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Governor Cuomo Announces Home Heating Assistance Available Beginning November 16

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  12. November 2015

Albany, NY - November 10, 2015 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced households that need help paying their heating bills this winter can begin applying for assistance from the Home Energy Assistance Program on Monday, November 16. The program provides financial assistance to help low-income and elderly New Yorkers keep their homes warm in the winter months.

"The Home Energy Assistance Program is vital to helping struggling households afford the costs of heating their homes during the cold New York winters," Governor Cuomo said. "It provides some much-needed relief, especially for low-income working families, as well as senior citizens on a fixed income. I encourage anyone in need of this assistance to apply before the coldest weather sets in."

The Home Energy Assistance Program is funded by the federal government and is overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Eligible households can receive a one-time benefit of up to $625 this winter depending upon income, household size and heating source. For the upcoming season, a household of four can earn up to $51,792, or $4,316 a month, and still qualify for assistance.

Last winter, 1.48 million households received benefits through the program. A breakdown of the number of households that received assistance last winter, by region is below:

Region

Households Served 2014-15

Capital District

70,467

Central New York

63,061

Finger Lakes

93,715

Long Island

70,405

Mid-Hudson

108,804

Mohawk Valley

49,998

New York City

787,602

North Country

38,862

Southern Tier

56,335

Western New York

143,915

NEW YORK STATE

1,483,164

Households may also be eligible for an emergency benefit if they are in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off. Applications for emergency benefits will be accepted beginning Monday, January 4, 2016. Households facing an energy emergency should call their local department of social services for assistance.

Anyone living outside of New York City can apply for a regular Home Energy Assistance benefit online. Last year, more than 42,000 households applied through the myBenefits site.

Senator Charles E. Schumer said, "Hundreds of thousands of fixed-income seniors and low-to moderate-income New Yorkers rely on LIHEAP to help pay rising home heating costs. That's why I worked so hard to secure more than $326 million in federal funding to help New York's most vulnerable cover their high energy costs. It is good news that this assistance will become available November 16th before winter rears its ugly head across the north east.”

Congressman Charles B. Rangel said, "I applaud Governor Cuomo for going the extra mile to provide heating to those who may not be able to afford it. Winter months are tough for everyone in New York, but they are especially harsh on low-income individuals and the elderly. With these benefits from the Home Energy Assistance Program, even our most vulnerable New Yorkers can be assured that they will not be left in the cold in the coming months."

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter said, "We must make sure that all of our neighbors in Western New York are able to heat their homes through the cold and icy months. That's why I am proud to have called on federal agencies to make sure families, the disabled, and our veterans can afford to heat their homes this winter, and to have supported this critical funding. For years, federal support has been helping families across the country through home energy assistance programs and I encourage anyone needing assistance this winter to apply starting November 16th."

Congressman Eliot Engel said, "No one, regardless of age or income, should have to suffer through a New York winter in a cold home. The Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is a federally funded program that provides critical financial assistance for home heating bills to millions of households every year. I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to apply for HEAP starting on November 16th, and I thank Governor Cuomo and his team for their work to support and promote the program."

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey said, "It is imperative that families receive assistance during the coldest months. Last year, households in Westchester and Rockland benefitted from $6 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding, and I'm pleased this program will help thousands of Hudson Valley families once again keep warm this winter. As Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue fighting to protect investments that improve quality of life for residents in our area."

Congressman José E. Serrano said, "Home Energy Assistance Programs are critical in communities like the Bronx, where countless families depend on it to stay warm during the winter season. I encourage all eligible New York residents to take advantage of this opportunity starting November 16."

Congressman Jerrold Nadler said, "Emergency heating assistance is a life-saving resource for hundreds of thousands of New York City residents. I encourage everyone who needs help paying their heating bills to seek out the HEAP program so that they and their families can be protected in the coming cold-weather months."

Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez said, "For many working families, the winter months can bring unsustainable heating bills. This important program helps some of our most vulnerable neighbors stay warm during the coldest months and I am pleased to see resources dedicated to it."

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks said, "The Home Energy Assistance Program provides eligible families, which often include children and elderly residents, with the necessary funding to heat their homes during the coldest months of the year. Without this critical support over a million New York families will literally be left out in the cold. I thank Governor Cuomo for his continued support and I look forward to continuing my work in Congress to ensure that the Home Energy Assistance Program continues to bring warmth and comfort to millions of New York homes every year."

Congressman Joe Crowley said, "With winter just around the corner, this program will go a long way in helping families meet the high cost of home heating. No family should have to choose between heating their home and other vital necessities, such as putting food on the table or paying rent. This program makes a huge difference for New Yorkers who are struggling to make ends meet, and I thank Governor Cuomo for making heating assistance a priority."

Congressman Steve Israel said, "Last year 70,405 families across Long Island and 787,602 in New York City kept warm because of New York's Home Energy Assistance Program. I encourage all New Yorkers who are faced with rising energy costs and cannot afford to heat their homes this winter to apply for this critical assistance."

Congressman Brian Higgins said, "In Western New York where heat is not an option but a necessity, HEAP provides a critical lifeline for struggling seniors and families. Last year brought one of our coldest winters in recent memory, and we must ensure New Yorkers are aware of the resources available for home heating assistance as we head into the winter season."

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke said, "In the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, New York State families have an invaluable resource for keeping warm – and therefore safe – in the cold months of winter. We know that this program continues to save lives, in part by precluding risky attempts to stay warm by, for example, sleeping in the kitchen with the oven door open. I encourage anyone who needs assistance to contact the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance."

Congressman Paul Tonko said, "This program has been a great relief to those in our community who are unable to cover their rising utility bills in the winter months. With more than 70,000 households requesting assistance from the Capital Region alone, this program will help more of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors to weather the upcoming winter. I look forward to continuing my work with Governor Cuomo to keep New York's responsible and extremely critical weatherization programs helping those with limited resources."

Congressman Richard Hanna said, "As temperatures drop in upstate New York, we simply cannot allow the most vulnerable citizens to freeze in their homes, especially when so many are still unemployed or on fixed incomes. This federal funding will help New Yorkers be safe and warm inside their homes during the brutally cold winter months."

Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney said, "No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and heating their home this winter. This investment can help us to ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors are taken care of as the weather turns colder."

Congressman John Katko said, "Today's announcement comes just as we head into another potentially harsh winter season here in Central New York. This critically important programming will ensure that home heating assistance is provided to those in our community who need it most during the colder months. With this effort, individuals and families in our community will not have to choose between keeping their homes warm and keeping up with other bills and feeding their families.”

Congresswoman Kathleen Rice said, "Last year, the Home Energy Assistance Program helped keep more than 70,000 Long Island households warm during the winter. As we approach another winter, it's critical that we do all we can to ensure the most vulnerable members of our communities are prepared for the months ahead, and I urge anyone in need of assistance to apply when the period begins."

Congressman Lee Zeldin said, "Many Long Island families and seniors experience difficult challenges to make ends meet. The Home Energy Assistance Program is an important program in New York that provides low income and elderly Long Islanders with critical assistance during the cold winter months."

Congressman Dan Donovan said, "Home heating bills can break a fixed-income budget. Any Staten Islander or Brooklynite who might be eligible for assistance should apply, and my office is always available to help you through the process. Thank you to Gov. Cuomo and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for administering this important federally-funded program."

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said, "The Home Energy Assistance Program is especially important to help keep some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers warm in the wintertime. But people who think they may be eligible need to apply for assistance. The easiest way to do this, for people living outside of New York City, is to submit an application online."

For more information about the Home Energy Assistance Program, go here. New Yorkers can find contact information for their county department of social services here.

 

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