ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that an additional $15 million is available to help eligible New Yorkers facing a home heating emergency.
Starting Tuesday, February 18, households can apply for a second emergency benefit through the Home Energy Assistance Program - or HEAP - if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having their utility service shut off and have already received assistance from HEAP this winter.
Also, the deadline to apply for both regular and emergency HEAP benefits has been extended until April 24. Cuomo says that this additional funding, eligible households could receive up to $2,200 from HEAP to help defray the cost of heating their home this winter.
Households are usually only eligible to receive one regular HEAP benefit each winter, and then one emergency HEAP benefit in the event of an energy crisis. Beginning Tuesday, households that have already received a regular and emergency benefit during this HEAP season will be able to apply for additional assistance if they are faced with the possibility of having a utility shut off or running out of heating fuel without the available resources to replenish it.
Applications for emergency HEAP are accepted at local departments of social services in person or by telephone. A list of offices by county can be found here.