Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program designed to help low-income households meet the high cost of home energy. Both those who pay separately for heating costs and households whose heat is included in their rent may be eligible for a one time regular benefit. Additionally, households with a heating emergency may also be eligible for an emergency benefit and and/or a Heating Equipment Repair/Replacement (HERR) benefit. The HEAP year generally begins in mid-November and closes in mid-March or when the program funding is exhausted. There is also a Clean and Tune benefit, which provide energy efficiency services to eligible households prior to the start of the heating season. Such Services may include the cleaning of primary heating equipment, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detector, etc. A cooling component that assists medically needy households with the purchase of air conditioners may also be available during the warmer months. Most benefits are paid directly to the heating/utility vendor. The income guidelines and benefits amounts are subject to change on a yearly basis.

COVID-19 Utility Shut off Guidelines

New York State Public Service Law provides temporary protections for essential utility and municipal services during the COVID-19 pandemic.  If you experienced a change of financial circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, utilities and municipalities may not shut off your service for nonpayment, must reconnect your service within 48 hours, and must offer you a deferred payment agreement to pay any balance due.

The New York State Department of Public Service has issued a Fact Sheet for Utility Consumers. The Fact Sheet may be accessed at this link.

How to Apply for HEAP

Applications for Regular HEAP may be submitted online at myBenefits during the HEAP season.

Applicants age 60 and over as well as those who are permanently disabled may apply for regular HEAP by mail to: 

Nassau County Office for the Aging
60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.
Uniondale, NY 11553
Phone 516-227-7386

All others (including applicants age 60 and over or permanently disabled, with an emergency) may apply in person or by mail to:

EAC Inc.
175 Fulton Avenue
4th Floor
Hempstead, New York 11550
Phone 516-565-4327

Households currently receiving SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) or Temporary Assistance (cash benefits) should contact their worker at the Nassau County Department of Social Services.

You may be required to submit verification of your identity, residence, household income, household composition, and your heating situation. Additional information may be required. While there is no resource test for regular HEAP, all households must have gross monthly income at or below HEAP income guidelines.

Income Guidelines

Access the income eligibility guidelines and a printable HEAP application. They are generally available when the season is open.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Benefits

Households who pay for heating fuel may receive a fuel benefit based on fuel type, income, and vulnerability. Vulnerable individuals are defined as children under the age of 6, adults aged 60 or older, or disabled individuals.

Eligible renters, whose heat is included in their rent, may receive a small renter benefit.

Benefits under the Emergency HEAP component can help prevent utility shut-offs, provide emergency fuel deliveries, and repair or replace essential, applicant-owned heating equipment. Generally, a household must utilize all liquid resources to be eligible for emergency HEAP. For heating equipment repair/replacement a household's available liquid resources must be less than the cost of the repair or replacement. Heating equipment replacement is limited to one time in a 10-year period.

Further information, including benefit amounts, is available through the New York State OTDA HEAP website.

Beat the heat with HEAP!

If the heat affects your health you may be eligible for HEAP cooling assistance.

You can read about this program here: Beat the heat with HEAP flyer.

Learn more about the HEAP Cooling Benefit at: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#cooling-assistance

Related Links:

Nassau County Office for the Aging
EAC Inc.
New York State OTDA HEAP