Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federal government program that pays healing and cooling bills for low-income renters or homeowners. Although HEAP can help you with your annual energy costs, it is not meant to cover all of your payments.

It’s important that you continue to pay your energy bills as usual.
 
Through several program components, HEAP provides people with cash benefits to:
— Help pay heating and electricity bills every month 2 (HEAP Regular)
— Get a window- or portable- air conditioner (AC) – (Cooling Assistance)
— An emergency cash benefit to help pay bills when utilities are about to be turned off (HEAP Emergency)
— Cash to clean hot equipment – (Clean and Tune)
— Cash to help fix or replace hot or cold equipment – (HERR)
 

Regular HEAP

HEAP Regular is a monthly benefit with a determined cash amount to help pay your electricity bills.

 
The amount of cash benefit you will receive depends on your household’s income, the number of people in your household, and whether heat and utilities are included in your rent or paid separately. If you pay your electricity provider directly, you may receive cash or credit from them, and New York State will reimburse the provider.
 
To be eligible for the HEAP Regular program:
 
— Someone in your family is a citizen or qualified non-citizen of the United States (lawful permanent resident; refugee; asylee; battered spouse and children; victim of trafficking; or individual from certain countries), AND
— Your monthly income from all sources, like returns, discounts, and allowances before taking out any costs or taxes for your family, is at or below the current income guidelines for the size of your family, AND
— You get assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,) OR
— You are given temporary assistance (TA), OR
– Your Social Security Income (SSI) code is A, which means you receive additional funds for living alone.
 
Find the most current income guidelines at access.nyc.gov/programs/home-energy-assistance-program-heap/#determine-your-eligibility.
 
**HEAP regular applications usually begin in November**
 
To apply for financial aid, create a Human Resource Administration (HRA) account at a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra and start your application. The HEAP application form is also available at www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/heap_application.pdf. **Remember that your name must be on the electricity bill to get the benefit**
 
For instructions on how to fill out the HEAP Regular benefit application form, go to page 2 of this PDF www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/heap_application.pdf. After you send in your application, you may be called for a phone interview to determine your eligibility. Apply in person by going to an HRA Benefits Access Center or a community outreach location near you otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/contacts/default.asp?county=New%20York%20City#result.
 

Resources

• ConEdison Financial Assistance: You may qualify for a discount on your monthly energy bill if you receive benefits from the following eligible governmental assistance program. Learn more at www.coned.com/en/accounts-billing/payment-plans-assistance/help-paying-your-bill
• NYC Utility Assistance Programs and Resources: www.nyc.gov/assets/hpd/downloads/pdfs/services/nyc-utility-assistance-programs.pdf
• HEAP Regular Application Form: www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/services/energy_assistance/LDSS-3421.pdf
• Documents to Support Qualifying Requirements: www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/services/energy_assistance
• Tracking of Application Status: a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra
• Energy Saving Tips by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA): www.nyserda.ny.gov/Residents-and-Homeowners/At-Home/Energy-Saving-Tips

 
**Certain types of income, including loans, reimbursement for employment or medical expenses, foster care payments, and earned income tax credits, are not considered in determining eligibility for HEAP. Also, assets are not considered eligible for HEAP.**
 

Emergency HEAP Benefit

Emergency HEAP assists if your utilities or heat are about to be turned off or have been turned off for nonpayment. The amount of emergency HEAP depends on the size of the home and the emergency.

 
You may be eligible for an Emergency HEAP benefit if:
 
— The heating and/or electric bill is in your name, AND
— Your household’s available resources are:
—less than $2,500 OR
—less than $3,750 if any member of your household is age 60 or older or under age 6.
AND
— Your household’s total monthly income is at or below the current income guides for your household size as posted in the table below, OR
— You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, OR
— You receive Temporary Assistance (TA), OR
— You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Living Alone
 
Apply Over the phone by contacting the Human Resources Administration (HRA) at (718) 557-1399. Their working hours are Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We advise to call at 8 a.m. to get to staff. You may need your own interpreter.
 
HEAP Emergency Application Form: www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/services/energy_assistance/LDSS-3421.pdf.

Other Heating Resources

Clean and Tune Benefit

The Clean and Tune benefit is a state program that pays for cleaning your home’s primary heating equipment. It may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, and the installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats.

Benefit amounts are based on the cost of providing Clean and Tune services, up to a maximum of $500.
 
You may be eligible for the clean and tune benefit if:
 
— You are the homeowner
— Your household’s monthly income from all sources, like returns, discounts, and allowances before taking out any costs or taxes for your family is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size https://access.nyc.gov/programs/cooling-assistance-benefit/#determine-your-eligibility,
— Your primary heating equipment is more than 12 months old
— Your primary heating equipment or chimney has not been cleaned within the last 12 months
— You do not have a service contract with your vendor that includes clean and tune services
 
Apply Online
Agency: Human Resources Administration (HRA), (718) 557-1399.
Business Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call staff during business hours and get assistance in most languages.
 
Apply in Person
You can apply in person by going to an HRA Benefits Access Center or a community outreach location near you otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/contacts/default.asp?county=New%20York%20City#result.
 
For information on how to apply, call 718-557-1399.

Clean and Tune Benefit Resources

— Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Benefits Access Center Locations: www.nyc.gov/site/hra/locations/home-energy-assistance-program.page
 
— Tracking Your Application Status: a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra
 
— HEAP Benefits by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance OTDA: otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#repair-benefit

Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement (HERR) Benefit

Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) benefits help households cover the cost of repairing or replacing their principal heating equipment.

To be eligible for the benefit, you must:
— Own your home, and
— A partner vendor must document the heating system as: dysfunctional or unsafe, needing repair or replacement.
 
You must also meet the HEAP regular eligibility requirements. See above for details.
 
Heating equipment that harms family members can be replaced under specific conditions and with medical documentation. A doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner must explain why the heating system damages the household member.
 
Apply Over the Phone
Agency: Human Resources Administration (HRA), (718) 557-1399.
Business Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call staff during business hours and get assistance in most languages.
 
Apply in Person
You can apply in person by going to an HRA Benefits Access Center or a community outreach location near you otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/contacts/default.asp?county=New%20York%20City#result.
 
The benefit application form is the same for HEAP regular and is available online at www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/heap_application.pdf. Applicants require an interview that can be completed over the phone or in person. For additional help, please call the Infoline at 718-557-1399.
 
The Human Resources Administration (HRA) is required to notify applicants of their eligibility decision within 30 business days after receiving the final vendor invoice for payment. If additional paperwork is required, the process may take up to 10 additional business days.

HERR Benefit Resources

— Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Benefits Access Center Locations: www.nyc.gov/site/hra/locations/home-energy-assistance-program.page
 
— HEAP Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement Reference Tool:otda.ny.gov/policy/directives/2022/LCM/22-LCM-12-Attachment-1.pdf
 
— HEAP Regular Application Form: www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/services/energy_assistance/LDSS-3421.pdf.
 
— Documents To Support Qualifying Requirements: www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/services/energy_assistance.
 
— Tracking of Application Status: a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra
 
— HEAP Benefits by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance OTDA: otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#tune-benefit

For more information, visit access.nyc.gov
 
Updated on July 9, 2024