The Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as HEAP, can provide up to $976 this winter to low and middle income households and senior citizens to help defray high energy costs.

The program, overseen by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, is federally funded.
Eligible households can receive one regular benefit per season and could also be eligible for an emergency benefit if they are in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off.

Applications for emergency benefits will be accepted beginning January 3, 2023.

Eligible homeowners and renters may receive up to $976 in heating assistance, depending on their income, household size, how they heat their home, and if the household contains a vulnerable member.

A family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $5,485, or an annual gross income of $65,829, and still qualify for benefits.

The value of the Regular HEAP benefits has been increased due the higher heating costs forecast for this winter. The benefit was increased 33 percent for households that heat with oil, kerosene, or propane; 21 percent for households that heat with wood, wood pellets, coal, or corn; and 14 percent for households that heat with electricity or natural gas.

Applications for assistance are accepted at local departments of social services in person or by telephone, with funding provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Residents outside New York City can also apply online this year for regular heating assistance benefits by visiting https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/

New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen said, “Unattended, improperly vented or malfunctioning space heaters pose a major fire risk. ”

He said those who use a fireplace, wood stove, or portable kerosene heater to stay warm must be sure there is adequate ventilation to the outside. Without enough fresh air, carbon monoxide fumes can build up in your home.

Never use a natural gas or propane stove/oven to heat your home.

Follow all safety precautions when using wood stoves, space heaters, electric heaters, kerosene heaters, and pellet stoves.

Olsen said now is a good time to test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms – and to do so at least monthly. Batteries should be replaced at least once a year, and people should replace alarms that are ten years or older.

Olsen also highlighted emergency assistance and other resources that are available to help ensure the safety of older adults – and all New Yorkers – during the winter months.

Individuals facing a home-heating emergency may be eligible for assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which helps low-income people pay the cost of heating their homes. The emergency benefit opened on January 3 and is available for low-income older adults and other New Yorkers whose home heating is either shut off or scheduled to be shut off, as well as for individuals who are running out of home heating fuel or other deliverable heat sources.

Olsen added that neglect, including self-neglect, is the most prevalent form of elder abuse. It can include being deprived of enough food, water or heat. He said, “For individuals with a chronic illness or living in an unsafe environment, the consequences can be catastrophic during cold weather,”

If you are concerned about an older adult’s living situation during the winter months and are unable to assist, you can call Adult Protective Services at 1-844-697-3505.

In Chautauqua County, people concerned about the safety of an older adult at home can also contact the County Office for the Aging at 716-753-4471.

National Fuel said in a release that the prices have risen significantly following years of historic lows.

They said customers also may see an increase in gas usage this winter season as initial weather reports indicate a return-to-normal cold and snowy winter.

Across National Fuel’s Western New York service territory, approximately 90% of residents rely on natural gas to heat their homes and fuel their businesses. The estimated average residential customer’s winter heating bill for November through March will total $714.

The typical customer paid $498 last winter season when temperatures were approximately 10% warmer than normal.

National Fuel reminded customers that financial assistance is now available including the Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP.

National Fuel also offers budget plan billing which allows winter payments to be spread out over the whole year, providing stable monthly bills.

$150 million in heating utility assistance has been announced by New York State.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the funding will help low-income households that have fallen behind on their utility bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the regular arrears supplement is available to households who are eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and behind on their heating utility bills, but that do not qualify for the utility assistance offered by New York’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Federal funding will cover all accumulated heating utility arrears up to $10,000 and comes as the end of the moratorium on utility disconnections approaches in late December.

About 83,000 HEAP recipients had fallen behind on their utility bills as of March 2021, with these households owing an average arrears of about $1,370, or roughly $113 million statewide. While the Emergency Rental Assistance Program is providing utility arrears assistance for eligible renters, homeowners and those who do not owe rent arrears do not qualify for this assistance, including customers of municipally owned utilities.

The Chautauqua County Department of Social Services is accepting applications for assistance and can be reached at (716) 753-4385.

According to Jamestown BPU General Manager David Leathers, support provided through the grant possibly could pay a qualifying customer’s entire BPU utility bill.

Eligibility for the program includes: receiving no assistance from the Department of Social Services for utilities; having been current on BPU bills as of March, 2020; and having received a termination notice from the BPU.

“We understand that help from this grant program is on a first-come, first-served basis,” says Leathers. “Customers with overdue BPU bills related to the Pandemic are urged to apply for this assistance while it is available to them.”

The BPU Assistance Program resulted from a Community Development Block Grant awarded to the City’s Department of Development. Information about the program and an application for assistance are posted on the home page of the Jamestown BPU website at www.jamestownbpu.com and in hard copy in the BPU’s Customer Service Office, 92 Steele Street.

Applications also are posted on the City of Jamestown’s website at www.jamestownny.gov and in hard copy in the Department of Development at City Hall.

“We are pleased that the City successfully procured this grant money to help our residents catch up on utility bills left unpaid due to COVID-19 issues,” added Jamestown City Mayor Eddie Sundquist. “Residents are encouraged to check into this program and apply if they think they may be eligible.”

Completed applications should be submitted to the Department of Development, Jamestown City Hall, 200 East Third Street, Jamestown.

Department of Development staff will review all applications in the order in which they are received.

Questions about the program may be directed to personnel at the BPU and at the Jamestown City Department of Development. BPU Customer Service Supervisor Heather Flowers may be reached by phone at 661-1663 or by email: hflowers @ jamestownbpu.com.

Stephanie Wright of the City Department of Development may be contacted by phone at 483-7654.

The BPU chose to suspend disconnections of service in March as part of the utility’s response to COVID-19. The State of New York shortly followed by restricting utility shut-offs throughout the State. At some point in the future, the State will lift this order and utilities such as the BPU will have to resume disconnections for lack of payment.

BPU officials urge customers to take additional steps to prevent utility shut-offs such as calling the BPU Customer Service Office at 661-1660 to request payment agreements. Customers also may apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) at 753-4385; for help through the Chautauqua County Social Services Department at 661-8200; and through the Salvation Army at 664-4108 for help through the Johnson/BPU Good Neighbor Fund.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is designed to help eligible low-income households with their heating or heat-related energy costs.  The Regular HEAP program will open on Monday, November 14, 2016.  Regular HEAP heating benefits range from $350 to $575 depending upon household income and type of heating and heat included benefits range from $21 to $35.

Applications can be submitted online at www.mybenefits.ny.gov.  This is the quickest and most efficient method for submitting your application.  There is no need to come into the office as an interview will be conducted over the phone and documents can be submitted electronically or mailed in.

Applications can also be mailed to the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, 7 North Erie Street, Mayville, NY 14757 or can be submitted in person at the South County Office Building, 110 East Fourth St., Jamestown, NY or 319 Central Ave., Dunkirk, NY.

For questions or to request that an application be mailed to you, you can call (716) 753-4385.