Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
The NYS Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that assists low-income New Yorkers in meeting their home energy needs. The HEAP program is comprised of Regular Benefit, Emergency Benefit, Furnace Repair/Replacement, and Weatherization components.
More information on the HEAP program may be found on the OTDA website at www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap or by contacting the Madison County Department of Social Services HEAP unit at (315) 366-2211.
HEAP Program Components
HEAP Regular Benefit - 2010-11 HEAP season will open November 1, 2010.
HEAP Emergency Benefit - 2010-11 HEAP season will open November 1, 2010.
HEAP Furnace Repair and Replacement - open effective October 1, 2010.
HEAP Cooling Component - closed as of August 13, 2010. Not currently available.
HEAP Regular Benefit
Dates: The Regular Benefit Component of the 2010-1011 HEAP season will open on November 1, 2010. HEAP APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 1, 2010.
OTDA will NOT be conducting the early 2010-11 HEAP application mail-out originally scheduled for October 1, 2010, to households who received a HEAP benefit in 2009-10, but do not include a vulnerable member (i.e., an individual age 60 or older, under age 6, in receipt of Code A SSI, or disabled and in receipt of SSD.) Early mail-outs are being limited to those households with one or more vulnerable individuals.
Households who received a HEAP benefit in 2009-10 and who reside in the same county as they did in 2009-10 continue to have mail-in privileges. Such households may contact Madison County Department of Social Services at 366-2211 to obtain an application or may download a 2010-11 HEAP application from OTDA's website on or after November 1, 2010, in order to apply for the 2010-11 HEAP benefit. |
Description:
Regular HEAP benefits are based on income, the primary fuel source and the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled. A household may receive one Regular HEAP Benefit per program year, paid directly to the vendor that supplies their main source of heat.
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)
Benefit Amounts:
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 their vendor directly for heat based on actual usage. |
| $600 + 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, wood, coal, pellets, corn, propane or other non-utility fuel. |
| $400 + 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. |
| $400 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that pay their vendor directly for heat based on their actual usage with their main source of heat being electric heat provided by a municipal electric company. |
Regular HEAP Benefit Add-ons:
Benefit Amount |
Living Situation |
| + $50 | If the household's gross income is in the Tier 1 income range (i.e., at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level). |
| + $50 | If the household contains a vulnerable individual (i.e., household member who is age 60 or older, under age 6 or permanently disabled). |
Income Guidelines:
Effective 10-01-10 to 09-30-11. Your total gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following:
Household Size |
Income Limit |
| 1 | $2,129 |
| 2 | $2,784 |
| 3 | $3,439 |
| 4 | $4,094 |
| 5 | $4,749 |
| 6 | $5,404 |
| 7 | $5,527 |
| 8 | $5,650 |
| 9 | $5,773 |
| 10 | $5,896 |
| 11 | $6,029 |
| Each additional person | Add $468 |
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HEAP Emergency Benefit
Dates: The Emergency Benefit Component of the 2010-2011 HEAP season will open on November 1, 2010. HEAP APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 1, 2010.
Description:
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.
Emergency HEAP benefits are based on income, available resources, the number of household members and the primary fuel type. A household may be eligible to receive one emergency heating benefit for their main source of heat and one emergency heat-related benefit for their electric if their electric is necessary to run their thermostat.
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 $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.
- Up to $3,000 in available resources are exempt for furnace replacements
Benefit Amounts:
Category |
Benefit Amount |
|
PSC heat-related domestic (electric service required to operate heating equipment)
|
$160
|
|
Natural gas — heat only
|
$400
|
|
Natural gas heat and electric to operate heating equipment
|
$560
|
|
Electric heat
|
$560
|
|
Non-utility heating fuel (oil, kerosene, propane, wood)
|
$600
|
Income Guidelines:
Effective 10-01-10 to 09-30-11
Household Size |
Income Limit |
| 1 | $2,129 |
| 2 | $2,784 |
| 3 | $3,439 |
| 4 | $4,094 |
| 5 | $4,749 |
| 6 | $5,404 |
| 7 | $5,527 |
| 8 | $5,650 |
| 9 | $5,773 |
| 10 | $5,896 |
| 11 | $6,029 |
| Each additional person | Add $468 |
To be eligible for HEAP emergency benefits, the household's gross monthly income must not exceed the above amounts. In addition, the household must be in an energy 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.
Please contact us at 315-366-2211 to apply or inquire.
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HEAP Furnace Repair and Replacement
Dates: The Furnace Repair and Replacement component of the 2010-2011 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is open effective October 1, 2010, until close of business on September 30, 2011.
Description:
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.
Benefit Amounts:
Furnace benefits amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to replace or repair the applicant’s furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment necessary to keep the home's primary heating source operational.
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
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HEAP Cooling Component
Closed as of August 13. 2010. Not available at this time.
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How to Apply
You may apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (when HEAP is open) by mail, in person at your local social services office, over the phone, or over the Internet.
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More Information
More information on the HEAP program may be found on the OTDA website.
Also see:
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
