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/

The final vote on the measure was 53-4 vote and marked the third straight year the measure has passed in the Republican-led Senate, but it has gone nowhere in the Democrat-dominated State Assembly.

However, Gov. Andrew Cuomo this year is proposing a similar measure in his budget plan. Under that approach, the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance would impose the tougher regulations on EBTs administratively.

It remained unclear, though whether the Senate’s passage of the bill or Cuomo’s budget proposal would suffice to keep the federal money flowing, or whether the Assembly would have to pass a bill as well.