HEAP Regular Benefit
The HEAP Regular Benefit component assists low-income New Yorkers with the cost of heating their homes. The Regular Benefit component of the 2009-10 HEAP program will open on November 2, 2009.
Regular benefit applications are being mailed to all households that received a HEAP benefit in 2008-09. These applications may be mailed back to the local social services district or alternate certifier in advance of the opening of the 2009-10 HEAP program; however, regular HEAP benefits will not be paid until on or after November 2, 2009. Regular HEAP applications for households that did not receive a HEAP benefit in 2008-09 will not be made available until November 2, 2009.
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.
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)
Regular HEAP Benefit Amounts 2009-2010
| 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 directly for heat. |
| $600 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that pay directly for heat 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 directly for heat with their main source of heat being natural gas or electric heat provided by a PSC regulated utility company |
| $200 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that pay directly for heat with their main source of heat being electric heat provided by a municipal electric company |
Regular HEAP Benefit Add-Ons
+ $50 if the household’s gross income is in the Tier 1 income range (e.g., 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)
HEAP Emergency Benefit
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. The Emergency Benefit component of the 2009-10 HEAP program will open on November 2, 2009.
Emergency HEAP applications will not be made available until November 2, 2009.
Emergency HEAP benefits are based on income, available resources, the number of household members and the primary fuel type.
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.
Emergency HEAP Benefit Amounts 2009-2010
| Category | Household Size | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 or less | 4 or more | |
| PSC Heat Related Domestic (electric service required to operate heating equipment) | $135 | $160 |
| Natural Gas — Heat Only | $300 | $350 |
| Natural gas heat and electric to operate heating equipment | $435 | $510 |
| PSC/Village of Greenport Electric Heat | $440 | $560 |
| Municipal Electric Heat Related Domestic (electric service required to operate heating equipment) | $65 | $80 |
| Municipal Electric heat – Primary Heating Source | $135 | $160 |
| Non-utility heating fuel (oil, kerosene, propane, wood, corn pellets, etc) | $600 | $600 |
Furnace Repair or Replacement
The Furnace Repair and Replacement Component of the Home Energy Assistance Program is available to help eligible low-income home owners repair or replace furnaces, boilers and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional.
Furnace benefits amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to replace or repair the applicants’ 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.
Applications for furnace repairs or replacements are available at your local department of social services office.
2009-2010 HEAP Benefit Gross Monthly Income Guidelines
Your total gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following guidelines:
Effective 10/01/09-9/30/10
| Household Size | Maximum Gross Monthly Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,030 |
| 2 | $2,654 |
| 3 | $3,279 |
| 4 | $3,903 |
| 5 | $4,528 |
| 6 | $5,152 |
| 7 | $5,269 |
| 8 | $5,386 |
| 9 | $5,503 |
| 10 | $5,620 |
| 11 | $6,029 |
| Each additional | Add $468 |
Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your local department of social services office or the NYS HEAP Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.