Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
The regular HEAP benefit is an annual supplement to assist eligible households in paying a portion of their energy costs. Regular HEAP eligibility is determined by comparing the household’s gross monthly income to the income eligibility standards. The benefit amount is determined according to the household’s energy situation and whether the household is in the Tier I or Tier II income bracket. The regular HEAP benefit is available only one time per household in the program year. Payments are authorized directly to the fuel vendor or utility company.
HEAP emergency benefits provide additional assistance for those households facing a heat-related emergency. Assistance with fuel deliveries, utility shutoffs, temporary relocation, repair and/or replacement of applicant owned heating equipment may be provided. To qualify for an emergency HEAP benefit, the applicant must meet all financial eligibility requirements for regular HEAP. In addition, households must be both customer and tenant of record and use all available liquid resources prior to the authorization of the benefit.
Certain Public Assistance and food stamp households are eligible for automatic HEAP payments. If a Public Assistance and / or food stamp client does not receive their HEAP under the autopay process, they may file a questionnaire (short form application) to receive their regular HEAP benefit.
Other households who may apply through the mail in process are:
 | Head of household age 60 or over |
| Code A SSI recipients |
| Households who received HEAP in the previous program year. |
Those households applying through the mail in process must document earned income.
Applicants under 60 years of age who are not disabled and who did not receive HEAP in the previous program year must apply in person. In Clinton County, the Department of Social Services contracts with JCEO to be our certifying agency.
In order to be eligible for regular HEAP, there must be a documented vendor relationship with a fuel dealer. Other required documentation includes proof of residence, household composition, citizenship and income.
For emergency HEAP, in addition to the above, proof must also be provided that the applicant is both customer of record with the fuel vendor and tenant of record. Also, resources must be explored when determining eligibility for emergency HEAP. The availability of the resources must also be determined.
Certain households are ineligible for HEAP due to their living arrangements. Ineligible households include:
| Tenants of government-subsidized housing with heat included in their rent |
| Individuals temporarily housed in motels or living in cars or vans |
| Individuals paying room and board or room only in private houses |
| Residents of congregate care facilities, including Title XIX facilities |
| Children in boarding/group homes |
| Military personnel who live in base housing with no payments for heat or rent |
| Migrant or seasonal farm workers with no heating or rental expense |
| Dependent students |
For HEAP purposes, households who do not pay directly to a fuel vendor for heat because heat is included in their rental payment are called renters. These households can apply for and receive a regular HEAP benefit in the form of a renter’s benefit – a fixed dollar amount based on income tier. Renter’s benefits are the same throughout New York State:
Tier I $50
Tier II $40