NYS home heating rebate program opens to eligible residents

ALBANY — Eligible New Yorkers could save up to $1,086 on home heating this winter as the cold weather sets in.

Applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program, known as HEAP, opened Monday. The program aims to help defray heating costs for low- and middle-income households and older adults. Energy prices are rising and the cost for home heating oil  has increased nearly 70% from a year ago.

“HEAP is a lifeline for tens of thousands of households across New York State confronted with rising energy prices,” Barbara C. Guinn, assistant commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance said in a news release Monday.

Nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers received HEAP benefits for a total of $375.9 million in the federal fiscal year 2024-25, which runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, according to the most recent data from the state comptroller’s office.

On Long Island, there were 17,283 HEAP recipients in Nassau County in fiscal 2025 equating to more than $4.8 million, according to the comptroller's office.

Suffolk County — which had the second highest number of recipients of any county outside of New York City — had 60,884 HEAP recipients for a total of more than $20 million in benefits.

Gov. Kathy Hochul in early October said she expects a similar number of benefits to be issued this winter.

Here’s what to know:

Who qualifies?

To qualify, a member of the household must be a U.S. citizen or qualified noncitizen, and the household gross monthly income must be at or below certain income guidelines based on the size of the household.

A family of four, for example, can have a gross monthly income of up to $6,852 or $82,230 annually and still qualify, according to the governor’s office.

Homeowners and those who pay for heat as part of their rent may also be eligible.

Individuals enrolled in certain safety-net programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, or who receive public assistance may be automatically enrolled in the program. Those that receive what’s known as Coda A Supplemental Security Income are also eligible.

How much are the benefits?

The federally funded program, implemented by the state, helps eligible New Yorkers cover heating and utility costs each winter.

It can be used if you heat your home with electricity, natural gas, oil, coal, propane, wood or wood pellets, kerosene or corn, according to the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Benefits vary based on the size of the household, living situation and type of heating.

For example, a household that lives in government subsidized housing with heat included in their rent may receive a base amount of $21 this winter. And a household whose primary heat is oil who makes direct payments to a vendor for heating may get $990 with add-ons.

Certain households that pay directly for heat may be eligible for an additional $61. Households get an extra $35 if they have a child under the age of 6, an adult age 60 or older, or a permanently disabled individual.

The state increased benefits for those who have fuel delivered to $990 for those who use oil, kerosene or propane, and $700 for those heating with wood, pellets and coal.

Are there other benefits?

Those who enroll in the HEAP program are automatically enrolled in a subsidy known as the Energy Assistance Program, which provides low-income and qualified homeowners discounts on their utility bills up to $500 annually.

New Yorkers who qualify for HEAP may also be eligible for an Emergency HEAP benefit if they need help heating their home or are in a heat or heat-related emergency. The 2026-27 emergency benefits applications will be accepted starting on Jan. 4.

Eligible homeowners can also apply for up to $500 to have their heating equipment inspected and cleaned through the HEAP Heating Equipment Clean and Tune benefit.

And homeowners could receive up to $4,000 for repairs and $8,000 for replacements under the HEAP Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement program.

How do residents apply?

To see if you qualify visit ny.gov/HEAP. Applications are accepted at your county Department of Social Services and can be submitted by mail, in person or online at Mybenefits.ny.gov.

Older adults that need assistance applying should contact their local office for the aging or call the NY Connects helpline: 800-342-9871.

A series of video tutorials to assist older adults in applying for benefits is available on the state Office for the Aging’s YouTube channel.