Erie County Legislator John Mills, R-East Aurora, announces that a Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Outreach will be held on Monday, March 7 at the Aurora Senior Center, 101 King St. in East Aurora. Attendees are asked to not park in Oakwood Square Plaza parking lot.

Interviews will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Doors open at 8:30am.  All applicants will be interviewed. 

HEAP is a federally funded program to assist Erie County residents with their heating bills. The HEAP outreach will be administered by the Erie County Departments of Social Services and Senior Services and is open to all income eligible households.

“This is a great opportunity for any residents and families who have not yet applied for HEAP assistance to do so,” Legislator Mills said. “The HEAP application process can be confusing and attending a HEAP Outreach helps those most in need.”

Applicants are requested to bring the following documentation to the outreach:

• one (1) form of identification for all household members (birth certificates, license, Social Security Card)
• Proof of income received within the last 30 days for all household members (pay stubs, SS or pension award letters, proof of child support, rental income, unemployment benefits, worker’s comp., etc)
• Current heat and electric bills

If an applicant is missing information, they may be allowed to mail the information and complete the application process.

Emergency HEAP applicants must also bring: current shut off or disconnect notices; proof of all household resources including: current checking and savings account bank statements, and proof of other resources (stocks, CDs, IRAs, 401k, etc). If the household already received a Regular HEAP benefit this season and does not have a shut off notice on heat or electric service, or a low supply of heating fuel, that household has exhausted benefits for the season. In order to access Emergency HEAP benefits, household must have a shut off notice, or low fuel supply.

For additional information, please call the HEAP Hotline, (716) 858-7644.

HEAP 2011 income guidelines are as follows: