Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

1. How it Works

HEAP helps eligible households meet their home energy needs in the winter season. The money can pay for fuel, your utility source, equipment and/or repairs. The City pays the costs either directly to the company (heating benefit and/or utility benefit) or to the household (utility benefit only).

Update: ALL HEAP offices are temporary closed and all in person HEAP interviews will be temporarily suspended until further notice. Required interviews for any HEAP benefit component may be completed with applicants by telephone 212-331-3126.

The application period for the regular and emergency HEAP benefit is extended through August 31, 2020 or until the funds allocated to these components are exhausted, whichever occurs first.
You may still be able to receive benefits even if your utilities are included in your rent
Emergency benefits are available if your heat has been turned off or is in danger of being turned off
Requires proof of address, social security number, income, and your utility bills (if you pay utilities)

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2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

To be eligible, you should be able to answer yes to these questions:

Do you have a child under six years old, an adult over 60 years old, or anyone with a permanent disability living with you?
Are you and the people you live with US citizens or legal immigrants?
Do you meet one of the following income guidelines?
- You receive SNAP benefits, Temporary Assistance, or Code A Supplemental Security Income.
- Your family is at or under the income guidelines.

Family Size	Income in a year	Income in a month	Income in a week
1	$29,928	$2,494	$576
2	$39,144	$3,262	$753
3	$48,360	$4,030	$930
4	$57,564	$4,797	$1,107
5	$66,780	$5,565	$1,284
6	$75,984	$6,332	$1,461
7	$77,712	$6,476	$1,494
8	$79,440	$6,620	$1,528
For each additional person, add:	$6,636	$553	$128

If you need emergency HEAP benefits, you should also be able to answer yes to these questions:

Is your heat shut off or about to be shut off, or is your fuel tank a quarter full or less?
Is the heating and/or electric bill in your name?
Are your household’s available resources:
- less than $3,000 if there is a member age 60 or older, or
- or less than $2,000 if there is no member age 60 or older?

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

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3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

It’s important to include the right documents when you apply. Your documents show whether the program is right for you.

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

For each person applying, any one document:

Driver license or official photo ID
Birth certificate
Passport
Social Security card for dependents
Social security card or ITIN
Naturalization certificate
Adoption records
Baptismal or another religious certificate
Marriage records
Medicaid card
Official birth records
Official school records
Other official record showing birth date

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply for HEAP by mail if:

the head of house is disabled and gets Retirement Survivor’s, or Disability Insurance, or
the head of household is aged 60 or older, or
the household is Code A SSI, or
the household is receiving Cash Assistance or SNAP

Applications should be mailed to:
New York City Home Energy Assistance Program
P.O. Box 1401, Church Street Station
New York, NY, 10008

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Money for heat and utility expenses