HEAP NY 2026-27: Benefits, Income Limits, How to Apply

New York also gets more federal LIHEAP money than any other state. Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov FY2025 obligations found New York received $399,996,357, or $20.00 per resident, against a national figure of $11.94.

There's no free "HEAP grant" that arrives by text, call or social media. ACF's LIHEAP page (opens in a new tab) says LIHEAP doesn't give direct grants to individuals and doesn't charge a fee for a benefit.

For how LIHEAP works nationally, including the federal funding release for the 2026-27 winter, read our national LIHEAP guide. This page covers what's specific to New York.

HEAP 2026-27 at a Glance: Five Benefits and Their Dates

HEAP has 5 components, and each one opens on its own date and runs through its own channel. These are the 2026-27 dates OTDA posted on its HEAP page (opens in a new tab) and How to Apply page (opens in a new tab) as of October 28, 2026.

The common mistake: waiting for Emergency HEAP. It doesn't open until January 4, 2027, and Regular HEAP opens two months earlier. Apply for Regular HEAP in November, then call your local district for Emergency HEAP if you still run short. OTDA says households that qualify will be notified no later than 30 business days after the local district receives the Regular HEAP application.

HEAP pays for heat from electricity, natural gas, oil, coal, propane, wood or wood pellets, kerosene and corn, per OTDA.

HEAP Income Limits for 2026-27

OTDA's 2026-2027 HEAP Monthly Income Limits apply to every component. Your household's total gross monthly income must be at or below the figure for your household size.

Source: OTDA HEAP page (opens in a new tab), 2026-2027 HEAP Monthly Income Limits. Annual figures are the monthly limit times 12.

New York's limit for a family of four, $82,224 a year, is far above the federal 150% of poverty line of $48,225 for the same family that the LIHEAP Clearinghouse (opens in a new tab) lists for FY2026. If you assumed you earn too much, check the table.

Categorical eligibility. For Regular, Emergency and Cooling benefits, OTDA says your household can qualify without meeting the income table if you receive SNAP, federally funded Temporary Assistance (also called Public Assistance), or Code A SSI (SSI for someone living alone). A household member must also be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. Our guides to SNAP and SSI explain those programs.

Tier 1. OTDA adds $61 to the Regular benefit if your gross income is at or below 130% of the federal poverty level for your household size, or if an adult in the home receives ongoing federally funded Temporary Assistance, SNAP or Code A SSI.

Regular HEAP Benefit Amounts for 2026-27

The Regular benefit runs from $21 to $990 before add-ons, and the biggest factor is how you pay for heat. OTDA's 2026-2027 table:

Add-ons for households paying directly for heat:

• +$61 if the household is in the Tier 1 income range (at or below 130% of poverty, or receiving TA, SNAP or Code A SSI)
• +$35 if the household includes a vulnerable member: someone 60 or older, under 6, or permanently disabled

Specifically, a household that heats with oil, has income under 130% of poverty and includes a grandparent over 60 would get $990 + $61 + $35 = $1,086 under OTDA's 2026-27 table. A household on gas heat with the same profile would get $400 + $61 + $35 = $496.

Where the money goes. OTDA pays Regular benefits for households that pay for heat directly to the vendor that supplies the main heat source. If you buy oil or propane, make sure your dealer participates; OTDA's HEAP Participating Vendor List (opens in a new tab) lets you pick your county and fuel type.

Emergency HEAP, Repairs, Clean and Tune, and Cooling

New York's other four benefits are where people most often leave money on the table. Here's what OTDA's 2026-27 rules say about each.

Emergency HEAP (opens January 4, 2027)

You may qualify if the electricity your heating system or thermostat needs is shut off or scheduled to be shut off, your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut off, or you're out of fuel or have less than a quarter tank of oil, kerosene or propane, or less than a 10-day supply of wood, pellets, corn or another delivered fuel. You also need to meet the income test or get SNAP, TA or Code A SSI, have the heating or electric bill in your name, and have available resources under $2,500, or under $3,750 if anyone in the household is 60 or older or under 6.

Source: OTDA HEAP page (opens in a new tab), Emergency Heat and Heat-related HEAP Benefit Amounts for 2026-2027.

OTDA says you must contact your HEAP Local District Contact for an emergency; it can't help through its website. In New York City, call 718-557-1399.

Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (opened October 1, 2026)

If you're a homeowner and your furnace, boiler or other direct heating equipment stops working, HERR pays the actual cost up to $4,000 for a repair or $8,000 for a replacement. The work must be approved by your local district before it starts, and OTDA pays the vendor after the job is done. An eligibility interview, in person or by phone, is required. If HEAP can't help, OTDA points you to emergency assistance through Temporary Assistance, which you can apply for at myBenefits.ny.gov or with form LDSS-2921 at your local DSS.

Clean and Tune (opened October 1, 2026)

Homeowners can get their primary heating equipment cleaned, and possibly a chimney cleaning, minor repairs, a carbon monoxide detector or a programmable thermostat, up to $500. You qualify if the equipment is more than 12 months old, hasn't been cleaned in the past 12 months, you don't have a service contract that already covers cleaning, and your income is within the table.

Cooling Assistance (2026-27 dates not yet posted)

The 2025-26 Cooling Assistance benefit closed June 5, 2026. It provided one air conditioner or fan per household, up to $800 installed for a window or portable unit or fan, or $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit. You needed a household member with a documented medical condition made worse by extreme heat, or a member 60 or older or under 6, plus no working air conditioner (or one five years old or older) and no HEAP-funded air conditioner in the past five years. OTDA hasn't posted the 2026-27 opening date; check its page in spring.

How to Apply for HEAP: myBenefits, Your Local District, or NYC HRA

New York has 58 HEAP local district contacts: 57 counties plus New York City. OTDA's Local District Contact list (opens in a new tab) lets you pick your county for the address and phone number. Here's how each benefit is taken, per OTDA's How to Apply page (opens in a new tab):

New York City. HRA's energy assistance page (opens in a new tab) confirms the November 2, 2026 Regular opening and the October 1, 2026 HERR and Clean and Tune openings. You can upload documents through the free ACCESS HRA mobile app, call 718-557-1399 to have an application mailed to you, or visit a HEAP office or outreach location listed on that page.

Tips that save a second trip:

1. Sign Section 9 (Consent and Signature) of the LDSS-3421. OTDA singles this out as something people forget.
2. Bring proof of gross income for everyone in the home, your most recent heating and electric bills, and proof of any SNAP, TA or SSI.
3. If you buy oil or propane, give your dealer's name and confirm it's on the participating vendor list for your county.
4. The application is available in several other languages and alternative formats, per OTDA.

For general questions, OTDA's hotline is 1-800-342-3009.

New York's Utility Shutoff Protections Under HEFPA

New York's Home Energy Fair Practices Act (HEFPA) gives residential electric and natural gas customers protections most states don't. These come from the Department of Public Service's HEFPA rights brochure (opens in a new tab), revised December 2025:

If you get a final termination notice, DPS says to call your utility first to try for an affordable payment agreement, then call the Emergency HOTLINE at 800-342-3355 (7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on business days) if you can't reach one. For general complaints, call 800-342-3377. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse's disconnection policies table (opens in a new tab) lists the same November 1 to April 15 cold-weather rule and New York's extra contact attempts for elderly, blind and disabled customers.

A red flag people miss: HEFPA covers regulated electric and natural gas service. If you heat with delivered oil or propane, a dealer can stop delivering, and HEFPA's shutoff rules don't apply the same way. That's why Emergency HEAP counts a quarter tank as an emergency. Apply before you're empty.

The Energy Affordability Program: A Monthly Discount on Top of HEAP

HEAP is a once-a-season benefit, but receiving it can lower every monthly bill. The Department of Public Service's Energy Affordability Program page (opens in a new tab) says all large electric and gas utilities give the EAP discount to households that receive a HEAP benefit. The covered utilities are Central Hudson, Con Edison, National Fuel, National Grid (Upstate, NYC Metro and Long Island), NYSEG, Orange & Rockland, PSEG Long Island and Rochester Gas & Electric.

Per the DPS page, EAP eligibility was expanded on January 13, 2026 to utility customers below median income, and EAP participants are automatically put on budget billing (you can opt out). The DPS income limits as of October 15, 2026:

Source: DPS Energy Affordability Program (opens in a new tab), checked October 28, 2026.

The DPS page says HEAP recipients may be enrolled automatically. If your bill doesn't show the discount after you receive HEAP, call your utility and ask to be enrolled. The Governor's Office said in November 2025 that EAP discounts are designed to keep eligible households below 6% of income spent on energy.

New York's LIHEAP Funding Per Resident

According to USAspending FY2025 records, New York's LIHEAP agency was obligated $399,996,357 under Assistance Listing 93.568, the largest total of any state. Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) FY2025 obligations found that's $20.00 per resident, using the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate of 20,002,427 New Yorkers.

Source: USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) FY2025 obligations for 93.568 by recipient state; Census Bureau Vintage 2025 state population estimates.

New York's total was 1.66 times California's $240,593,016, even though California has roughly twice as many residents. Per resident, New York's $20.00 is 1.67 times the national $11.94, but it's below several neighbors: Vermont received $35.73, Connecticut $23.35 and Massachusetts $22.38, while Pennsylvania received $17.58 and New Jersey $13.94. For a contrast with a warm state, see our Florida LIHEAP guide, where the figure is $4.95.

The Governor's Office said in November 2025 that HEAP serves around 1.5 million New York households. A big federal total doesn't mean a big check for each of them: it's spread across that many households and five components.

What OTDA's HEAP Page Doesn't Tell You

OTDA's page is detailed, but a few things matter more than it lets on.

1. Regular HEAP is your best bet; Emergency HEAP is a backstop. Regular opens November 2 and Emergency not until January 4. Waiting for an emergency wastes the November and December window when Regular HEAP is already paying.
2. The add-ons are small, but the fuel type isn't. The $61 and $35 add-ons matter less than the base amount, which ranges from $400 for gas or electric heat to $990 for oil or propane. Report your primary heat source accurately; a wrong fuel type means the wrong benefit.
3. Renters with heat included get very little. If heat is in your rent, the benefit is $21 to $50. It still helps in another way: it can qualify you for Cooling Assistance (if your Regular benefit is more than $21, or $21 in subsidized housing) and, if you have your own electric or gas account, for the EAP utility discount.
4. HERR needs approval before the work. A homeowner who pays a contractor first and applies later can be denied. Call the local district before anyone touches the furnace.
5. Emergency HEAP has an asset test. Regular HEAP doesn't list one, but Emergency HEAP requires resources under $2,500 (or $3,750 with a member 60+ or under 6). Know this before you count on it.
6. HEAP unlocks a year-round discount. The EAP discount with Con Edison, National Grid and other large utilities follows a HEAP benefit. Many people take the one-time HEAP payment and never check that the monthly discount was applied.

Avoid HEAP and Utility Scams in New York

Scammers target the weeks before shutoffs and the first cold snap. The FTC's page on scammers who pretend to be your utility company (opens in a new tab) says real utilities don't demand same-day payment to avoid disconnection, and that demands for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps are red flags. The FTC's government grant scams page (opens in a new tab) says offers of free government grant money for personal bills are scams.

New York-specific warning signs:

• A caller threatening to cut your Con Edison or National Grid service today. Under HEFPA, a utility needs a written final notice and a 15-day wait, and it can't disconnect on a Friday, weekend or holiday.
• Someone charging a fee to file your LDSS-3421 or to get you HEAP "before November 2." Applying is free, and the date is set by OTDA.
• An oil or propane "dealer" asking for payment up front to claim your HEAP benefit. Check the participating vendor list.
• A text promising a HEAP deposit to your bank account. Regular HEAP for direct payers goes to the vendor.

What to do: hang up and call your utility at the number on your bill, or your Local District Contact. Report HEAP impersonation to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477 and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab).

Other Help in New York If HEAP Isn't Enough

• Weatherization. The DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) serves households up to 200% of poverty or receiving SSI. Our home repair grants guide covers this and USDA repair programs.
• Temporary Assistance emergency help. If HEAP can't cover a heating emergency, OTDA points to emergency assistance through Temporary Assistance at your local DSS. Our TANF guide explains the cash program.
• Rent and other bills. See our rental assistance programs guide and help for seniors guide.
• 211. Dial 211 for local emergency utility, rent and food help.
• Other states. Helping family elsewhere? See LIHEAP in Illinois and LIHEAP in California.

If you're not sure which program fits, Grantsights' free eligibility checker begins with one question: who are you? Choose "Individual," then "Personal financial help" (or "Student"), and it lists official routes rather than grants: the USA.gov benefit finder, rental help, help with bills, food help, studentaid.gov, and the 211 line. For a New Yorker, the "help with bills" route leads back to HEAP and your utility. Read how to apply for grants as an individual for why help for households comes through programs like HEAP rather than personal grants.

FAQ: HEAP NY Questions

When does HEAP open in New York for 2026-27?

Regular HEAP is scheduled to open November 2, 2026, and Emergency HEAP January 4, 2027. HERR and Clean and Tune opened October 1, 2026. Cooling dates for 2026-27 aren't posted yet.

What are the HEAP income limits in New York for 2026-27?

Gross monthly income at or below $3,563 for one person, $4,659 for two, $5,756 for three, $6,852 for four, and up to $10,515 for 13, plus $710 for each additional person. SNAP, TA and Code A SSI households can qualify without the income test.

How much is the HEAP benefit in New York?

The 2026-27 base Regular benefit is $990 for oil, kerosene or propane, $700 for wood and other delivered fuels, and $400 for electric or gas heat paid directly, plus $61 for Tier 1 households and $35 for a vulnerable member. Heat-in-rent households get $21 to $50.

How do I apply for HEAP in New York?

Outside NYC, use myBenefits.ny.gov (opens in a new tab) or your Local District Contact (opens in a new tab). In NYC, apply through ACCESS HRA, by mail to PO Box 1401, Church Street Station, New York, NY 10008, or call 718-557-1399.

What is Emergency HEAP and who qualifies?

Emergency HEAP pays $185 to $990 when heat is off or scheduled to be shut off, or fuel is almost gone. Resources must be under $2,500, or $3,750 with a member 60+ or under 6. It opens January 4, 2027.

Can my utility shut off my heat in winter in New York?

Yes, but HEFPA requires a written final notice and 15-day wait, extra care from November 1 to April 15, and protection for certified medical emergencies. Call 800-342-3355 if you get a final notice.

Is a HEAP grant offered by text or social media real?

No. HEAP doesn't give direct grants or charge fees. Report offers to 1-800-447-8477 and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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Sources

1. OTDA: Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - 2026-27 dates, benefit amounts, add-ons, eligibility, income limits
2. OTDA: How to Apply (opens in a new tab) - application channels by component, LDSS-3421, 30-business-day notice
3. OTDA: HEAP Local District Contacts (opens in a new tab) - 57 counties plus New York City
4. NYC HRA: Energy Assistance (opens in a new tab) - NYC dates, ACCESS HRA, phone, fax and mail
5. DPS: Your Rights and Protections (HEFPA brochure, revised December 2025) (opens in a new tab)
6. DPS: Energy Affordability Program (opens in a new tab) - HEAP-linked discount, utilities, income limits
7. LIHEAP Clearinghouse disconnect policies (opens in a new tab) - New York shutoff protections
8. LIHEAP Clearinghouse income eligibility (opens in a new tab) - federal poverty comparison
9. ACF Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - fraud notice
10. Governor's Office, November 10, 2025 (opens in a new tab) - HEAP households served, EAP design
11. DOE: How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance (opens in a new tab)
12. FTC: Scammers Pretend To Be Your Utility Company (opens in a new tab) and FTC: Government Grant Scams (opens in a new tab)
13. USAspending.gov award search (opens in a new tab) - FY2025 obligations for Assistance Listing 93.568