Skip to main content

Emergency Benefits

The closing date for HEAP Emergency heating benefits was Monday, April 7, 2025.

The HEAP office will continue to accept Regular HEAP applications by mail, in person (460 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14202), and online. The online Regular HEAP application will remain available to applicants via myBenefits. 

Applicants must have exhausted, or have unavailable to them, the Regular benefit in order to be eligible for the Emergency benefit. Applicants must apply in person or by phone and may be eligible, based on their most recently filed HEAP application.

Applicants must have exhausted, or have unavailable to them, the Regular benefit in order to be eligible for the Emergency benefit.

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 $2,500 and no member of the household is age 60 or older; or less than $3,750 and any member of the household is age 60 or older, or under the age of 6.

Learn about the various parameters and thresholds related to the Emergency Benefit component. 

Anticipated Emergency Heat and Heat-related Benefit Amounts for 2024-2025

Type of Emergency Amount
Heat Related Domestic (electric service required to operate heating equipment) $185
Natural Gas Heat Only $400
Natural Gas Combined With Heat Related Domestic  $585
Electric Heat Combined With Heat Related Domestic $585
Non-utility heating fuel (oil, kerosene and propane) $900
Non-utility heating fuel (wood, pellets, coal, corn, etc.) $635
Changed