Home Energy Assistance Program

For Immediate Release: December 23, 2008
Contact: Errol Cockfield | errol.cockfield@chamber.state.ny.us | 212.681.4640 | 518.474.8418
Contact: Mike Hayes | michael.hayes@otda.state.ny.us | 518.474.9516
AS WINTER OFFICIALLY BEGINS, GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES AN EXPANSION OF EMERGENCY HEAP ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES TO HELP HEAT MORE HOMES THIS WINTER

Beginning January 1, a Family of Four Earning As Much as $56,635 Could be Eligible for Emergency HEAP Benefits

An Additional $100 Supplemental Benefit to Be Issued to Current HEAP Recipients

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that, due to an increase in federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) funding, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) – taking advantage of a one-time federal authorization – has increased the income levels for emergency HEAP benefits for the current heating season. The levels will increase from 60 percent of the State’s median household income to 75 percent, beginning January 1, 2009. Under the new emergency levels, a family of four with a household income of as much as $56,635 – up from $45,312 – would qualify for an emergency HEAP benefit if the resources the household has available to meet the emergency are less than the amount of the HEAP emergency benefit.

Governor Paterson also announced that a $100 supplemental HEAP benefit will automatically be issued to current HEAP recipients that pay directly for heat, increasing the maximum regular HEAP benefit from $800 to $900.

“New York State has already suffered major setbacks during this winter season as ice and snow storms have crushed several regions of the State, leaving thousands of residents without heat and electricity for days at a time. On top of the severe weather we have faced, the uncertainty of the economy leaves not only the poor and elderly struggling to make ends meet, but leaves many New Yorkers wondering if they will be able to pay their bills, put food on the table and heat their homes this winter,” said Governor Paterson. “For this reason, we are expanding emergency HEAP to provide benefits to those who would not typically be eligible. An increase in emergency HEAP income eligibility levels combined with a supplemental benefit to all HEAP recipients that pay directly for heat will help more New Yorkers stretch their heating budgets a little further this winter.”

The supplemental $100 regular HEAP benefit will be automatically issued to those households that pay directly for heat and whose regular HEAP benefit was authorized prior to December 22, 2008. This benefit will be sent directly to the recipient’s HEAP vendor. These households do not need to apply again to receive the supplement. For those households that apply for HEAP on or after December 22, 2008, $100 will be added to the amount of the regular HEAP benefit for eligible households paying directly for heat.

New York State has received $550.9 million in federal HEAP funding, allowing OTDA – the agency responsible for administering HEAP in New York – to provide emergency benefit payments to households that were not previously eligible and to provide the $100 supplemental HEAP benefit to current recipients. Emergency HEAP benefits are available to income-eligible households that are out of or running low on heating fuel or that have had heat-related utility service disconnected or scheduled for disconnection.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “Expanding HEAP benefits is necessary to provide relief to New York’s working families. Allowing more families to qualify for assistance and the addition of more benefits during these freezing winter months will ensure that essential needs are met for many residents of our state. Especially during an economic downturn with unstable oil prices, the Assembly Majority is committed to making sure New Yorkers do not have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children or paying the rent.”

David A. Hansell, Commissioner of OTDA, said: “It is an unfortunate reality in this economy that there are many hard-working families in New York who, without expanded eligibility, would find themselves with nowhere to turn in an emergency situation. We are taking the unprecedented step of providing benefits for these families to help them get through the winter and keep them from falling through the cracks.”

Michael Burgess, Director of the New York State Office for the Aging, said: “Even though the fuel costs are heading down, many consumers including seniors were locked into higher prices earlier in the year. Adding extra funding to their HEAP grant and raising the emergency eligibility limits will go a long way in helping those struggling to pay their energy bills.”

Standard HEAP benefits are provided to assist low-income New Yorkers in paying for the cost of heating their homes. HEAP also provides emergency benefits to New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have the available resources to meet the emergency. This winter season, New York’s most vulnerable residents could receive as much as $2,500 in aid to help heat their homes. A regular HEAP benefit will be available to those earning up to $45,312 annually for a family of four up from $43,308 last year.

Last year, New York State issued $273 million in HEAP benefits to more than 850,000 households. For further information about HEAP, including how to apply, please call OTDA’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-342-3009 or visit: http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap/. To find out if you are potentially eligible for HEAP assistance visit: www.myBenefits.ny.gov.

Additional news available at www.ny.gov/governor/press New York State | Executive Chamber | press.office@chamber.state.ny.us | 212.681.4640 | 518.474.8418