Frequently Asked Questions

The Erie County Department of Social Services assists non-English speaking clients by offering free language services, including utilization of qualified interpreters and information written in other languages. For a full overview of language and other services offered by Erie County, Click Here.

HEAP calculates monthly wages using these formulas:

• Paid Weekly - (4 x Weekly gross)/4) x 4.4.333333
• Paid Bi-Weekly - (2 x bi-weekly gross)/2 x 2.1666666
• Paid Bi-Monthly - (add 2 gross pay amounts- no other calculation)

Countable (these are counted for Emergency HEAP resource test):

• Cash.
• Checking and/or savings account balances.
• Stocks/bonds.
• Time deposit certificates/
• IRA accounts, including remaining amounts from a closed-out IRA.
• Lump sums from sale of property or insurance settlements and balances from any other lump sum not specifically excluded.
• 401(k) and other retirement accounts.
• income tax refunds (except EITC) payments).
• Any other available funds not specifically excluded.

Excluded: (these are not counted for Emergency HEAP resource test):

• Amounts designated for an allowable current monthly living expense such as food, shelter, employment-related expenses, etc.
• Money earmarked for payment of the current year's prioperty and/or school taxes for the primary residence.
• One burial plot per household member.
• One written pre-arranged burial agreement with a cash value not exceeding $1,500 per household member and interest on the burial account.
• Accounts, such as PASS accounts, designated by the Social Security Administration as exempt from SSI resource limits.
• Real and personal property.
• Equipment.
• Automobiles and other vehicles.
• Payments from reverse annuity mortgages.
• Loans (including college loans, personal loans, home equity loans).
• Credit cards or advances from credit cards.
• Individual Development Accounts (IDA).