New York Opens HEAP Heating Aid for 2026-27
Eligible New York households can now apply for Home Energy Assistance Program benefits, distributed first-come, first-served.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Financial Aid
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New York State opened applications for its Home Energy Assistance Program for the 2026-27 season on Nov. 2. Benefits are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Why it matters
Rising energy costs place additional pressure on household budgets, and the program is intended to help residents cover heating expenses through the winter. Households receiving SNAP or Public Assistance are eligible for automatic assistance.
Base benefits reach up to $990 for households heating with oil, kerosene or propane and up to $700 for wood, pellets or coal, with total benefits reaching $1,086 for qualifying households. More than 1.1 million SNAP or Public Assistance households are eligible for automatic assistance, while the total funding pool available this season is not specified.
The players
New York State
The state government administers the Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides heating aid to income-eligible households across the state.
The details
Eligible homeowners and renters can seek help with heating system cleaning, maintenance, repairs or replacement. New York City residents apply online through ACCESS HRA, and emergency HEAP applications for heating crises open Jan. 4, 2027.
Timeline
Nov. 2, 2026: HEAP applications opened for the 2026-27 season.
Jan. 4, 2027: Emergency HEAP applications open for heating-related crises.
Policy Context
New York's HEAP operates as the state-level implementation of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which funds heating aid for low-income households nationwide. The 2026-27 season opening follows that federal framework, with state rules setting the benefit amounts and eligibility criteria.
Households heating with oil, kerosene, propane, wood, pellets or coal may qualify for direct benefit payments that offset winter fuel bills. Residents who receive SNAP or Public Assistance should expect automatic HEAP assistance without filing a separate application.
The takeaway
Households that heat with oil, propane, wood or other fuels should check HEAP eligibility before the season's funds run out. Applying early matters because benefits are distributed first-come, first-served.
What happens next
Emergency HEAP applications for heating-related crises open Jan. 4, 2027.
Further reading
For more on how heating and utility support fits into household budgets, see Financial Aid coverage.
More information
Find eligibility details and application information on the New York State HEAP program page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BKReader.
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