Temperatures have dropped, the first snow has fallen and you may be growing concerned about the ability to afford the high cost of heating your home this winter. Accordingly, I would like to inform you that the Suffolk County Office for the Aging will begin processing applications for the 2013-2014 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which provides financial assistance for qualifying senior citizen households on Monday, November 18.
Times are tough and our most vulnerable residents should not have to choose whether to heat their homes or put food on the table. Luckily, the HEAP program will again provide much needed assistance to Suffolk County seniors struggling through this difficult economic period.
Depending on your primary heating source, qualifying homeowners and renters can receive a basic HEAP benefit of between $400 and $650 for oil, propane, kerosene natural gas or electricity. Last year, thousands of Suffolk County households received assistance through HEAP. Assistance is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis while available.
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Applications were already mailed out to households that received a benefit in the 2012-2013 program. Individuals who have not previously received the benefit and wish to submit a new application to the Office for the Aging must meet one of the following conditions:
· Age 60 or older, or
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· Under 60 and receiving Social Security Disability, or
· Under 60 and receiving Supplemental Security Income Code A.
To request an application, call the Office of the Aging HEAP Hotline at (631) 853-8326 after November 18.
Applicants who do not meet the Office for the Aging guidelines may still qualify based on HEAP Tier Income Guidelines for income and household size. A family’s gross monthly household income must be at or below the poverty standards set by New York State for HEAP. For example, monthly income for a 1-person household cannot exceed $2,175, for a 2-person household the limit is $2,844 and for a 3 or 4-person household it cannot exceed $3,513 or $4,182 respectively. For more information, call the HEAP hotline at (631) 853-8825. Non-emergency new applications can be obtained and completed in person at the Suffolk County Department of Social Services South West Center, located at 2 South 2nd Street in Deer Park, (631) 854-6684 or accessed online at http://otda.ny.gov/programs/apply/#heap
I urge all residents who qualify or even think they may qualify to apply for this vital assistance.
