How to apply for discounts on heating bills this winter

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Low-income New Yorkers may be eligible for discounts on their heating bills this winter through the state’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

Some benefit amounts can be more than $900 if the home is heated by oil, kerosene, or propane or more than $400 if residents are using gas or electricity.

New York City residents can apply at access.nyc.gov . Those outside the city can apply at myBenefits.ny.gov .

The eligibility requirements include income, household size, the primary heating source, and a household member who is under 6 years old or over 60, or permanently disabled.

You could also qualify if you receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Temporary Assistance or Supplemental Security Income.

The monthly income standards vary depending on household size. For example, a single-person household must make at or less than $3,322 monthly gross.

Residents may also get emergency HEAP benefits if they run low on fuel or have services shut off.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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