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Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
HEAP is a federally funded program that issues heating benefits to supplement a household’s annual energy cost. HEAP also offers an emergency benefit for households in a heat or heat related energy emergency. Additionally, HEAP offers a furnace repair and/or replacement benefit for households with inoperable heating equipment.
HEAP may help you pay for: Electricity, Propane, Natural Gas, Wood, Oil, Kerosene, Coal, or any other heating fuel.
- Important Changes to the 2008-09 Program
- Regular benefit increases, additional Emergency Benefit available, Income Guidelines updated
- HEAP Program Dates and Application
- 2008-2009 Regular Benefit, Emergency Benefit, and Furnace Repair and Replacement Benefit application and program dates.
- HEAP Regular Benefit
- The Regular Benefit of HEAP is available to assist low-income New Yorkers with an annual supplement for the cost of heating their homes.
- HEAP Emergency Benefit (Second Emergency Benefit available)
- The Emergency Benefit of HEAP is available to low-income New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have the available resources to meet their need.
- HEAP Furnace Repair or Replacement
- The Furnace Repair and Replacement Component of HEAP is available to help low-income home owners repair or replace furnaces, boilers, and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional.
- HEAP Income Guidelines
- 2008-2009 HEAP Gross Monthly Income Guidelines
- How do I apply for HEAP?
- Low-income New Yorkers may apply for HEAP, by mail, in person at your local social services office, over the phone, or over the internet.
Important Changes to the 2008-09 HEAP Program
$100 Regular Benefit Increase for Households Paying Directly for Heat
The regular benefit for households paying directly for heat has increased by $100. If you apply on or after December 22, 2008 and are eligible, you will receive the higher amount. If your application was processed before December 22, you will receive a $100 supplement, which will be sent to your vendor. These supplemental payments are scheduled to be issued during January 2009.
HEAP Emergency Income Guidelines have Increased
The income guidelines for the HEAP Emergency component will increase on January 1, 2009. The income guidelines will be increased from 60% to 75% of the state median income or 150% of the federal poverty guideline, whichever is greater. View the new income guidelines.
The Second HEAP Emergency Benefit
A second HEAP emergency benefit is available for eligible low-income households to assist in meeting their emergency heat or heat-related needs. A household that has already received a regular and an emergency HEAP benefit, and have exhausted those benefits, may be eligible for an additional HEAP emergency benefit. The criteria for eligibility remain the same as the first HEAP Emergency Benefit. Applicants must be in an energy emergency situation, which is defined as having less than a quarter tank of fuel, less than a 10 day supply of wood, coal, pellets or having heat-related utility service terminated or scheduled for termination. In addition, applicants must have available resources less than the benefit amount.
Households may apply by either telephoning their local social services office or by applying in-person.
HEAP Regular Benefit
The regular benefit of HEAP is available to assist low-income New Yorkers with an annual supplement for the cost of heating their homes.
Regular HEAP benefits are based on income, the percentage of the income spent on heating energy costs, the primary fuel source and your housing situation.
You may be eligible for a Regular Benefit if:
- You are a United States Citizen or qualified alien AND
- Your income is at or below the current income guides for your household size as posted in the table below OR
- You receive Food Stamps OR
- You receive Temporary Assistance OR
- You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI living Alone)
Regular HEAP Benefit Amount
| Benefit Amount | Living Situation |
|---|---|
| $1 | Eligible households that live in government subsidized housing or a group home setting with heat included in their rent. |
| $40 or $50 | Eligible households responsible for their shelter costs but do not pay directly for heat. |
| $230 - $685 | Eligible households that pay directly for heat and heat with any fuel type except oil, kerosene or propane. Benefit amounts are based on income, the percent of income spent on energy, and the presence of a vulnerable household member. An additional $100 is then added to the calculated benefit amount. |
| $900 | Eligible households that pay directly for heat and heat with oil, kerosene or propane. |
HEAP Emergency Benefit
The emergency benefit of HEAP is available to low-income New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have the available resources to meet their need.
Emergency HEAP benefits are based on income, available resources, the number of household members and the primary fuel type.
You may be eligible for an Emergency Benefit if:
- Your electricity is necessary for your heating system to work and is either shut-off or scheduled to be shut off or
- Your natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or
- If you are out of or in danger of running out of fuel (oil, propane, wood, or coal) or
- If your essential applicant owned heating equipment is inoperable
And
- Your income is at or below the current income guidelines as posted in the table below or you receive Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Food Stamps or Code A Supplemental Security Income.
- The heating and/or electric bill is in your name and
- Your available resources are less than the applicable emergency benefit amount.
Effective January 1, 2009 there is a second HEAP emergency benefit available for eligible low-income households to assist in meeting their emergency heat or heat-related needs.
Emergency HEAP Benefit Amounts
| Category | Household Size | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 or less | 4 or more | |
| PSC Heat Related Domestic (electric service required to operate heating equipment) | $135 | $160 |
| Natural Gas — Heat Only | $300 | $350 |
| Natural gas heat and electric to operate heating equipment | $435 | $510 |
| PSC/Village of Greenport Electric Heat | $440 | $560 |
| Municipal Electric – Heat Related Domestic | $65 | $80 |
| Municipal Electric heat – Primary Heating Source | $135 | $160 |
| Non-utility heating fuel (oil, kerosene, propane, wood) | $800 | $800 |
Furnace Repair or Replacement
The Furnace Repair and Replacement Component of the Home Energy Assistance Program is available to help low-income home owners repair or replace furnaces, boilers and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional.
Furnace benefits amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to replace or repair the applicants’ furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment necessary to keep the home's primary heating source operational.
Applications must be made in person.
2008-2009 Regular HEAP Benefit Gross Monthly Income Guidelines
Your total gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following
Effective 10/01/08-9/30/09
| Household Size | Income Limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,963 |
| 2 | $2,567 |
| 3 | $3,172 |
| 4 | $3,776 |
| 5 | $4,380 |
| 6 | $4,984 |
| 7 | $5,097 |
| 8 | $5,210 |
| 9 | $5,324 |
| 10 | $5,437 |
| 11 | $5,800 |
| 12 | $6,250 |
| 13 | $6,700 |
| 14 | $7,150 |
| 15 | $7,600 |
| Each Additional Person: Add $450 | |
2008-2009 Emergency HEAP Benefit Gross Monthly Income Guidelines
Effective 10/01/08-12/31/08
| Household Size | Income Limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,963 |
| 2 | $2,567 |
| 3 | $3,172 |
| 4 | $3,776 |
| 5 | $4,380 |
| 6 | $4,984 |
| 7 | $5,097 |
| 8 | $5,210 |
| 9 | $5,324 |
| 10 | $5,437 |
| 11 | $5,800 |
| 12 | $6,250 |
| 13 | $6,700 |
| 14 | $7,150 |
| 15 | $7,600 |
| Each Additional Person: Add $450 | |
Effective 01/01/09-09/30/09
| Household Size | Income Limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,454 |
| 2 | $3,209 |
| 3 | $3,964 |
| 4 | $4,720 |
| 5 | $5,475 |
| 6 | $6,230 |
| 7 | $6,371 |
| 8 | $6,513 |
| 9 | $6,655 |
| 10 | $6,796 |
| 11 | $6,938 |
| 12 | $7,079 |
| 13 | $7,221 |
| 14 | $7,363 |
| 15 | $7,600 |
| Each Additional Person: Add $450 | |
To be eligible for HEAP emergency benefits, the household’s gross monthly income must not exceed the above amounts and the household’s available resources must not exceed the amount of the HEAP emergency benefit. In addition, the household must be in an energy emergency situation, which is defined as having less than a quarter tank of fuel, less than a 10 day supply of wood, coal, pellets or having heat-related utility service terminated or scheduled for termination. Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your County Social Services Office or to the NYS HEAP Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.