NYS Home Energy Assistance Program Benefit Extended to March 27th

County Executive Steve Bellone announced that the HEAP season has been extended to March 27, 2015. A second HEAP Emergency benefit for heat and heat-related emergencies will be made available effective Monday, March 9, 2015. The Regular benefit, Emergency benefit and second Emergency benefit components will all close Friday, March 27, 2015.

“This emergency benefit will help thousands of families who struggled against near-record frigid weather,” County Executive Bellone said.  “I encourage residents to take advantage of this extra help.  Please be mindful of the March 27^th deadline and feel free to contact the Suffolk County Department of Social Services with HEAP specific questions and concerns.”

Residents may be eligible for various types of HEAP benefits listed below:

Regular Benefit-The HEAP regular benefit component assists low-income Suffolk County residents with the cost of heating their homes. The Regular Benefit Component of the 2014-15 HEAP season opened November 17, 2014 and closes March 27, 2015.

Emergency Benefit-The HEAP emergency benefit component assists qualifying low-income Suffolk County residents who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have resources above the established limits. The Emergency Benefit Component of the 2014-15 HEAP season opened January 2, 2015 and closes March 27, 2015

Eligibility criteria for the second Emergency benefit will be the same as the first Emergency benefit. Applicants must have exhausted or have unavailable to them both the Regular benefit and the Emergency benefit in order to be eligible for the second Emergency benefit.

Applications for Regular and both Emergency component benefits will be accepted through close of business Friday, March 27, 2015. Mail-in applications postmarked or electronic applications received on or before March 27, 2015 will meet the deadline. The functionality to submit online HEAP applications through www.myBenefits.ny.gov will be disabled starting at 5:00 pm on March 27, 2015.

2014-2015 HEAP Monthly Income Limits 

Your total household gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following guidelines:

Applications for emergency benefits can also be taken by phone@:

(631) 853-8820 or; (631) 853-8825

You may also apply by phone at one of the following fuel sites:

Smithtown DSS, 200 Wireless Blvd. Hauppauge NY 11788, (631) 853-8847    fax (631) 853-8892

Southwest DSS, 2 South 2nd St. Deer Park NY 11729, (631) 854-6684/6685   fax (631) 854-6686

Riverhead DSS, 895 E. Main St. Riverhead NY 11901, (631) 852-3631   fax (631) 852-3644

Community Resources

The EmPower New York program (EmPower) administered through NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) has limited resources to respond to no-heat situations. Empower fact sheets can found at the HEAP reception desk in the DSS centers. Customers may also contact EmPower at 1-800-263-0960.