How does Cooling Assistance Benefit work?

Applications for 2025 HEAP Summer Cooling Assistance are now closed. Don’t have air conditioning? Cool down at a friend’s place, mall, museum, coffee shop, library, or an NYC cooling center . When it’s not scorching out, you can also cool off at parks, areas with shade, sprinklers, or pools. Cooling centers can also be found by calling 311 (VRS: 212-639-9675 or TTY: 212-504-4115). Cooling Assistance benefits are provided on a first come, first served basis to eligible applicants. The benefit is worth: up to $800 for a window, portable air conditioner, or fan up to $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit The benefit covers: the cost of the air conditioner or fan administrative costs labor program support materials removal of your old unit minor repairs that are needed to safely install the new unit Only one air conditioner or fan will be provided per applicant household. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

Am I eligible for Cooling Assistance Benefit?

You must meet all of the following five conditions to be eligible for Cooling Assistance: Your household’s monthly income is at or below the guidelines for your household size (see table below) OR you receive: SNAP benefits (food stamps) OR Temporary Assistance (TA) OR Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone) OR A HEAP Regular benefit for this program year over $21, or if you live in government subsidized housing (like NYCHA or Section 8) with heat included in your rent, equal to $21 Your household has: Someone with a documented medical condition that is made worse by extreme heat (verified in writing by a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner) OR Someone age 60 or older OR A child under age 6 You or someone in your household is a U.S. Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen You currently do not have a working air conditioner or the one you have is at least five years old You have not received a HEAP-funded air conditioner in the last five years Household Size Maximum Monthly Gross Income for 2024-2025 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 person +$672

How do I Apply to Cooling Assistance Benefit?

Applications for 2025 HEAP Summer Cooling Assistance are now closed. Summer 2026 applications will open next spring. Apply for the Cooling Assistance program through HEAP on ACCESS HRA . Scan your documents using the ACCESS HRA mobile app available for free on the App Store (for iPhones) or the Google Play Store (for Android phones). You can check the status of your application by going to ACCESS HRA . Applications for 2025 HEAP Summer Cooling Assistance are now closed. Summer 2026 applications will open next spring. Call 718-557-1399 and HEAP will provide you with more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentation.

Cooling Assistance Benefit

How it works

The Cooling Assistance benefit helps eligible households buy and install an air conditioner or fan to help their home stay cool.

Applications for 2025 HEAP Summer Cooling Assistance are now closed.

Don’t have air conditioning? Cool down at a friend’s place, mall, museum, coffee shop, library, or an NYC cooling center. When it’s not scorching out, you can also cool off at parks, areas with shade, sprinklers, or pools. Cooling centers can also be found by calling 311 (VRS: 212-639-9675 or TTY: 212-504-4115).

Cooling Assistance benefits are provided on a first come, first served basis to eligible applicants.
The benefit is worth:
- up to $800 for a window, portable air conditioner, or fan
- up to $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit
The benefit covers:
- the cost of the air conditioner or fan
- administrative costs
- labor
- program support
- materials
- removal of your old unit
- minor repairs that are needed to safely install the new unit
Only one air conditioner or fan will be provided per applicant household. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

Eligibility requirements

You must meet all of the following five conditions to be eligible for Cooling Assistance:

Your household’s monthly income is at or below the guidelines for your household size (see table below) OR you receive:
- SNAP benefits (food stamps) OR
- Temporary Assistance (TA) OR
- Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone) OR
- A HEAP Regular benefit for this program year over $21, or if you live in government subsidized housing (like NYCHA or Section 8) with heat included in your rent, equal to $21
Your household has:
- Someone with a documented medical condition that is made worse by extreme heat (verified in writing by a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner) OR
- Someone age 60 or older OR
- A child under age 6
You or someone in your household is a U.S. Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen
You currently do not have a working air conditioner or the one you have is at least five years old
You have not received a HEAP-funded air conditioner in the last five years

Household Size	Maximum Monthly Gross Income for 2024-2025
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 person	+$672

Required documents

This page can help you choose the right documents for your application.

How to apply

Applications for 2025 HEAP Summer Cooling Assistance are now closed. Summer 2026 applications will open next spring.

Apply for the Cooling Assistance program through HEAP on ACCESS HRA.
Scan your documents using the ACCESS HRA mobile app available for free on the App Store (for iPhones) or the Google Play Store (for Android phones).
You can check the status of your application by going to ACCESS HRA.

Apply online

Applications for 2025 HEAP Summer Cooling Assistance are now closed. Summer 2026 applications will open next spring.

Call 718-557-1399 and HEAP will provide you with more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentation.

Get help

Visit the NYS OTDA website to learn more about the Cooling Assistance benefit.

Call 718-557-1399 if you have questions about the benefit.

Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.

Last Updated June 25, 2025

Get help now

Financial help to cover the cost and installation of an air conditioner or fan