HEAP

Press Release:

Each year, Office for the Aging assists older adults with their HEAP applications.  If you received your pre-printed application in the mail for the 2021-2022 HEAP season, please mail it to Office for the Aging, 2 Bank Street, Batavia, NY 14020.  You may also drop it off at the front desk of Office for the Aging.  Please be sure to include all current income information and year-to date interest and dividends earned on any accounts.

For new applicants, HEAP will open on October 1, 2021.  We will have blank applications available in our front vestibule.  If you have any questions about how to fill a new application out, we encourage you to call the office.

Due to continued concerns with COVID, walk-ins are highly discouraged.  Many questions can be answered during a phone call.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.   

Press release:

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance today announced that an additional $15 million is available to help eligible New Yorkers facing a home heating emergency.

Households that have already received emergency assistance from the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) this winter can apply for a second round of benefits if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having their service disconnected when the statewide moratorium on utility shutoffs expires at the end of March. 

“Even with the spring season nearing, many parts of New York will continue to experience frigid temperatures for weeks to come,” said Mike Hein, commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which administers HEAP. "This additional funding will help ensure struggling New Yorkers, including the most vulnerable among us, can continue to heat their homes until the cold weather breaks.”

Additionally, the deadline to apply for both the regular and emergency HEAP benefits was extended until April 30. With the initial round of HEAP benefits, both rounds of emergency assistance, households can receive up to $2,371 in assistance.

Applications for emergency HEAP are accepted at local departments of social services in person or by telephone. A list of offices by county can be found here.

Households are ordinarily only eligible to receive one regular HEAP benefit each winter and then one emergency HEAP benefit in the event of an energy crisis. Now, households that have already received a regular and emergency benefit can apply for additional assistance if they are faced with the possibility of having a utility shut off or running out of heating fuel without the available resources to replenish it.

Statewide demand for HEAP remains high. This winter, more than 1.3 million households secured regular HEAP benefits, with an additional 30,000 households receiving the first emergency benefit to address a home crisis or life-threatening heating emergency. 

The amount a household receives from HEAP depends on their income, household size and how the home is heated. A family of four can have a household income of up to $60,226 per year, or $5,019 per month, and still qualify for help.

New York State Public Service Law provides temporary protections for essential utility and municipal services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through March 31, utility companies and municipalities may not shut off service for nonpayment and must offer a deferred payment agreement to cover any overdue balance.

Press release:

The Home Energy Assistance Program -- HEAP -- opens Monday, Nov. 2, for all new applicants.

Each year, Genesee County Office for the Aging assists older adults and persons with disabilities with HEAP applications.

This year, it is strongly recommended that you apply online at myBenefits.ny.gov. If you do not have a computer or lack to skills to apply online, you may pick up a blank application in the front entryway of our building.

If you need assistance or have questions about filling out the application, please call 343-1611 for a phone appointment. Once you have completed your application, you can either drop off or mail it in to our location, 2 Bank St. in Downtown Batavia.

Please remember to include all necessary documentation and identification for all household members.

Press release:

As of Feb. 18, households can apply for a second emergency benefit through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having their utility service shut off and have already received assistance from HEAP this winter.

Additionally, the deadline to apply for both regular and emergency HEAP benefits has been extended until April 24.

With this additional funding, eligible households could receive up to $2,200 from HEAP to help defray the cost of heating their home this winter.

Statewide demand for HEAP remains high. So far this winter more than 1.2 million households have received a regular HEAP benefit, with more than 40,000 of those also receiving an emergency HEAP benefit.

Press release:

HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) funds remain available for clean and tune services for the primary heating equipment of eligible homeowners.

Clean and tune services provide for the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment.

Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services. To qualify, households must not exceed the program’s income guidelines.

Households can apply by contacting Genesee County Department of Social Services at 585-344-2580.

2018-2019 HEAP Benefit Gross Monthly Income Guidelines

Household Size

Maximum Gross Monthly Income

1

$2,391

2

$3,127

3

$3,863

4

$4,598

5

$5,334

6

$6,070

7

$6,208

8

$6,346

9

$6,483

Press release:

If you are a homeowner and eligible, the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit can help you repair or replace your furnace, boiler and other direct heating equipment necessary to keep your home’s primary heating source working.

HEAP emergency furnace repair benefits are available beginning Monday, Nov. 6th.

Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to repair or replace your furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment, $3,000 for a repair and $6,500 for a replacement.

You must go to your HEAP Local District Contact to apply. Your local district contact will decide if you meet all the eligibility conditions, including the income and resource requirements.

Before work is started it must be approved and authorized by a HEAP Local District Contact. Payment is made directly to the vendor after all the work is completed.

View HEAP Monthly Income Limits.

Press release:

The HEAP Clean and Tune benefit opened Aug. 1 and will run until Nov. 4 or until funds are exhausted. Anyone interested in the Clean and Tune program must contact Genesee County DSS at 344-2580. 

Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $400. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

You may be eligible for a benefit if:

·         You are the homeowner;

·         Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted on the table below;

·         Your primary heating equipment is more than 12 months old;

·         Your primary heating equipment or chimney has not been cleaned within the last 12 months;

·         You do not have a service contract with your vendor that includes clean and tune services;

Your household eligibility requirements include filing an application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation.

Here are the current income eligibility guidelines:

2016 HEAP            Elderly or Disabled figures                

Household Size

Max Monthly Income

1

$2,300

2

$3,007

3

$3,715

4

$4,423

5

$5,130

Press release:

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance announced that $2 million in funding is available to help low- and middle-income households get their heating equipment inspected and cleaned prior to the start of the heating season.

The program is federally funded through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

The Genesee County Department of Social Services is ready to accept applications for furnace or boiler tune-ups, which can help improve energy efficiency while helping New Yorkers save on heating costs this winter. The local DSS office has a list of vendors who will do the work. The applicant must be HEAP eligible and the owner of the home.

“Households that get their heating equipment cleaned now will benefit come wintertime when they save on heating costs due to the improved efficiency,” said Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts. “We also expect that fewer households that receive heating assistance through HEAP will face emergencies this winter, as a result of having a furnace or boiler operating at peak performance.”

Eligible households can receive up to $400, which includes cleaning of the primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment.

To qualify, households must not exceed the program’s income guidelines, which vary by household size. For example, a family of four can earn up to $4,316 a month and still qualify. Additionally, the household must have heating equipment that is more than 12 months old, and the furnace, boiler or chimney must not have been cleaned within the past 12 months.

Applications will be accepted through Nov. 4, or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first. New Yorkers can find contact information for their county Department of Social Services at http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/HEAP-contacts.pdf.