OTDA Home Programs & Services Home Energy Assistance Program
Overview
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can help eligible New Yorkers heat and cool their homes.
If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off.
Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your HEAP Local District Contact.
HEAP may be able to help you if you heat your home with:
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- Oil
- Coal
- Propane
- Wood/Wood Pellets
- Kerosene
- Corn
Regular HEAP Benefit
The 2024-2025 Regular HEAP benefit opened on November 1, 2024.
If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year to help you pay for heating your home.
Eligibility and benefits are based on:
- income,
- household size,
- the primary heating source, and
- the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled.
Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household's primary source of heat. The participating vendor list can be obtained by accessing the HEAP Participating Vendor List. Select your county of residence, the fuel type you use to heat your home, and pressing “Go”.
Your household may be eligible for a Regular benefit if:
- A member of your household is a United States Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen
- Your household's gross 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)
| Base Benefit Amount | Living Situation |
|---|---|
| $21 | Eligible households that live in government subsidized housing or a group home setting with heat included in their rent. |
| $45 or $50 | Eligible households who have heating costs included as part of their rent. |
| $900 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households whose primary heat is oil, kerosene, or propane and who make direct payments to the vendor for heating costs. |
| $635 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households whose primary heat is wood, wood pellets, coal, corn or other deliverable fuel and who make direct payments to the vendor for heating costs. |
| $400 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households whose primary heat is electricity or natural gas and who make direct payments based on their household's actual usage to the vendor. |
Regular Benefit Add-Ons for Households Paying Directly for Heat
The amount of the base Regular benefit will be increased by $61 if the household's gross income is in the Tier 1 income range.
The amount of the base Regular benefit will be increased by $35 if the household contains a vulnerable individual (household member who is age 60 or older, under age 6 or permanently disabled).
Emergency HEAP Benefit
The 2024-2025 First and Second Emergency is scheduled to open January 2, 2025
If you are eligible, the Emergency HEAP Benefit can help you heat your home if you are in a heat or heat related emergency.
Emergency HEAP benefits and eligibility are based on:
- income,
- available resources, and
- the type of emergency
You may be eligible for an Emergency HEAP benefit if:
- Your electricity is necessary for your heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut-off or scheduled to be shut off or
- Your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or
- You are out of fuel, or you have less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or have less than a ten (10) day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn, or other deliverable heat source.
and
- Your household's gross 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 and
- 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.
| Type of Emergency | Amount |
|---|---|
| Heat Related Domestic (electric service required to operate 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, and propane) | $900 |
| Non-utility heating fuel (wood, pellets, coal, corn, etc.) | $635 |
Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement Benefit
The 2024-2025 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit opened on October 1, 2024.
If you are a homeowner and eligible, the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit can help you repair or replace your furnace, boiler, and other direct heating equipment necessary to keep your home's primary heating source working.
Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to repair or replace your furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment, $4,000 for a repair and $8,000 for a replacement.
You may call your HEAP Local District Contact to apply. An eligibility interview is required for all HERR applications but may be completed with applicants in person or by telephone. Your local district contact will decide if you meet all the eligibility conditions, including the income and resource requirements. The district will provide more information on how to submit the application and required documentation.
Before work is started it must be approved and authorized by a HEAP Local District Contact. Payment is made directly to the vendor after all the work is completed. The participating Heating Equipment Repair vendor list can be obtained by accessing the HEAP Participating Vendor List. Select your county of residence, “Furnace Repair” as the fuel type, and pressing “Go”.
Clean and Tune Benefit
The 2024-2025 HEAP Clean and Tune benefit opened on October 1, 2024.
Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper, and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $500. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.
You may be eligible for a benefit if:
- You are the homeowner
- Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted on the following table
- 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
Your household eligibility requirements include filing an application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation. The participating Clean and Tune vendor list can be obtained by accessing the HEAP Participating Vendor List. Select your county of residence, “Clean and Tune” as the fuel type, and pressing “Go“.
Where to apply
You may apply for the Clean and Tune benefit with your HEAP Local District Contact.
Cooling Assistance Benefit
The 2024-2025 Cooling Assistance Benefit is schedule to open on April 15, 2025.
If you are eligible, you may receive one Cooling Assistance benefit per applicant household for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan to help your home stay cool.
In circumstances where an air conditioner cannot be safely installed, a fan will be provided.
Only one air conditioner or fan, not to exceed $800 with installation for a window, portable air conditioner, or fan and not to exceed $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit, will be provided per applicant household. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.
You may be eligible for a Cooling Assistance HEAP benefit if:
- Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted in the following table, 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), or
- You received a Regular benefit greater than $21 in the current program year or received a Regular benefit equal to $21 during the current program year and reside in government subsidized housing with heat included in your rent, and
- Your household contains at least one individual with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat, or
- Your household contains a vulnerable member based on their age (60 years or older, or under age 6) which meet all other component eligibility criteria, and
- A member of your household is a United States Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen, and
- You currently do not have a working air conditioner or the air conditioner you have is five years old or older, and
- You did not receive a HEAP funded air conditioner within the past five years.
Your household eligibility requirements include filing an application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation.
Getting the air conditioner installed
The participating Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) vendor list can be obtained by accessing the HEAP Participating Vendor List. Select your county of residence, “Cooling” as the fuel type, and pressing “Go”. It will be your responsibility to maintain the air conditioner. This includes the responsibility to remove, cover, store, and/or reinstall the unit or the installation sleeve after vendor installation.
You can apply for a HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit when it is open:
By Phone:
You may call your HEAP Local District Contact. The district will provide more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentation.
In person:
You may apply in person at your HEAP Local District Contact
Online:
New York City Residents may apply for the HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit online by visiting access.nyc.gov.
2024-2025 HEAP Monthly Income Limits
Your total household gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following guidelines:
| 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 |
Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your HEAP Local District Contact or the OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.
2024-2025 HEAP Monthly Income Limits
Your total household gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following guidelines:
| 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 |
Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your HEAP Local District Contact or the OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.