NEWYORK: Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will open on November 2, providing financial assistance to help New Yorkers pay their heating bills amid rising utility and heating fuel costs driven by President Trump’s War in Iran and federal economic policies.
In response to rising fuel costs, Governor Hochul also directed State officials to increase the HEAP benefit amount for New Yorkers who have their heating fuel delivered to their home. More than 1.5 million HEAP benefits were issued last heating season, and a similar number are expected to be issued this winter.
“While Trump and Washington Republicans keep driving up fuel and utility costs, I’m staying focused on helping New Yorkers keep more money in their pockets,” Governor Hochul said.
“As the weather gets colder, my administration is ensuring New Yorkers can utilize the Home Energy Assistance Program to help heat their homes and address rising costs.”
Most households receiving HEAP get it automatically without needing to apply or take any additional action due to their enrollment in other assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Public Assistance (PA).
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) prepares these automatic payments ahead of time so that, once the program opens, the payments can be promptly and automatically issued to more than 1.1 million low- and middle-income households and older adults to help keep their homes warm this winter in the face of skyrocketing energy costs.
Households that do not automatically receive assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can begin applying on November 2. State officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of additional households are expected to apply for HEAP benefits.
The benefit amounts vary based on income, household size, heating source, and if the household includes a vulnerable member. A family of four can have a gross monthly income up to $6,852, or an annual gross income of up to $82,230, and still qualify for assistance.
In New York and nationally, heating fuel prices have been on the rise as President Trump’s war in Iran drags on, with heating oil prices up 67 percent and kerosene up 50 percent compared to last year. As winter approaches, many older adults, working families, and others are left struggling to make tough budget choices.
