Modified: January 23, 2015 3:09pm
HEAP Emergency Assistance Component Begins on January 2nd 2014, Eligible Households Should Contact Erie County HEAP Office to Apply
ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced that the Erie County Department of Social Services’ 2013-2014 Home Energy Assistance Program (“HEAP”) emergency benefit component will begin on January 2, 2014. Emergency benefits are available to assist eligible households in resolving heating, heat-related electric and energy related temporary housing emergencies.
“HEAP is a federally-funded program to help eligible households in meeting their home energy needs,” said Poloncarz. “The emergency benefit component of this program is very important because it prevents the heat from being shut off on the homes of many low-income families and senior citizens on a fixed income. I encourage residents who qualify for this program to apply as soon as possible.”
Emergency benefit amounts are as follows:
- Heating emergency benefits:Heat-related electric = $160
- Oil, kerosene, and propane = $600
- Wood, wood pellets, corn, coal or other = $500
- Natural gas heat only = $400
- Natural gas heat with domestic electric = $560
- Electric heat = $560
- Temporary relocation = up to $500 per program year
- Propane tank deposit = up to $500 per program year
To be eligible for emergency HEAP assistance, the applicant must be the customer of record, have gross household monthly income at or below the maximum income guidelines, not have available liquid resources greater than $2,000 (or $3,000 if the household contains an individual age 60 or older), and meet all other non-financial requirements.
If service is currently off, a member of household, or authorized representative, must apply in person at the Erie County HEAP office, located at 478 Main Street, Buffalo.
Applicants, including TA and SNAP recipients approved for a 2013-14 regular benefit who meet the customer of record requirements, are permitted to apply for emergency benefits by phone at HEAP, call (716) 858-7644.
Applications for emergency HEAP benefits will be accepted through March 17, 2014.