and HEAR.
6

Install and commissioning

Most ductless multi-zone installs complete in 1–3 days; ducted central heat pump installs run 5–10 days. The installer pulls the mechanical permit (and gas permit if applicable) through your municipal Inspectional Services Department, commissions the system, and produces the commissioning documentation that gets attached to the rebate file. Photographic documentation of the equipment nameplate and refrigerant labeling is typically required for HEAR audits.
7

Installer files the combined Mass Save + HEAR paperwork

Within 30 days of install completion, the HPIN installer files a single combined paperwork package covering the standard Mass Save rebate, the Enhanced rebate (if applicable), and the HEAR rebate. The filing references the eligibility letter from step 3 and includes the Manual J, HPQPL equipment spec sheets, commissioning paperwork, and signed customer authorization. Income-eligible filings are a different submission queue than standard Mass Save and are reviewed by MassCEC alongside Mass Save program administrators.
8

HEAR funds arrive — typically 8–12 weeks after filing

HEAR is paid as a check (or ACH deposit) from MassCEC, distinct from the Mass Save rebate which arrives separately from your sponsor utility. HEAR processing is typically slower than standard Mass Save (which runs 6–10 weeks) because the income-eligible queue is newer and includes a federal verification step. Unlike the standard Mass Save rebate, HEAR is typically a reimbursement rather than a direct invoice deduction — meaning you pay the gross install cost up front and the HEAR funds arrive later.

The rebate stack — real money math

HEAR's headline figure is $8,000, but for a 60–80% AMI household it is rarely the only rebate in play. The stack typically looks like this for a $20,000 whole-home cold-climate air-source heat pump install on a 3-ton system in Eversource territory:

Mass Save Enhanced (air-source whole-home): up to $16,000 — replaces the standard $8,500 whole-home cap when you qualify for the income-eligible track.
HEAR rebate: up to $8,000 — federal IRA money on top of the Enhanced rebate.
Stacked theoretical maximum: $24,000.

The "no rebate that exceeds gross" cap. Combined rebate payouts cannot exceed the actual install cost. On a $20,000 install, the theoretical $24,000 stack is capped at $20,000 — you don't get a $4,000 check on top. In practice the program administrators apply the standard rebate first, then Enhanced, then HEAR, stopping at the gross install cost. On larger projects (e.g., $30,000+ whole-home with panel upgrade), the full stack typically flows through.

Leftover Mass Save budget on smaller projects can often be redirected to electrical panel upgrades ($4,000 HEAR-eligible) or weatherization line items rather than being forfeited. Talk to your installer about restructuring the proposal if you hit the cap.

The five reasons HEAR applications get rejected

Income documentation gaps. Missing pay stubs for one working adult, an outdated tax return, or self-employment income without a Schedule C. Bring more documentation to the assessment than you think you need.
Household composition discrepancies. Different counts between the household declaration, tax return dependents, and the people listed on the lease/deed will trigger a request for clarification. Reconcile these before the assessment.
Installer not HPIN-enrolled at time of install. Verify HPIN ID on the masssave.com installer locator before signing. This is the single most expensive mistake — the rebate cannot be filed retroactively by a different contractor.
Equipment not on the HPQPL. The proposed make and model must match a current HPQPL entry exactly. R-410A units were removed from the HPQPL on January 1, 2026; substituting at install time for "what's in the warehouse" is a common failure mode.
Skipped or expired Home Energy Assessment. The assessment is the gate for the whole pathway. Skipping it forfeits HEAR; an assessment older than 12 months at install time may need to be refreshed.

HEAR vs. Mass Save Turnkey vs. Mass Save Enhanced — which to pursue

The three income-qualified tracks are not mutually exclusive at the eligibility level, but the auditor will steer you toward the highest-value pathway you qualify for. Rough decision tree:

≤60% State Median Income → Mass Save Turnkey. Mass Save covers the install end-to-end at no out-of-pocket cost to the homeowner. HEAR funds flow through the Turnkey program rather than as a separate check; you don't typically file HEAR as a stand-alone in this band.
60–80% AMI → HEAR + Mass Save Enhanced. This is the sweet spot where the procedural walkthrough on this page applies in full. Best total dollar stack for the typical income-qualified homeowner.
80–135% SMI → Mass Save Enhanced only (up to $16,000 ASHP). HEAR is not available at this income level — it is gated at 80% AMI, not SMI. The thresholds overlap heavily but are not identical, so the auditor will calculate both metrics from your documentation.
>135% SMI → Standard Mass Save rebate only (up to $8,500). No HEAR, no Enhanced.

See our income-qualified heat pump pathway guide for the full mechanics of how the three tracks interact, and our Mass Save eligibility guide for the broader sponsor-utility eligibility rules that apply on top of the income tier.

Timeline expectations and homeowner cash flow

End-to-end timeline from "I want a heat pump" to "the HEAR check is in my account" typically runs 14–22 weeks. Realistic cash-flow breakdown:

Weeks 0–6: Book and complete Home Energy Assessment. No out-of-pocket.
Weeks 6–10: Eligibility determination + contractor selection. Possible $500–$1,000 design deposit at contract signing.
Weeks 10–13: Permits, equipment order, install. The installer typically asks for 30–50% on equipment delivery, balance on install completion. You pay gross install cost at this point — the HEAR rebate has not yet flowed.
Weeks 13–14: Installer files combined Mass Save + HEAR paperwork.
Weeks 16–24: Standard Mass Save funds arrive (6–10 weeks post-filing); often handled as a deduction at install rather than a check after.
Weeks 22–28: HEAR reimbursement arrives (8–12 weeks post-filing). This is the slow leg — federal verification adds time.

The cash-flow gotcha: unlike standard Mass Save (often a direct invoice deduction), HEAR is typically a reimbursement. You pay the full install cost, then the HEAR check arrives roughly 8–12 weeks later. Plan financing accordingly — the Mass Save HEAT Loan (0% APR up to $25,000) is the most common bridge.

Where to actually start the application

There is no separate federal HEAR application portal in Massachusetts. The application is the Mass Save Home Energy Assessment booking, with the income-eligible pathway flagged at the time of booking. To start:

Search "Mass Save Inflation Reduction Act" or go to masssave.com/inflation-reduction-act for the current MA HEAR program page.
Call your Mass Save sponsor utility (Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Cape Light Compact, Berkshire Gas, or Liberty Utilities) directly to book — phone booking is often faster than the online form for income-eligible flagging.
Or contact us and we will coordinate the Home Energy Assessment, HEAR documentation, and HPIN installer selection on your behalf.

Massachusetts incentives

The Mass Save rebates that HEAR stacks with

See the full Mass Save rebates hub

Verified 2026-05-27

Most homes

Whole-Home Heat Pump Rebate

$2,650 /ton

Capped at $8,500 per home

The installed heat pump must be the sole source of heating and cooling for the spaces served. Equipment must be ENERGY STAR Cold Climate certified and listed on the Mass Save Heat Pump Qualified Products List (HPQPL). A Manual J load calculation is needed to qualify for the sizing bonus and is industry-standard practice on Mass Save projects.

Partial-Home / Supplemental Heat Pump Rebate

$1,125 /ton

Capped at $8,500 per home

Heat pump installed alongside an existing primary heating system. Equipment must be on the HPQPL. Lower per-ton rebate reflects supplemental rather than sole-source use.

Basic Heat Pump Rebate

$250 /ton

Capped at $2,500 per home

New for 2026. Applies to replacing an existing heat pump with a new qualified HPQPL-listed heat pump, or conditioning a previously unconditioned space.

Financing

Mass Save HEAT Loan

0% APR up to $25,000

Below 135% of State Median Income: 7 years (84 months)
135%–300% of State Median Income: 5 years (60 months)
Over 300% of State Median Income: 3 years (36 months)

Subject to bank underwriting through participating Massachusetts lenders. Covers equipment + installation costs for qualifying high-efficiency upgrades (heat pumps, ductless mini-splits, insulation, water heaters). Households below approximately 81% SMI typically route to Mass Save's no-cost / enhanced-rebate programs rather than the HEAT Loan.

No federal heat pump tax credit applies in 2026.

Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (heat pump portion) (30% of cost up to $2,000 annually for qualifying heat pump installations (inflation reduction act expansion)) ended for property placed in service after 2025-12-31 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21).
Section 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit (geothermal portion) (30% of installed cost for ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps, with no dollar cap) ended for property placed in service after 2025-12-31 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21).

Status as of 2026-05-27: neither 25C nor 25D has been reinstated or replaced by Congress. Pending bills (e.g. H.R. 616) have not advanced. Pre-2026 §25D installs may carry forward unused credits.

Rebate amounts and eligibility verified 2026-05-27 against primary program documentation. We re-check before any publish.

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HEAR application FAQ for Massachusetts homeowners

Can I get both the Mass Save heat pump rebate AND HEAR?: Yes — they stack. A 60–80% AMI household typically qualifies for the Mass Save Enhanced rebate (up to $16,000 for air-source whole-home) plus the HEAR rebate (up to $8,000). The combined total can exceed the gross install cost on smaller projects; in that case the total payout is capped at the actual cost of the install — you cannot receive rebate money in excess of what you paid.
What income documents does HEAR require?: The two most recent pay stubs for every working adult in the household OR the most recent federal tax return (Form 1040), a household composition declaration listing every resident, a government-issued photo ID for the primary applicant, and a recent utility bill at the install address. Self-employed households generally need a Schedule C plus two years of tax returns. Exact document requirements can vary slightly by sponsor utility; the Mass Save income-eligible intake confirms what they need before the assessment.
How long does the HEAR application take in Massachusetts?: Plan 14–22 weeks end-to-end. Roughly: 4–6 weeks waiting for the Home Energy Assessment appointment, 2–4 weeks for the eligibility determination, 2–4 weeks for contractor selection and permitting, 1–10 days for the install itself, and 8–12 weeks for HEAR funds to arrive after the installer files paperwork. The longest single segment is typically the post-install HEAR processing window — slower than standard Mass Save.
Is HEAR a check or a deduction on my install invoice?: HEAR is typically a reimbursement check (or ACH deposit) sent after install completion and paperwork processing, NOT a deduction from the install invoice. This is the opposite of standard Mass Save, which is more commonly paid as a direct deduction by the installer. Plan to pay the gross install cost up front and receive the $8,000 HEAR check approximately 8–12 weeks later. Some installers offer bridge financing to cover the gap.
Can I apply for HEAR retroactively after my install?: No — retroactive HEAR applications are not accepted. The Home Energy Assessment must occur BEFORE the install, the income eligibility determination must be in hand BEFORE the install contract is signed, and the installer must be HPIN-enrolled at the time of install. This is the single most common reason for HEAR rejection. Mass Save standard rebates have the same restriction.
What happens if I move during the HEAR processing window?: HEAR is tied to both the household income at time of application AND the property address where the equipment was installed. If you sell or move out during the 8–12 week processing window, the rebate is generally still paid (the install is complete and the eligibility was valid at time of filing), but mail forwarding can complicate check delivery. Provide an updated mailing address to the installer and to MassCEC as soon as you know it; ACH deposit avoids the mail problem entirely.

Related guides

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