New York runs its LIHEAP dollars through the Home Energy Assistance Program, known statewide as HEAP. The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) sets the rules, and your local department of social services processes the application. For the 2026-2027 season, the Regular HEAP benefit opens November 2, 2026, the Emergency benefit opens January 4, 2027, and the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement and Clean and Tune benefits opened October 1, 2026. A one-person household can earn up to $3,563 per month in gross income and still qualify. Most people apply online at mybenefits.ny.gov, or through ACCESS HRA if they live in New York City.
If the two names are confusing you, LIHEAP is the federal program and HEAP is New York's version of it. Our guide on HEAP vs LIHEAP explains how the federal block grant turns into a state program, so this article sticks to New York's actual rules, numbers, and steps.
New York HEAP Income Limits 2026-2027
New York sets HEAP eligibility at roughly 60% of the state median income, not at a percentage of the federal poverty level. That makes New York's limits noticeably higher than LIHEAP limits in most states, so households that assume they earn too much often still qualify.
OTDA splits eligible households into two income tiers. Tier I households get a slightly larger benefit. Both tiers qualify.
| Household Size | Tier I Monthly Income | Tier II Monthly Income (maximum) |
|---|
| 1 | $0 to $1,729 | $1,730 to $3,563 |
| 2 | $0 to $2,344 | $2,345 to $4,659 |
| 3 | $0 to $2,959 | $2,960 to $5,756 |
| 4 | $0 to $3,575 | $3,576 to $6,852 |
| 5 | $0 to $4,190 | $4,191 to $7,948 |
| 6 | $0 to $4,805 | $4,806 to $9,045 |
| 7 | $0 to $5,421 | $5,422 to $9,250 |
| 8 | $0 to $6,036 | $6,037 to $9,456 |
| 9 | $0 to $6,651 | $6,652 to $9,662 |
| 10 | $0 to $7,267 | $7,268 to $9,867 |
| 11 | $0 to $7,882 | $7,883 to $10,073 |
| 12 | $0 to $8,497 | $8,498 to $10,278 |
| 13 | $0 to $9,113 | $9,114 to $10,515 |
| Each additional person | Add $615 | Add $710 |
These figures come from the 2026-2027 HEAP Desk Guide (form LDSS-5005). They are gross monthly income, before taxes and deductions, counting everyone who lives in the home.
If you are paid weekly, multiply your gross weekly pay by 4.333333 to convert it to a monthly figure. If you are paid every two weeks, multiply by 2.166666. Using four weeks instead of 4.33 undercounts your income and can cause problems later.
Households that are automatically income eligible
You do not have to document income at all if anyone in your household receives:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Temporary Assistance (public assistance)
- Code A Supplemental Security Income
This is called categorical eligibility. OTDA also prepares automatic HEAP payments at the start of each season for many households in these programs, sending the money straight to the heat supplier without an application. If you receive SNAP or Temporary Assistance and your heating is billed separately, check your mail and your utility account in November before assuming you need to file anything. If no automatic payment shows up, apply.
Who Qualifies for HEAP in New York
Beyond income, a New York household generally needs to meet all of the following:
- Residency. You live in New York State and the benefit is for your primary residence.
- Heating responsibility. You pay for heat directly to a vendor or utility, or you pay heat as part of your rent. Renters with heat included still qualify, just for a much smaller amount.
- Citizenship or immigration status. At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified non-citizen. Household members without a qualifying status are still counted for household size and income.
- Resource limits, for some benefits only. The Regular benefit has no resource test. Emergency and equipment benefits do (see below).
Homeowners, renters, mobile home residents, and people in subsidized housing can all qualify. You can receive one Regular HEAP benefit per household per program year.
HEAP Benefit Amounts for 2026-2027
How much you get depends on what you heat with, whether you pay the heating vendor yourself, your income tier, and whether a vulnerable household member lives with you.
Regular benefit: households that pay a heating vendor
| Heating Type | Base Benefit |
|---|
| Natural gas or electric utility heat | $400 |
| Oil, kerosene, propane | $990 |
| Wood, wood pellets, coal, corn, other deliverable fuel | $700 |
Two add-ons can increase that base amount:
- Tier I income: add $61
- Vulnerable household member (age 60 or older, under age 6, or permanently disabled): add $35
So a Tier I household heating with oil and a household member over 60 would receive $990 plus $61 plus $35, for $1,086.
Regular benefit: households with heat included in rent
| Household Type | Benefit |
|---|
| Tier I | $50 |
| Tier II | $45 |
| Heat and Eat (subsidized housing or group home with heat included) | $21 |
The $21 Heat and Eat payment looks trivial, and as a heating payment it is. Its real value is that it can trigger a standard utility allowance in the SNAP calculation, which may increase your monthly food benefit by far more than $21. If you live in subsidized housing with heat included, apply anyway. Our New York SNAP eligibility guide walks through how that calculation works.
Emergency HEAP benefit amounts
The Emergency benefit is for households already in or facing a heat emergency, such as a utility shutoff notice, a service termination, or nearly empty fuel tank.
| Emergency Type | Benefit |
|---|
| Heat-related domestic electric | $185 |
| Natural gas, heat only | $400 |
| Natural gas combined with domestic electric | $585 |
| Electric heat | $585 |
| Oil, kerosene, propane | $990 |
| Wood, pellets, coal, corn, other | $700 |
| Propane tank deposit | Up to $500 per program year |
| Temporary relocation | Up to $500 per program year |
Emergency benefits are resource tested. Your household's available liquid resources cannot exceed $2,500, or $3,750 if someone in the household is age 60 or older or under age 6. Resources are generally taken by attestation unless the examiner has reason to doubt what you reported. In most cases you must have already received and used your Regular benefit before an Emergency benefit is approved, which is the single best reason to apply in early November rather than waiting for a crisis in February.
Heating equipment and cooling benefits
| Benefit Type | Maximum |
|---|
| Heating equipment repair | $4,000 |
| Heating equipment replacement | $8,000 |
| Clean and tune | $500 |
| Cooling: window or portable AC, or fan | $800 |
| Cooling: wall sleeve AC | $1,000 |
Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) is for homeowners whose furnace, boiler, or other primary heating equipment has failed or is working unsafely. It has its own resource limit of $10,000. Clean and tune covers a safety inspection and tune-up of working equipment, up to $500. Both opened October 1, 2026 for the current season.
Cooling Assistance is a separate spring component. The 2025-2026 cooling cycle ran from April 15, 2026 to June 5, 2026. The 2027 opening date had not been published as of October 2026. Cooling requires a household member age 60 or older, under age 6, or with a medical condition aggravated by heat and documented by a medical professional, and you generally cannot receive it if you already got a HEAP-funded air conditioner within the past five years. Our LIHEAP cooling assistance guide compares how states handle this.
2026-2027 HEAP Season Dates
| Component | Opens |
|---|
| Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement | October 1, 2026 |
| Clean and Tune | October 1, 2026 |
| Regular benefit | November 2, 2026 |
| Emergency benefit | January 4, 2027 |
| Cooling Assistance | Spring 2027, date not yet announced |
Each component closes when its funding is spent, and the Regular benefit historically closes in mid-March while Emergency applications are typically accepted into mid-April. Federal LIHEAP appropriations have been unpredictable in recent years, which means closing dates can move earlier than expected. Treat the opening date as the real deadline and apply in the first weeks of November.
How to Apply for HEAP in New York: Step by Step
1. Pick your application channel
- Online, statewide: mybenefits.ny.gov. This is the fastest route and it works for Regular and Emergency HEAP.
- Online, New York City: ACCESS HRA, at access.nyc.gov, or mybenefits.ny.gov. NYC applications are processed by the Human Resources Administration.
- By paper: form LDSS-3421, the Home Energy Assistance Program Application, available from OTDA or your local district office.
- In person: your county department of social services. NYC residents can go to any HRA Benefits Access Center.
- Age 60 or older: many counties route senior applications through the local Office for the Aging, which often provides help completing the form. Call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 to find yours.
2. Gather your documents before you start
- Photo ID for the applicant
- Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
- Proof of income for every household member for the four weeks before you apply, such as pay stubs, award letters, or a benefit statement
- Proof of residence: lease, deed, mortgage statement, or current utility bill
- Your most recent heating bill and electric bill, including the account number and the exact name on the account
- For heat included in rent: your lease or a landlord statement confirming it
- For Emergency HEAP: the shutoff or termination notice, or proof of your fuel level
- For equipment benefits: proof of homeownership and a contractor estimate if you have one
Having the account number and the name on the heating account matters more than people expect. HEAP pays your vendor directly, and a mismatched account name is one of the most common reasons a payment gets delayed.
3. Submit and keep your confirmation
Online applications generate a confirmation number. Save it. If you file on paper, keep a copy of the full application and note the date you submitted it.
4. Complete the interview if one is requested
Most Regular HEAP applications are decided from documents alone. Emergency and equipment applications more often require a phone interview or a follow-up request for a document. Respond quickly, since Emergency HEAP is meant to be decided within 48 hours of a complete application when heat has already been shut off.
5. Watch for the decision notice
You will get a written notice telling you the benefit amount and which vendor it was paid to. Regular benefits go straight to your utility or fuel dealer and show up as a credit on your account, not as a check to you. If you are denied and you disagree, the notice explains how to request a conference with your local district and how to request a state fair hearing.
6. If you get stuck
Call the OTDA hotline at 1-800-342-3009 for HEAP questions, or contact your local district directly. For a broader view of what else your household may be eligible for alongside HEAP, our New York benefits guide covers Medicaid, SNAP, the Essential Plan, and other state programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for HEAP in New York for 2026?
For the 2026-2027 season, the maximum gross monthly income is $3,563 for one person, $4,659 for two, $5,756 for three, $6,852 for four, and $7,948 for five. Add $710 per additional person beyond 13. Households receiving SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Code A SSI are automatically income eligible and do not need to document income.
When can I apply for HEAP in New York?
The 2026-2027 Regular HEAP benefit opens November 2, 2026. The Emergency benefit opens January 4, 2027. Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement and Clean and Tune opened October 1, 2026. Each component stays open until funding is exhausted.
Can renters get HEAP in New York?
Yes. Renters who pay a heating vendor directly get the same Regular benefit as homeowners. Renters whose heat is included in rent receive $50 (Tier I) or $45 (Tier II), or $21 in subsidized housing and group homes. That small payment can still increase your SNAP benefit, so it is worth filing.
Do I have to apply if I already get SNAP in New York?
Not always. OTDA issues automatic HEAP payments at the start of each season for many households receiving SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Code A SSI. If no automatic payment appears on your heating account in November, file an application rather than waiting.
How much HEAP money can I get in New York?
A Regular benefit ranges from $21 for a subsidized-housing household with heat included up to $1,086 for a Tier I household that heats with oil, kerosene, or propane and includes a vulnerable member. Emergency benefits range from $185 to $990. Heating equipment replacement can reach $8,000.
Is HEAP the same as LIHEAP?
Yes. LIHEAP is the federal program name, and HEAP is what New York calls its version. The money is federal, the rules and benefit amounts are set by New York. See HEAP vs LIHEAP for the full explanation.
What if my heat is already shut off?
Apply for Emergency HEAP as soon as it opens, or contact your local department of social services immediately. When heat or heat-related service has already been terminated, the district is expected to resolve a complete emergency application within 48 hours. Bring the termination notice and your account number.
Can I get HEAP more than once in a season?
You can receive one Regular benefit per household per program year. Emergency, Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement, Clean and Tune, and Cooling are separate components with their own rules, so qualifying for one does not use up another.
