 White Plains, NY - With winter on its way, it’s time to start planning for those heating bills, and if you’re worried about being able to pay them, it’s also time to apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
This federally funded program administered by the Westchester County Department of Social Services assists eligible low-income, elderly, and disabled persons with their home heating costs. Applications for the 2009/2010 season are now available.
Eligible households can qualify for up to $700 off their oil bills or $500 for other fuels such as natural gas. The amount of payments will vary depending upon what type of fuel is used and on whether heat is included in rent payments. To be eligible, a household must pay for heat directly or make undesignated payments for heat in the form of rent.
Because the income limits were raised from last year, people with higher incomes who previously wouldn’t have qualified, may do so this year.
Last winter, Westchester households that qualified for assistance received a combined total of $2,513,879 from the program. Exactly how much money will be available this year depends on how cold the winter is and how great the need is.
HEAP also offers emergency benefits for households which are facing experiencing heat or heat-related emergencies and don’t have the resources needed to resolve them. Assistance is also available to repair or replace furnaces, boilers and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional.
Benefits are based on income, the primary fuel source and the composition of the household. Your household may be eligible if household members are U.S. citizens or qualified aliens; if you receive Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance or disability payments; or if your monthly income is at or below the income guidelines listed below.
Anyone who received a HEAP benefit last season must complete and submit the HEAP application that they received in the mail in order to have their current eligibility determined. Anyone who received ongoing Temporary Assistance or Food Stamps as of Sept. 19, 2009 is automatically eligible and does not have to file an application. Cases opened after that date must complete a form obtained from their local district office or by calling (914) 995-5619.
All others should call 211 to find out if you meet income guidelines, or to get more information about HEAP. Applications can be downloaded from the county’s website at http://www.westchestergov.com/
Consult the table below to see if you meet current income guidelines.
|
Household Size
|
Maximum Gross Monthly Income
|
|
1
|
$2,030
|
|
2
|
$2,654
|
|
3
|
$3,279
|
|
4
|
$3,903
|
|
5
|
$4,528
|
|
6
|
$5,152
|
|
7
|
$5,269
|
|
8
|
$5,386
|
|
9
|
$5,503
|
|
10
|
$5,620
|
|
11
|
$6,029
|
|
Each additional
|
Add $468
|
 |
