Although there is still more than a month to go before the start of the winter season, New Yorkers have already been enveloped by temperatures that have not exceeded 50 degrees.
And to ensure that heat is available to every home in the state, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Monday that applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will begin be accepted as of November 1, as a way to ensure that the most vulnerable New Yorkers can address the rising costs of heating their homes this winter.
“The Home Energy Assistance Program it is a vital lifeline for countless families in New York,” said the state president, who encouraged all who are eligible to apply for these benefits that will provide “much-needed financial relief.”
As indicated, eligible homeowners and renters can receive up to $976 on heating assistance, depending on your income, depending on how the household is made up, if the family has a vulnerable member e and how they heat your home. For example, a family of four with a maximum gross monthly income of $5,485 or a gross annual income of $65,976 qualifies for benefits.
The program, overseen by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), is funded by the federal government. Eligible households can receive a regular seasonal benefit and may also be eligible for an emergency benefit if they are at risk of running out of heating oil or having utility service shut off. Applications for emergency benefits will be accepted beginning January 3, 2023.
Daniel Tietz, OTDA Commissioner, anticipated that higher heating costs this winter are a threat to the budgets of low- and middle-income New Yorkers.
“The Home Energy Assistance Program provides vital relief, especially for low-income working families, as well as seniors on a fixed income,” he said, while calling on those who need this help apply before the colder weather hits.
Nearly 1.7 million HEAP benefits were issued last winter, the most in at least the past five years. Similar figures are expected for this year.
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Landlord must provide heating by law
By law, since October 1, owners are required to provide heating to their tenants when the thermometer is below 55 degrees during the day and 40 at night. If you don’t have heat, first of all you should contact your landlord or building manager to fix it, if they don’t, call 65.