The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) in New York State offers crucial support to eligible residents to manage their heating and cooling costs. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of HEAP, ensuring you have all the information you need to understand and access these vital benefits online.
Understanding the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
New York’s HEAP program is designed to help low-income New Yorkers afford to heat and cool their homes. If you’re struggling with energy bills, HEAP can provide significant financial assistance. You may be eligible for a regular HEAP benefit each program year, and further emergency HEAP benefits if you’re facing a crisis like fuel shortage or utility shut-off.
For specific questions about your situation, you should always reach out to your local HEAP district contact. They can provide personalized guidance and support throughout the application process.
HEAP can assist households using various heating sources, including:
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- Oil
- Coal
- Propane
- Wood/Wood Pellets
- Kerosene
- Corn
Regular HEAP Benefits: Apply Online & Stay Warm
The 2024-25 Regular HEAP benefit is currently open. This benefit is designed to help with your primary heating costs during the colder months. Eligible households can receive one regular benefit per program year.
Eligibility for regular HEAP is determined by several factors:
- Income: Your household’s gross monthly income must be at or below specific income guidelines.
- Household Size: Benefit amounts and eligibility criteria are adjusted based on the number of people in your household.
- Primary Heating Source: The type of fuel you use to heat your home affects the benefit amount.
- Household Composition: Households with members who are under 6, aged 60 or older, or permanently disabled may also have specific considerations.
Regular HEAP benefits are typically paid directly to your fuel vendor if you pay for heat directly. You can find a list of participating vendors by using the HEAP Participating Vendor List online. Simply select your county, fuel type, and click “Go” to find vendors in your area.
You may be eligible for a Regular HEAP benefit if your household meets any of the following criteria:
- A household member is a U.S. Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen.
- Your gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size.
- You currently receive SNAP benefits.
- You receive Temporary Assistance (TA).
- You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone).
Here’s a breakdown of Regular HEAP Benefit Amounts for 2024-2025:
| Base Benefit Amount | Living Situation |
|---|---|
| $21 | Households in government-subsidized housing or group homes where heat is included in rent. |
| $45 or $50 | Households with heating costs included in their rent. |
| $900 + applicable add-ons | Households using oil, kerosene, or propane as primary heat and paying vendors directly. |
| $635 + applicable add-ons | Households using wood, wood pellets, coal, corn, or other deliverable fuels as primary heat and paying vendors directly. |
| $400 + applicable add-ons | Households using electricity or natural gas as primary heat and making direct payments based on usage. |
Additional Regular Benefit Add-Ons
You may also qualify for add-ons to your regular benefit:
- Tier 1 Income Add-on: An additional $61 if your household gross income falls within the Tier 1 income range.
- Vulnerable Individual Add-on: An additional $35 if your household includes a vulnerable individual (age 60+, under 6, or permanently disabled).
For detailed income limits, refer to the HEAP Monthly Income Limits section.
Emergency HEAP Benefits: Immediate Help Online When You Need It Most
The 2024-2025 Emergency HEAP benefit is also currently open. This benefit provides crucial assistance if you are facing a heating emergency. Emergency HEAP is designed to help when you are in immediate danger of losing heating or cooling.
Eligibility and benefit amounts for Emergency HEAP are based on:
- Income
- Available Resources
- Type of Emergency
You may be eligible for Emergency HEAP if:
- Your electricity is essential for your heating system and is shut-off or scheduled for shut-off.
- Your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off.
- You are out of heating fuel, or have less than a quarter tank of oil, kerosene, or propane, or less than a 10-day supply of wood, pellets, corn, etc.
And if:
- Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines.
- You receive SNAP, TA, or SSI (Code A Living Alone).
- The heating and/or electric bill is in your name.
- Your household’s available resources are less than $2,500, or less than $3,750 if a household member is 60+, or under 6.
Emergency HEAP Benefit Amounts for 2024-2025 are as follows:
| Type of Emergency | Amount |
|---|---|
| Heat Related Domestic (electric service for heating equipment) | $185 |
| Natural Gas Heat Only | $400 |
| Natural Gas Combined with Heat Related Domestic | $585 |
| Electric Heat Combined with Heat Related Domestic | $585 |
| Non-utility heating fuel (oil, kerosene, propane) | $900 |
| Non-utility heating fuel (wood, pellets, coal, corn, etc.) | $635 |
For income limits, see the HEAP Monthly Income Limits section.
Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement Benefits: Secure Your Home Heating Online
The 2024-2025 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit is open. If you are a homeowner, this HEAP benefit can assist with repairing or replacing essential heating equipment like furnaces and boilers. Maintaining functional heating is critical, and HEAP can help alleviate the financial burden of repairs or replacements.
Benefits are based on the actual cost of repair or replacement, up to $4,000 for repairs and $8,000 for replacements.
To apply, contact your local HEAP district contact. An eligibility interview is required, which can be done in person or by phone. Approval and authorization are needed before any work begins, and payments are made directly to the vendor after completion. You can find participating vendors online using the HEAP Participating Vendor List, selecting “Furnace Repair” as the fuel type.
View HEAP Monthly Income Limits.
Clean and Tune Benefits: Enhance Efficiency and Safety Online
The 2024-2025 HEAP Clean and Tune benefit is open. This benefit focuses on energy efficiency services, including cleaning your primary heating equipment. It can also cover chimney cleaning, minor repairs, and the installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats to ensure safe and efficient heating operation.
Benefit amounts cover the actual cost of services, up to $500. No additional cash benefits are provided.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Homeownership
- Household gross monthly income at or below guidelines.
- Primary heating equipment older than 12 months.
- No cleaning of heating equipment or chimney within the last 12 months.
- No existing service contract covering clean and tune services.
Apply for the Clean and Tune benefit through your local HEAP district contact. Find participating vendors online via the HEAP Participating Vendor List, selecting “Clean and Tune” as the fuel type.
View HEAP Monthly Income Limits.
Cooling Assistance Benefits: Stay Cool Online During Summer
The 2024-2025 Cooling Assistance Benefit is scheduled to open on April 15, 2025. This benefit helps eligible households purchase and install air conditioners or fans to stay cool during hot weather.
If an AC cannot be safely installed, a fan will be provided. The benefit covers one AC or fan per household, up to $800 with installation for window/portable units, or $1,000 for existing wall sleeve units. No additional cash benefits are available.
You may be eligible for Cooling Assistance if:
- Your household income is at or below guidelines, or you receive SNAP, TA, or SSI.
- You received a Regular HEAP benefit greater than $21 this program year (or $21 if in subsidized housing with heat included).
- Your household includes someone with a heat-exacerbated medical condition or a vulnerable member (60+ or under 6).
- A household member is a U.S. Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen.
- You don’t have a working AC, or your current AC is 5+ years old.
- You haven’t received a HEAP-funded AC in the past 5 years.
Apply through your local department of social services and find participating HVAC vendors online via the HEAP Participating Vendor List, selecting “Cooling” as the fuel type.
Applying for Cooling Assistance:
- By Phone: Contact your local HEAP District Contact.
- In Person: Apply at your local HEAP District Contact office.
- Online (NYC Residents): Apply online through access.nyc.gov.
2024-2025 HEAP Monthly Income Limits: Check Your Eligibility Online
To determine your eligibility, review the 2024-2025 HEAP Benefit Gross Monthly Income Guidelines below. Your total household gross monthly income must be at or below these limits based on your household size.
| Household Size | Maximum Gross Monthly Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,322 |
| 2 | $4,345 |
| 3 | $5,367 |
| 4 | $6,390 |
| 5 | $7,412 |
| 6 | $8,434 |
| 7 | $8,626 |
| 8 | $8,818 |
| 9 | $9,010 |
| 10 | $9,201 |
| 11 | $9,393 |
| 12 | $9,585 |
| 13 | $9,952 |
| Each additional | Add $672 |
For any questions about HEAP, contact your HEAP Local District Contact or the OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.
2024-2025 HEAP Monthly Income Limits (Display Version)
For easier readability on some devices, here is the income limits table again:
| Household Size | Maximum Gross Monthly Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,322 |
| 2 | $4,345 |
| 3 | $5,367 |
| 4 | $6,390 |
| 5 | $7,412 |
| 6 | $8,434 |
| 7 | $8,626 |
| 8 | $8,818 |
| 9 | $9,010 |
| 10 | $9,201 |
| 11 | $9,393 |
| 12 | $9,585 |
| 13 | $9,952 |
| Each additional | Add $672 |
For further assistance, please contact your HEAP Local District Contact or the OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.
