Expanded Eligibility for $15 Million in Cooling Assistance With HEAP Program

Governor Hochul today announced that $15 million is available through the Home Energy Assistance Program to help low-income individuals and families who lack air conditioning to stay cool during the upcoming summer months. Under the direction of the Governor, the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance – the agency administering HEAP – expanded eligibility for the cooling component to more effectively assist those in need by including all income-eligible New Yorkers.

“For too many New Yorkers, relief from the stifling heat that summer brings each year is prohibitively expensive,” Governor Hochul said. “By expanding the eligibility guidelines for cooling assistance, we can help ensure that more low-income and disadvantaged households have the means to stay comfortable and safe when temperatures inevitably rise.”

To qualify for cooling assistance under the amended guidelines, applicants must meet HEAP eligibility criteria and income thresholds, which vary by household size. For instance, a family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $5,249 or an annual gross income of $62,983. Prior to this year, the cooling component of HEAP was only available to income-eligible households with an individual suffering from a documented medical condition exacerbated by extreme heat.

The program covers the cost of an air conditioning unit and installation. Under the expanded eligibility, the cooling component is expected to serve up to 20,000 households throughout the state.

Applications for cooling assistance will be accepted at local departments of social services starting Monday, May 2 and extending through August 31, or until funding runs out. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. New York City residents may download an application and obtain program information at access.nyc.gov.

The cooling assistance program provided about 11,300 benefits throughout the state last year alone. More than 36,000 households throughout New York have benefited from cooling assistance over the past five years.