Senator Fuschillo Reminds Residents To Sign Up For Heap Program To Reduce Energy Bills

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District) today urged eligible residents to sign up for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which assists lower-income seniors and families with heating costs in the winter.

"New York State remains committed to helping ensure that our seniors and working families will be able to have heat during the coming winter months," said Senator Fuschillo. "With the rising cost of home energy, we must do everything we can to make sure that no family is forced to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table."

HEAP is a federally funded program administered on the state level by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). The program is managed locally by county departments of social services. HEAP provides grants to eligible homeowners or renters for heating bills based on a household's income, living arrangement, heating expenses, family members, and type of heat.

New York's HEAP program is designed to target the highest benefit to those households with the lowest income and highest energy costs in relation to income. The program is structured in a way that higher benefits are provided to households that have larger percentages of their income spent on energy costs; contain a vulnerable individual; and have the lowest income. Vulnerable individuals are defined as children under 6, adults aged 60 or older, and disabled individuals.

HEAP information and applications can be accessed byCLICKING HERE.Eligibility and application information can also be obtained by contacting the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance at 1-800-342-3009, or by calling 516-565-4327 (in Nassau County) or 631-853-8825 (in Suffolk County).

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