It is well known that New Yorkers face high winter heating costs every year, but this time, a new stimulus check may help.
To assist those in greatest need, the government provides a benefit that aims to alleviate the financial strain associated with having to pay to keep their homes warm during extremely hot weather, thereby reducing health risks and preserving critical energy services.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) offers a stimulus check of up to $996 to vulnerable populations in a city with one of the highest living costs in the nation.
A new stimulus check worth around $900 will reach New York residents
This stimulus check can be used to pay for fuel and utilities, as well as replacement and repair of heating equipment, and it is available even if heating is included in the rent.
Applications for emergency benefits 2024-2025 will be accepted beginning January 2, 2025, with eligibility determined by factors such as income, available resources, and emergency type.
Keep in mind that the HEAP stimulus check is only available to households that meet specific size and annual income requirements; the type of heating also influences how much assistance is provided. Below is the maximum annual income by household size (2024-2025):
- 1 person $47,890
- 2 persons $62,570
- 3 people $68,312
- 4 people $76,681
- 5 people $83,470
Residents in New York should also consider that the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) only accepts the following heating sources:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Oil and kerosene
- Propane
- Coal
- Wood and wood pellets
How will residents receive the $900 stimulus check?
The supplier of the household’s primary source of heat receives regular payments from homes that pay directly for heat based on actual use. The HEAP program states that each household may be eligible for a periodic payment if:
A family member may be either a qualified non-citizen or a US citizen.
Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size, as shown in the table below.
You receive SNAP, TA, or SSI Living Alone benefits.
How much are the regular HEAP amounts available this year?
| HEAP benefit amount | Living situation |
| $21 | Qualifying households whose rent includes heat and who reside in group homes or government-subsidized housing. |
| $45 or $50 | Households that qualify if their rent includes heating expenses. |
| $900 + applicable add-ons | Qualifying homes that pay the vendor directly for their heating costs and whose primary source of heat is oil, kerosene, or propane. |
| $635 + applicable add-ons | Households that qualify if they pay the vendor directly for their heating expenses and whose main source of heat is wood, wood pellets, coal, corn, or another deliverable fuel. |
| $400 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that use natural gas or electricity as their main source of heat and who pay the vendor directly based on their actual usage. |
Furthermore, if the household’s gross income qualifies for Tier 1, the base regular benefit will be increased by $61.
At least one adult household member must consistently receive TANF, SNAP, or SSI benefits, or the household’s gross income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty line for the household size on the application date.
It is important to note that Tier I eligibility is based on the household’s gross income. Finally, if a vulnerable person (a household member aged 60 or older, younger than six, or chronically disabled) lives in the household, the stimulus check or base regular benefit amount will be increased by $35.
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