Of the $90 million in federal funding available to low- and middle-income New Yorkers struggling to pay their home heating bills, $65 million is left for those at risk of having their heat disconnected or exhausted amid fuel increases this winter, Governor Kathy Hochul announced last week.
Administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the Home Energy Assistance Program is now accepting second emergency benefit applications for those New Yorkers who have used up their regular and first emergency benefits, and are facing a heating emergency.
“Energy prices remain at sky-high levels, putting a tremendous burden on struggling New Yorkers trying to pay their energy bills during these cold winter months,” Hochul said in a statement. “With just a few more weeks of winter left, this second round of emergency assistance will provide critical relief for low- and middle-income households, helping New Yorkers in need when the temperatures dip to frigid levels.”
Income-qualifying households that have used up their regular HEAP benefit, as well as the first emergency benefit, can now apply for a second round of assistance, provided they are facing either a heating utility shutoff, or an electric utility service disconnection that will impact their primary heating equipment. Households that have less than one quarter tank of oil, kerosene, or propane, have exhausted their heating fuel supply, or have less than a 10-day supply of other heating fuels also qualify for the benefit.
“This $65 million in federal emergency home heating aid will ensure that New York families and seniors struggling to pay the bills during the pandemic aren’t left out in the cold,” U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said in a statement. “I am proud to have turned up the heat on the feds to get them to deliver this emergency assistance to keep seniors and families safe and warm in their homes.”
To qualify, applicants must meet HEAP eligibility criteria and income guidelines, which vary by household size. For instance, a family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $5,249, or an annual gross income of $62,983.
This winter season, demand for heating assistance through HEAP has “been high so far,” according to a press release. More than 1.4 million regular benefits, totaling $212 million, have been issued since the program opened in October, with an additional 28,000 emergency benefits totaling $25 million provided since January 3, which is when emergency applications opened.
“With the ongoing demand for HEAP, there’s no question that a greater number of New Yorkers are struggling to heat their homes this winter,” Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said in a statement. “We encourage all eligible New Yorkers to tap this important program in order to keep their homes adequately heated until the winter weather abates.”
Last fall, the New York Public Service Commission projected increases in supply prices this winter, with the cost of natural gas — used both to heat homes and generate electricity — rising sharply and sometimes more than doubling the cost of the supply component of customer electric or natural gas bills.
In response to the anticipated spike in energy prices, the emergency benefit amount per household was increased by at least 32 percent, and upward of 42 percent, depending on the type of heating fuel used for each home. The period to apply for both the regular and emergency benefit was also extended to April 29.
“As energy costs continue to rise, too many New Yorkers are unable to pay their heating and energy bills,” U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement. “We must do more to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, and sufficient heat.”
Applications for assistance are accepted at local social services departments in person or by telephone, with funding provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For a list of local offices by county, visit otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/contacts.
Staff Writer on Mar 1, 2022