St. Lawrence County residents needing help paying heating bills this winter can apply for assistance from the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) beginning Monday, Nov. 16.

The program provides financial assistance to help low-income and elderly New Yorkers keep their homes warm in the winter months.

The Home Energy Assistance Program is funded by the federal government and is overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Eligible households can receive a one-time benefit of up to $625 this winter depending upon income, household size and heating source. For the upcoming season, a household of four can earn up to $51,792, or $4,316 a month, and still qualify for assistance.

Last winter, 1.48 million households received benefits through the program. In the North Country, 38,862 households received assistance last winter.

"The Home Energy Assistance Program is vital to helping struggling households afford the costs of heating their homes during the cold New York winters," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "It provides some much-needed relief, especially for low-income working families, as well as senior citizens on a fixed income. I encourage anyone in need of this assistance to apply before the coldest weather sets in."

Households may also be eligible for an emergency benefit if they are in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off. Applications for emergency benefits will be accepted beginning Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Households facing an energy emergency should call their local department of social services for assistance.

Anyone living outside of New York City can apply for a regular Home Energy Assistance benefit online at myBenefits.ny.gov.