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HEAP applications for second emergency benefit available to St. Lawrence County residents

Posted 3/12/15

People in St. Lawrence County in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off can apply for a second emergency benefit through the Home Energy Assistance Program …

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HEAP applications for second emergency benefit available to St. Lawrence County residents

Posted

People in St. Lawrence County in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off can apply for a second emergency benefit through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

The additional assistance is being made available in light of the prolonged cold weather and additional federal funding awarded to the state.

“This extra funding will be a crucial form of support for families across the state, and I encourage anyone who may need help affording their heating bills to reach out to us today,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his announcement of the extra funds available.

Normally, eligible households can receive one regular HEAP benefit per season and could also qualify for a single emergency HEAP benefit if they face an energy emergency situation.

Households that have already received a regular benefit and an emergency benefit can now apply for a second emergency benefit if they find themselves in a crisis. Applications for regular and emergency HEAP benefits will be accepted through Friday, March 27.

Emergency benefit amounts vary depending on the emergency, up to a maximum of $575.

Eligibility varies based on income and household size. For the 2014-15 HEAP season, a household of four can earn up to $50,629 a year, or $4,219 a month, and still qualify for assistance.

In St. Lawrence County, the number to call for all HEAP assistance is 379-2303.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Executive Deputy Commissioner Sharon Devine said, “Another harsh winter has wreaked havoc on household budgets and we’ve heard from our local partners that senior citizens and the elderly have been particularly hard hit. It’s important that households facing an emergency situation know that help is still available but they need to contact their local department of social services to apply.”

HEAP is 100-percent federally funded. New York State has received a total of $377 million in federal HEAP funding for the 2014-15 season, including a late-winter release of $33.3 million.