HEAP Emergency Benefit

Dates: 1/3/2023 - 4/28/2023


Description

The HEAP Emergency Benefit component assists low-income New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat-related energy emergency and do not have resources available to resolve the emergency.

Emergency HEAP benefits are based on income, available resources, the number of household members, primary fuel type, and the type of emergency. A household may be eligible to receive one emergency heating benefit for their main source of heat and one emergency heat-related benefit for their electric if their electric is necessary to run their thermostat.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for an Emergency Benefit if:

  • Your electricity is necessary for your heating system 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, or
  • If your essential applicant-owned heating equipment is inoperable

And

  • Your income is at or below the current income guidelines as posted in the table below or you receive Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Food Stamps or Code A Supplemental Security Income.
  • The heating and/or electric bill is in your name, and
  • Your available resources are:
    • Less than $2,000 if no member of your household is age 60 or older, or
    • Less than $3,000 if any member of your household is age 60 or older
  • If you are applying for a heating equipment repair or replacement, your available liquid resources cannot be more than the cost of the repair or replacement.

Benefit Amounts

CategoryBenefit 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


Income Guidelines

Your total gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following.

Household SizeIncome Limit
1$2,852
2$3,730
3$4,608
4$5,485
5$6,363
6$7,241
7$7,405
8$7,570
9$7,734
10$7,899
11$8,064
12$8,228
13$8,778

Each additional person: Add $590

To be eligible for HEAP emergency benefits, the household's gross monthly income must not exceed the above amounts. In addition, the household must be in an energy situation, which is defined as having less than a quarter tank of fuel, less than a 10-day supply of wood, coal, pellets or having heat-related utility service terminated or scheduled for termination.