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HEAP Programs
HEAP Regular Benefit
The HEAP regular benefit component assists low-income New Yorkers with the cost of heating their homes. The regular benefit component of the 2011-12 HEAP program opened November 16, 2011 and will close Friday, April 13, 2012.
Regular HEAP eligibility and benefits are based on income, the primary heating source and the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled. An eligible household may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year. Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household's primary source of heat.
Your household may be eligible for a regular HEAP benefit if:
- You and your household members are United State Citizens or qualified aliens and
- Your household's gross monthly 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)
| Benefit Amount | Living Situation |
|---|---|
| $1 | Eligible households that live in government subsidized housing or a group home setting with heat included in their rent. |
| $20 or $25 | Eligible households responsible for their shelter costs but who do not pay their vendor directly for heat based on their actual usage. |
| $450 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that pay their vendor directly for heat based on their actual usage with their main source of heat being: oil, kerosene, and propane as their non-utility fuel. |
| $250 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that pay their vendor directly for heat based on their actual usage with their main source of heat being: wood, pellets, coal, or corn as their non-utility fuel. |
| $250 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that pay their vendor directly for heat based on their actual usage with their main source of heat being natural gas or electric heat provided by a PSC regulated utility company or by a municipal electric company. |
Regular HEAP Benefit Add-Ons for households paying directly for heat
The regular benefit will be increased by $25 if the household's gross income is in the Tier 1 income range (e.g., at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level)
The regular benefit will be increased by $25 if the household contains a vulnerable individual (i.e., household member who is age 60 or older, under age 6 or permanently disabled)
HEAP Emergency Benefit
The HEAP emergency benefit component assists low-income New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have resources available to resolve the emergency. The emergency benefit component of the 2011-12 HEAP program opened November 16, 2011 and will close Friday, April 13, 2012.
Emergency HEAP eligibility and benefits are based on income, available resources, and the type of emergency.
You may be eligible for an emergency HEAP benefit if:
- Your electricity is necessary for your heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut-off or scheduled to be shut off or
- Your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or
- You are out of fuel, or you have less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or have less than a ten (10) day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn, or other deliverable heat source.
- 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 household's available resources are:
- less than $2,000 if no member of your household is age 60 or older; or
- less than $3,000 if any member of your household is age 60 or older.
- If you are applying for a heating equipment repair or replacement, your available liquid resources cannot be more than the cost of the repair or replacement.
| Type of Emergency | Amount |
|---|---|
| Heat Related Domestic (electric service required to operate heating equipment) | $160 |
| Natural Gas Heat Only | $400 |
| Natural Gas Combined with Heat Related Domestic | $560 |
| Electric Heat | $560 |
| Non-utility heating fuel (oil, kerosene, and propane) | $600 |
| Non-utility heating fuel (wood, pellets, coal, corn, etc.) | $350 |
Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement
The Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement Component of the Home Energy Assistance Program will close Friday, April 13, 2012.
The Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement Component of the Home Energy Assistance Program is available to help eligible low-income home owners repair or replace furnaces, boilers and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional.
Benefit 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 up to $6000.
To receive a benefit, an application must be made in person at the local department of social services and the applicant must receive a determination from the local department of social services that the applicant has met all established eligibility criteria, including established income and resource requirements. Benefits are paid directly to vendors after completion of all work for previously approved applications only.
Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your local department of social services office or the NYS HEAP Hotline at 1-800-342-3009. Want to see if you may be eligible? Complete a HEAP pre-screening on www.mybenefits.ny.gov
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