Emergency Benefits

A second Emergency benefit component for the 2022-23 season became available to NYS residents on February 27, 2023, following the first Emergency Benefit having been made available to eligible residents on January 3, 2023. 

Emergency HEAP benefits and eligibility are based on income, available resources and the type of emergency. An applicant may be eligible for an Emergency HEAP benefit if:

• Their electricity is necessary for their heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut off or scheduled to be shut off.
• Their electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut off.
• They are out of fuel. or have less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or have less than a 10-day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn or other deliverable heat source. 
• Their income is at or below the income guidelines (listed below) or if they receive Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) or Code A Supplemental Security Income. 
• The heating or electric bill is in their name.
• The household's available resources are less than $2,000 and no member of the household is age 60 or older; or less than $3,000 and any member of the household is age 60 or older. 

Click Here for the various parameters and thresholds related to the Emergency Benefit component. 

Anticipated Emergency Heat and Heat-related Benefit Amounts for 2022-2023

Click Here for general application information related to Erie County HEAP.