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).

You can apply for HEAP every year between November and March
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)

Next section:

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	$28,692	$2,391	$552
2	$37,524	$3,127	$722
3	$46,356	$3,863	$891
4	$55,176	$4,598	$1,061
5	$64,008	$5,334	$1,231
6	$74,496	$6,070	$1,401
7	$74,496	$6,208	$1,433
8	$76,152	$4,346	$1,464
9	$77,796	$6,483	$1,496
10	$79,452	$6,621	$1,528
11	$83,016	$6,918	$1,596
For each additional person, add:	$6,450	$540	$124

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

For the household, any one document:

Copy of most recent deed
Current letter, lease, or rent receipt with home address from landlord
Documentation from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
Documentation from the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA)
Driver license issued within past six months
Homeowners insurance policy
ID card with address
Lease signed by both landlord and tenant
Property tax records or mortgage statements
Statement from an employer or social services agency
Statement from non-relative landlord
Utility bill (gas, electric, or water)

For each income source of each income earner, any one document:

Wages & Salary

Letter from employer on company letterhead, signed and dated
Paycheck stubs (from the last four weeks in a row that you worked)
Business records

Self-employment

Business records of earnings and expenses for the most recent three months in a row

Cash Assistance

Cash Assistance budget letter

Income from Rent or Room and Board

Check stub
Ledger or rent receipt book
Letter from roomer, boarder, or tenant

Military Pay

Current award letter
Current check stub

Child Support or Alimony

Alimony check stub
Child support check stub
Letter from court
Letter from person providing support

Unemployment Income

Award letter or certificate
Correspondence from NYS Department of Labor
Bank statement showing the direct deposits
Copy of the direct payment debit card
Benefit statement

Social Security benefits (SSI, Dependent, Disability, Survivor’s, or Retirement)

Current award letter or certificate
Current benefit check

Worker’s Compensation

Current award letter
Current check stub

Veteran’s Benefits

Current award letter
Current benefit check stub

Pensions, Annuities, or IRA

Statement from pension or annuity

Interest, Dividends, or Royalties

1099-DIV
1099-INT
Statement from bank, credit union or financial institution

Support from Family Members

Copies of canceled checks from family member
Signed statement or letter from family member

Educational Grants or Loans

Current award letter
Current check stub

For each person applying, any one document:

US birth certificate
US passport
US baptismal certificate
Official US hospital or doctor records
Green Card (copy of the front and back)
Naturalization certificate
Employment Authorization Card (I-688B or I-766)
INS I-210 letter
Memorandum of Creation of Record of Lawful Permanent Residence: INS form I-181
INS form I-220B
Arrival-Departure Record Card: INS form I-94
Other INS documents, or correspondence to or from the INS, that shows that you are living in the US with the knowledge and permission of the INS

Next section:

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

Download the form

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Money for heat and utility expenses