Apply for help with heating bills with NY HEAP

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New Yorkers who need help paying their heating bills should apply for aid through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Act fast, because HEAP benefits are only available while funding lasts, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications for the 2024-2025 HEAP benefit opened on November 1. The program pays for the winter utilities of low-income households, no matter the fuel source—electric, natural gas, oil, propane, wood, or coal. Households must make below a certain amount each month to qualify:

Eligibility also depends on:

• Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance, or Supplemental Security Income
• Being a U.S. citizen or an otherwise eligible non-citizen
• Paying for heat directly or having it included in your rent

New York's Public Service Commission said to expect slightly lower electric bills this winter, with the average 600 kWh per month invoice costing around $58, a 2% decrease from last year. But they also projected gas bills to go up by 11%, with the average residential customer using 700 therms per month, costing about $202.

One therm of natural gas equals about 29.3 kWh of electricity. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, about 58.6% of residences in New York rely on utility gas, and another 16.2% use electric.

Households can get one regular HEAP benefit per season, but the state offers up to two emergency benefits if you’re about to run out of fuel or get your utilities shut off. Emergency assistance applications open on January 2. The eligibility requirements above still apply, and the amounts vary based on the emergency:

You'd qualify for emergency benefits if your household’s available resources are under $2,500, or under $3,750 if any member of the household is over 60 or under 6.

To apply, you'll need:

• Proof of residency, like a lease, utility bill, or mortgage receipt
• Recent pay stubs for all household members
• Identification for everyone in your household, like a driver’s license or birth certificate

Applications can be submitted:

• Online at myBenefits.ny.gov or access.nyc.gov if you live in New York City
• In person at a HEAP Local District Contact
• By mail to your local district office or, if you live in New York City, to: HRA/HEAP, Box 1401, Church Street Station, 10008

Eligible homeowners can also get the HEAP Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement (HERR) benefit, offering up to $4,000 for repairs or $8,000 for replacements of unsafe or broken systems. There's also The HEAP Heating Equipment Clean and Tune benefit, worth as much as $500 for homeowners needing essential maintenance or minor repairs to keep their heating systems running efficiently, like chimney cleaning. Clean and Tune applications opened on October 1.

When applications opened in November, Gov. Kathy Hochul pointed out that the income eligibility maximums for HEAP went up this year to include more households. A family of four now qualifies if they make under $6,390, up from $5,838 for winter 2023 to 2024.

“New Yorkers should not have to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table, and we’re offering critical financial assistance to protect vulnerable New York households as the weather gets colder,” a written statement from Hochul read in part. “I urge all eligible New Yorkers to apply today.”

Hochul's announcement also tallied more than 1.7 million HEAP benefits paid out last winter, totaling over $397 million statewide: