Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today announced that households needing heating assistance can begin applying for New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program on Monday, November 17. Eligible households can receive a one-time benefit of up to $625 this winter from the program, which is federally-funded.

This winter, anyone living outside of New York City can apply for a regular Home Energy Assistance Program benefit online at myBenefits.ny.gov. Last year, more than 35,000 households applied.

The program, overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, can assist eligible applicants regardless of whether they own their home or rent. Eligibility is determined by income and how many people live in the household. The maximum regular benefit a household can receive for the 2014-15 heating season is $625. Eligible households can receive one regular benefit per season and could 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 Friday, January 2, 2015. Households in an energy emergency situation should call their local department of social services for assistance. Anyone can apply for the program with their local department of social services. Last winter, more than 1.5 million households throughout New York State received Home Energy Assistance Program benefits.

For more information about the Home Energy Assistance Program, go to http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/. New Yorkers can find contact information for their county department of social services at http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/HEAP-contacts.pdf.

For the 2014-15 season, monthly income limits are as follows: