Checks for almost $1,000 in aid in New York: You can apply until January and these are the requirements

Each year, the New York City government offers help to residents paying for heating and cooling through the Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP.

This program, running through March, helps low-income households cover the cost of heating their homes. The benefit can pay for fuel, utility bills, as well as heating equipment replacement and repairs.

The amount of assistance can be as high as almost $1,000, but the benefit is paid directly to the heating provider or utility company.

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Benefits of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP offers a regular benefit, an emergency benefit, a heating equipment repair and replacement benefit, and a cleaning and tune-up benefit.

The regular benefit

Applications for the 2024-2025 HEAP regular benefit opened in November and will be available through March or when the resources allocated for this benefit are exhausted. The regular benefit is a one-time amount that can help you pay for your home heating.

Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, primary source of heating, and whether there is a person in the household who is under age six, aged 60 or older, or permanently disabled.

Emergency benefits

Applications for the first and second 2024-2025 emergency benefits will open on Jan. 2, 2025 and will be available through March or once the budget is exhausted. The emergency benefit can help you heat your home if you are in a heat-related or heat-related emergency. HEAP emergency benefits and eligibility are based on income, available resources, and type of emergency.

Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement Benefit

Applications for the 2024-2025 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit opened in October. This benefit is used for the repair or replacement of furnaces, boilers, and/or other essential heating equipment necessary to keep a home’s primary heating source operating.

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Cleaning and tuning benefit

Applications for these benefits also opened in October. This benefit can help homeowners receive energy efficiency services, which include cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney sweeping, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors, to allow for safe operation of the equipment.

Where can I apply for help paying for heating?

To apply for any of these benefits and to check the exact eligibility requirements, we recommend that you contact your local HEAP office. You can view the county-by-county directory here.

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