New York Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

New York Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

New York HEAP is the state energy help program to check when a household needs relief from heating bills, cooling costs, shutoff risk, or a broken or unsafe heating system. It is not a single grant with one rule. It is a set of related benefits that cover different problems, and the right way to use the program is to match the situation to the right component instead of treating it like a generic utility payment.

The 2026-2027 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) component is open. New York State’s service page says applications opened October 1, 2026 and directs homeowners to contact their HEAP Local District Contact to apply. No closing date is posted there; contact the district promptly because component funds and availability can change. This page also keeps detailed 2025-2026 rules for Regular HEAP, Emergency HEAP, and Cooling Assistance as historical guidance. Those prior-cycle amounts and dates do not apply automatically to the open HERR component or to later seasonal benefits.

That matters because people often assume energy assistance is only for people who are completely out of money. In practice, HEAP is also for people who are on the edge: a household that is still paying some bills but cannot catch up, a renter whose heat is included in rent but whose electricity bill is climbing, a senior who needs cooling help during a heat wave, or a family dealing with a furnace problem that would become much more expensive if they wait. If your situation is energy-related, HEAP is usually worth a close look. If your problem is not tied to home energy costs, it is probably not the right program.

At a glance

What HEAP actually does

HEAP is best understood as a toolbox. Each piece solves a different problem.

Regular HEAP is the standard seasonal benefit. It helps with the cost of heating the home or buying fuel. For households that pay directly based on actual usage, the benefit is paid to the vendor that supplies the primary heat rather than handed to the applicant as unrestricted cash.

Emergency HEAP is for households that are already in trouble. That can mean a shutoff notice, a low or empty fuel tank, or a heating failure that cannot safely wait. This part of the program is more urgent and more document-heavy because it is tied to a real emergency.

Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement is for certain primary heating system problems. The open 2026-2027 HERR benefit is for homeowners age 60 or older who meet HEAP income and resource rules and complete an eligibility interview. Repairs or replacements require district approval before work starts. It is not the same as regular bill help, and it is not meant for every appliance in the home. The 2025-2026 HERR rules and limits elsewhere on this page are labeled as prior-cycle information.

Clean and Tune was not a 2025-2026 HEAP benefit. OTDA’s 2025-2026 state plan included no funding for it, so this page should not send applicants to a Clean and Tune application path for that cycle.

Cooling Assistance is the summer component. It provided one air conditioner or fan per eligible applicant household, with installation, for a medically vulnerable or age-vulnerable household that met the income or categorical rules and equipment conditions.

The main takeaway is simple: if your problem is a bill, a shutoff notice, a fuel emergency, a broken heating system, or a medically risky heat situation, HEAP may have a matching path. If you try to force your situation into the wrong component, you can waste time and miss the right window.

Who should apply

HEAP is usually worth applying for if at least one of these is true:

• you pay for heat directly or through a utility account;
• your household pays for cooling and summer bills are getting hard to handle;
• you have a shutoff notice or another urgent energy problem;
• your heating equipment is unsafe, unreliable, or no longer working;
• a household member is especially vulnerable to heat or cold;
• your income is low enough that energy costs are pushing out other basics.

It is probably not worth your time if:

• you do not pay household energy costs in any form;
• you are far above the program’s income or categorical eligibility rules;
• you need general cash help but do not have a home energy need;
• you are looking for a long-term housing subsidy rather than energy assistance.

If you are unsure, the right question is not “Am I poor enough?” It is “Do I have a home energy problem that HEAP is designed to solve?” That framing saves a lot of guesswork. A household can be working, renting, or receiving other benefits and still be a good fit if the household is actually responsible for home energy costs and meets the program rules.

Eligibility basics

HEAP eligibility depends on both the household and the kind of help you want.

1. You need a New York household connection

This is a New York program, so the applicant needs to live in New York and be seeking help for the primary home. HEAP is not for a second home, vacation property, or investment property.

2. You need to be responsible for home energy costs

This is one of the most important questions to answer early. In some households, the energy bill is in the tenant’s name. In others, heat is included in rent but the household still pays electricity or has some other direct energy responsibility. The program exists for people who actually bear home energy costs, but the exact way that responsibility is shown can vary by component and household setup.

3. You need to meet the income or categorical rules

For 2026-2027, New York State lists maximum gross monthly income of $3,563 for a one-person household, $4,659 for two, $5,756 for three, and $6,852 for four. The table continues through larger households, with $710 added for each person above household size 13. Check the current HEAP table for your household size before applying; the 2025-2026 amounts elsewhere in this historical account are out of date for current eligibility.

The State’s current general HEAP eligibility guidance also lists SNAP, Temporary Assistance, and Supplemental Security Income as categorical routes, and says household members must meet its citizenship or qualified non-citizen rules and provide valid Social Security numbers. HERR applicants still need to meet the component’s income and resource rules and complete the district interview. Receiving another benefit does not remove the need to follow HERR’s other requirements.

4. Each component has extra rules

The 2025-2026 component rules were not interchangeable: emergency applicants needed a qualifying shutoff or fuel situation, a heating or electric bill in the applicant’s name, and resources below the limits for that cycle; cooling applicants needed a documented heat-exacerbated medical condition or qualifying vulnerable member, no working air conditioner or one at least five years old, and no HEAP-funded air conditioner in the prior five years. The prior HERR rules also required applicants to own and occupy the home and be age 60 or older. Clean and Tune had no funding in that cycle. For a current HERR application, follow the 2026-2027 conditions above and the local district’s instructions.

5. Documentation matters

Even when the household is clearly eligible, applications can stall if the paperwork is thin. HEAP is one of those programs where the facts of the household matter more than fancy writing. A clean application with the right documents is better than a rushed application with a long explanation.

What each HEAP component is for

Regular HEAP

Regular HEAP was the standard benefit for seasonal heating costs. For 2025-2026, the base amount was $21 for an eligible household in government-subsidized housing or a group home with heat included in rent, and $45 or $50 when heating costs were included as part of rent. For households paying directly for primary heat, the base was $900 for oil, kerosene, or propane; $635 for wood, wood pellets, coal, corn, or another deliverable fuel; and $400 for electricity or natural gas based on actual usage.

The direct-payment amounts could receive a $61 Tier 1 add-on and a $35 vulnerable-household add-on. The Tier 1 rule used gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level for household size, or receipt of ongoing TA, SNAP, or Code A SSI. The vulnerable add-on applied when a household member was age 60 or older, under age 6, or permanently disabled.

The practical question here is whether your heating costs are too high for your current income and household size. If yes, regular HEAP may be the right starting point even if you are not in shutoff danger yet.

Emergency HEAP

Emergency HEAP is for immediate danger. If you have already received a shutoff notice, are nearly out of fuel, or are facing a heating emergency that cannot wait, this is the part of HEAP to ask about.

For 2025-2026, the published emergency amounts were $185 for heat-related domestic electric service, $400 for natural-gas heat only, $585 for natural-gas heat combined with heat-related domestic electric, $585 for electric heat combined with heat-related domestic electric, $900 for oil, kerosene, or propane, and $635 for wood, pellets, coal, corn, or other deliverable fuel. The official page also listed up to $500 for temporary relocation and up to $500 for propane tank installation and deposit in the emergency benefit guidance. Emergency help was not a general cash payment: the district issued benefits directly to participating vendors.

This is not the place to be vague. Say exactly what is happening: a notice date, a fuel tank level, a broken boiler, a failed heating system, or another immediate risk. The more precise the emergency, the easier it is for the local office to place you in the right track.

Heating equipment repair and replacement

If the heat source itself is the problem, regular bill help is not enough. The open 2026-2027 HERR benefit can repair or replace a furnace, boiler, or other direct heating equipment needed for the home’s primary heat. Applicants must own and live in the home, be age 60 or older, meet HEAP income and resource requirements, and complete an eligibility interview. The current published limits are based on actual costs, up to $4,000 for a repair or $8,000 for a replacement. The local HEAP district must approve the work before it begins, and payment goes directly to the approved vendor. Do not hire a contractor first and expect the program to reimburse you.

The local HEAP district had to approve and authorize the work before it began. Payment went directly to the vendor after completion. This component was therefore a poor fit for a renter, a homeowner under age 60, or someone who had already hired a contractor without district authorization.

Clean and Tune: not funded for 2025-2026

Older versions of HEAP included maintenance help, but OTDA expressly said the 2025-2026 state plan did not include funding for Clean and Tune. There was no current-cycle Clean and Tune benefit to apply for. A household that needed ordinary maintenance had to look for another local or utility program rather than assume HEAP would pay for it.

If your system has not been serviced in a while, ask the local district or utility about a separate maintenance or weatherization resource. Do not assume that a routine service request is covered by HEAP while Clean and Tune remains unfunded in the published cycle.

Cooling Assistance

Cooling Assistance exists because heat is not just uncomfortable; for some households it is dangerous. If the home includes a medically vulnerable person, an older adult, or a young child, summer heat can create a real health risk. HEAP’s cooling side is designed around that reality.

The main point is that this is not just a general “my electric bill is high” program. It is targeted help for households where summer heat creates a real vulnerability. If that describes your home, this component is worth checking even if you have never used HEAP before.

Common situations and the right HEAP path

The quickest way to make HEAP useful is to describe the problem in plain English and then match it to the right component.

If your issue is a routine winter heating bill that is too high, start with regular HEAP. That is the normal seasonal path for households that are trying to keep up before the account turns into a bigger problem. It is the best fit when you still have time to gather documents and do not need emergency repairs.

If your issue is a shutoff notice, empty fuel tank, or a heat outage that cannot wait, ask about emergency HEAP. Do not bury the lead. The office needs to understand that this is an urgent problem, not just a tight month. Emergency aid is time-sensitive, so the exact notice date or equipment problem matters.

If your issue is a broken or unsafe furnace, boiler, or other primary heating system, the 2026-2027 HERR component is open. Contact your local HEAP district for an eligibility interview and application instructions. This is different from bill help. Paying the utility bill will not solve a failed heating unit, and the program has a separate path for that kind of problem.

If your issue is maintenance or performance rather than a full breakdown, do not treat Clean and Tune as a current 2025-2026 HEAP option. OTDA said it was unfunded for that cycle. Ask the local district or utility about a separate maintenance or weatherization resource instead, and do not describe that separate resource as a HEAP benefit.

If your issue is summer heat that puts someone at risk, look at Cooling Assistance. The program is designed for households where heat is a health concern, not just an annoyance. That makes it a better fit for families with vulnerable members than for households that just want a lower summer bill.

If you have more than one problem at once, start with the one that is most urgent. A household with a dead furnace and a late bill should not try to solve the summer cooling question first. A household with a good winter system but a medically risky summer situation should focus on the cooling rules instead of forcing the problem into the winter path.

How to apply

The application path is not complicated, but it can feel that way if you wait until you are already stressed.

Step 1: Identify the right component

Start by deciding whether you need regular help, emergency help, equipment repair, or cooling support. Clean and Tune was not funded in the published 2025-2026 cycle. If you are not sure which component fits, start with the most urgent problem: a shutoff notice or dead furnace should not be treated like a routine seasonal bill.

Step 2: Find the right local intake path

HEAP is run through OTDA but administered locally. For the currently open 2026-2027 HERR benefit, contact your HEAP Local District Contact. The district will explain how to submit the application and which supporting documents it needs. The State of New York’s current HERR page says an eligibility interview is required and can be completed by telephone or in person; have proof of residency, household income, and identification ready. HERR applications are not submitted through myBenefits or ACCESS HRA.

For the completed 2025-2026 cycle, regular applications could be submitted online through ACCESS HRA in New York City or myBenefits outside the city, and by mail or in person through a local district. Emergency applicants had to contact their local district; emergency aid was not available through the website. HERR and Cooling applicants also had to contact or visit the local district, with an online Cooling route for New York City residents. These are prior-cycle paths; follow the current local district’s instructions for any component that is open now.

Step 3: Gather the documents before you submit

This is the part that makes the biggest difference. If your paperwork is ready, the application is much easier to finish and much less likely to bounce back for missing items.

Step 4: Submit the application

The 2025-2026 Regular, Emergency, and Cooling windows are closed. HERR is open for 2026-2027, so a homeowner who may qualify should contact the local district now. No HERR closing date is posted; availability can change as funds are used. Do not use a prior season’s dates or amounts for a different component.

Step 5: Respond quickly

If the office asks for more information, answer quickly and keep copies of what you sent. Many energy-assistance delays are caused less by eligibility problems than by applications that stall because one document never gets returned.

Step 6: Track the outcome

If approved, the assistance is usually paid toward the energy account or through a vendor arrangement rather than handed over as cash. Read the notice carefully so you understand what component was approved, what it covers, and whether you need to do anything else.

What happens after approval

Approval is only part of the story. What happens next depends on the component and how your energy account is set up.

For a regular heating benefit, the money is often credited to the utility account or applied through a fuel vendor. That means the household may not see a cash payment, even though the benefit is real and useful. If the account is in the wrong name or the vendor information is outdated, the benefit can slow down, so it helps to check the account details before you submit the application.

For emergency help, the office may need to move faster and may ask more questions about the immediate problem. The point is to stop the emergency, not to create a perfect paper trail for later. Still, the office will need enough information to confirm the situation and to document what kind of help was authorized.

For equipment-related help, the approval process can involve repair coordination, vendor contact, or inspection-related steps. That is normal. The program is not just sending money out the door; it is making sure the work done matches the household’s real heating need.

For cooling help, the outcome may be an air conditioner, installation support, or another approved cooling solution depending on the household and the current rules. If the program asks for medical or vulnerability documentation, send it promptly so the home does not stay at risk during a heat wave.

The big practical lesson is that approval is not the final task. You still need to make sure the right account, vendor, or service channel receives the benefit. If something looks off, contact the local office before assuming the benefit has been lost.

What to prepare

Before you apply, collect the basics:

For the currently open HERR component, the State lists proof of residency, recent pay stubs for all household members, and photo identification for each household member. Your local district may request more information after the eligibility interview, so ask for its full checklist before sending records.

• proof of identity for the applicant;
• proof of New York residency;
• proof that you are responsible for home energy costs;
• recent utility bills or fuel statements, if you have them;
• income records for household members;
• benefit letters if your household qualifies through another program;
• medical documentation if you are applying for cooling assistance and the program asks for it;
• repair-related information if you are applying for equipment help.

Do not overthink the packet. The goal is not to write a perfect case file. The goal is to make it easy for the local office to confirm the facts that decide eligibility.

If something is missing, submit what you have and follow up fast. Waiting for perfection can be worse than filing a complete but modest first version.

Fit checks for common household types

Renters should not assume they are ineligible just because the landlord owns the building. The real question is whether the household is responsible for any home energy cost in a way the program accepts. Bring the lease, utility bill, or any paper trail that shows how energy costs are handled.

Homeowners should be ready to show that the home is their primary residence and that the heating equipment or utility account is tied to that home. If the issue is a furnace or boiler repair, ownership and system details matter more than they do for a plain bill payment.

Older adults and households with young children should pay close attention to cooling and heating timing. These are the households most likely to feel the health effects of extreme temperatures before the bill problem is even fully visible. If you fit this category, it is worth checking the program early rather than waiting until conditions get worse.

Households with medical vulnerabilities should be especially careful with cooling documentation. If heat makes a condition worse, do not wait until the hottest week of the year to collect the paperwork. A short, clear medical note can be the difference between a fast review and a stalled file.

Households that use deliverable fuel should keep account and vendor information ready. If you buy fuel by delivery, the local office may need vendor details to authorize assistance. That is a common place where applications slow down even when the household is otherwise eligible.

Timeline and deadline reality

HEAP dates differ by component. In the 2025-2026 cycle, Regular HEAP opened December 1, 2025; OTDA’s initial operating schedule set April 7, 2026 as the planned close or the earlier date funding ran out. New York State’s current consumer service page records the Regular benefit as closed April 10, 2026. Emergency HEAP opened January 2, 2026, with the same April 7 scheduled date in OTDA’s memo; the State’s service page records its actual close as April 24, 2026. HERR in that cycle began December 11, 2025, and OTDA said districts would receive its closing date in a later message.

Cooling Assistance applications in the 2025-2026 cycle opened April 15, 2026. OTDA’s published schedule ran through June 22, 2026 or until allocated funding was exhausted; the State’s cooling service page records applications as closed June 5, 2026. These old dates describe the completed cycle and are not the current HERR deadline.

The 2026-2027 HERR benefit opened October 1, 2026. The State’s HERR page gives no closing date and directs applicants to contact their local district, so the metadata uses rolling while this component is accepting applications. HERR’s current opening makes this page an active opportunity; the other component details remain labeled as 2025-2026 history until updated official rules are published.

For households in a true emergency, timing matters even more. A shutoff notice, empty tank, or broken heating system can turn a manageable problem into a much worse one if you wait too long to report it.

How to decide if HEAP is worth your time

Here is the quickest way to judge fit. HERR is currently open; the 2025-2026 Regular, Emergency, and Cooling windows are closed.

Contact your district about HERR now if:

• you own and live in the home;
• you are age 60 or older;
• the primary heating system is broken, unsafe, or needs replacement;
• you meet HEAP income and resource rules and can complete an eligibility interview.

Prepare for another component when OTDA opens it if:

• you pay heating or cooling costs;
• your household is low income or may qualify through another benefit;
• you have a shutoff notice or fuel problem;
• your heating equipment is broken, unsafe, or unreliable;
• someone in the home is vulnerable to heat or cold;
• you can gather the documents without much delay.

Apply, but be realistic if:

• your income is close to the line;
• your bill is high but not yet in emergency territory;
• you are a renter and are not sure how your energy responsibility will be treated;
• you need equipment help and are not sure whether the system issue fits the program.

Look elsewhere first if:

• you do not pay any home energy costs;
• you need help with something unrelated to utilities or heating;
• you are looking for a long-term rent subsidy or debt wipeout rather than energy assistance.

If you have an urgent heating problem while Regular or Emergency HEAP is closed, contact your local department of social services and ask what assistance is currently available. HERR is open for eligible homeowners with a primary heating-equipment problem. Do not wait for a future seasonal opening if the home is already unsafe.

The rule of thumb is simple: if the home energy problem is real, HEAP is worth the effort. If the problem is only loosely connected to energy costs, it may not be the best use of your time.

Practical tips

Apply early in the season

Energy assistance programs often run on limited funds. Early applications usually have fewer surprises and less risk of missing the window.

Match the component to the problem

Do not send a routine bill problem down the emergency path unless there is a real emergency. Do not use the regular path if the furnace is dead and the home is cold. The best application is the one that matches the actual problem.

Be specific about the emergency

If you are applying because service is at risk, say so plainly. A notice date, low fuel level, or failed equipment is more useful than a long paragraph about stress.

Keep utility and vendor information handy

If the program needs to coordinate payment with a utility or fuel vendor, speed matters. Keep account numbers, contact details, and recent bills together.

Save copies

Keep copies of every document you submit and every notice you get back. If something goes wrong, those copies save time.

Recheck the rules each season

HEAP is a recurring program, but the details can change. A household that qualified one year should not assume the same paperwork or timing will apply the next year without checking.

Common mistakes

• waiting until the season is almost over;
• assuming a landlord’s arrangement automatically disqualifies the household;
• applying for the wrong component;
• not including proof of household income;
• not showing the energy bill, shutoff notice, or fuel problem clearly;
• missing follow-up requests;
• forgetting that emergency help is not the same as routine seasonal help;
• assuming every component is open at the same time.

Most of these mistakes are preventable. The easiest fix is to slow down just enough to match the problem to the correct component before you submit anything.

FAQ

Do I have to repay HEAP? No. HEAP is an assistance benefit, not a loan.

Can renters qualify? Often yes, if the household is responsible for home energy costs in the way the program allows. Bring lease and utility information so the office can see how the household pays for energy.

What if my heat is included in rent? Do not assume you are out. Some households still qualify when heat is bundled into rent, especially if they also carry a separate energy cost or meet other program rules.

Does HEAP only help in winter? No. The completed 2025-2026 cycle included Cooling Assistance, which the State’s service page records as closed June 5, 2026. Regular and Emergency components also closed. The current 2026-2027 HERR component opened October 1, 2026.

Was Clean and Tune available? Not under the published 2025-2026 HEAP state plan. OTDA said that plan included no Clean and Tune funding, so ordinary maintenance should not be presented as a HEAP benefit for that cycle.

What if I already get SNAP, TA, or SSI-related help? That may help with categorical eligibility or make the application easier, but you still need to follow the current HEAP rules and submit the required documents.

Will HEAP solve every bill? Usually not. It is meant to relieve a specific energy problem, not erase every household expense. Still, even a partial benefit can buy time and prevent a shutdown or a dangerous living situation.

What if I need help with both a bill and broken equipment? Ask the local office which component comes first. In some cases you may need more than one HEAP path, but the right order matters.

Where do NYC residents start? NYC households should use the city HEAP/HRA route rather than guessing at a county office.

Official links and next steps

• OTDA HEAP program page: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/
• OTDA 2025-2026 HEAP operating guidance (26-LCM-02): https://otda.ny.gov/policy/directives/2026/LCM/26-LCM-02.pdf
• OTDA 2025-2026 Regular HEAP opening and deadline (25DC085): https://otda.ny.gov/policy/gis/2025/25DC085.pdf
• OTDA 2025-2026 Emergency HEAP dates, amounts, and application route (25DC093): https://otda.ny.gov/policy/gis/2025/25DC093.pdf
• OTDA 2025-2026 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement guidance (25-LCM-17): https://otda.ny.gov/policy/directives/2025/LCM/25-LCM-17.pdf
• Current HERR application and 2026-2027 opening information: https://www.ny.gov/services/apply-heating-equipment-repair-or-replacement
• State 2025-2026 Regular and Emergency status, limits, and application routes: https://www.ny.gov/services/apply-heating-assistance-heap
• State 2025-2026 Cooling Assistance close, eligibility, and application route: https://www.ny.gov/services/apply-cooling-assistance
• myBenefits online portal: https://mybenefits.ny.gov/
• NYC HEAP/HRA instructions: use the current city HEAP page or HRA intake path
• HEAP hotline: 1-800-342-3009

The 2026-2027 HERR benefit is open, but the other amounts and rules in this long reference describe the completed 2025-2026 cycle. Contact the local district to check HERR eligibility and get the current application instructions. When OTDA publishes further 2026-2027 component details, recheck dates, income limits, amounts, and restrictions before applying for regular, emergency, or cooling assistance. For an urgent heating problem, contact the local district promptly and ask what assistance is currently available.

HEAP is most useful when it is used as a practical tool, not a last-minute panic button. The households that get the best results are usually the ones that match the right component to the right problem, apply early, and respond quickly when the office asks for more information.