I.Regular HEAP Component
-Open Date: Monday, 02 November 2026 *Applications will NOT be available prior to this date*
-The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Regular benefit is designed to assist income eligible households with their heating or utility costs
-If you would like to have an application mailed to you, please call our office
-If you receive SNAP or TA benefits, please speak with someone from our office prior to completing an application. Many SNAP and TA recipients will receive their HEAP benefit automatically; we can let you know if you are among these cases.
II.Emergency HEAP Component
-Open Date: Monday, 04 January 2026
-You MUST have received a regular benefit prior to requesting an emergency benefit
-In order to apply for an emergency benefit, you must have terminated services, a disconnect notice, less than ¼ tank of fuel or less than a 10-day supply of a deliverable
-The heating or utility bill must be in the name of the person applying
-PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE BEFORE COMPLETING A NEW APPLICATION. Many emergency applications do not need a full application and can even be done over the phone
III.Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) & Clean and Tune
-The HERR component is designed to assist households who need repair or replacement of their main heating system
-The clean and tune component provides cleaning to the primary heating system as well as addressing minor health and safety issues.
-In order to apply, you must own the home for a minimum of 12 months and the heating system must have been working during that same period.
IV.Cooling Assistance Component
-Open Date: Thursday, 15 April 2027
-This component provides an air conditioner or fan to households that contain an individual with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat.A statement from a medical provider will be requested.
Q.When can I apply for HEAP?
A.The 2026-2027 Regular HEAP benefit is scheduled to open on Monday, 02 November 2026.The 2026-2027 Emergency HEAP benefit is scheduled to open on Monday, 04 January 2027.Close dates for all components are to be determined based on available funding.
Q.Where can I apply for HEAP?
A.You can apply for HEAP in person, at either one of our offices.You can also request to have an application mailed or emailed to you.Or you can apply on-line at mybenefits.ny.gov Please keep in mind that if you choose to apply online, we do not monitor or process these applications.All online applications will be reviewed by Albany County DSS.
Q.If I receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance (TA) benefits, do I still need to apply for HEAP?
A.If you are an active SNAP or TA recipient, you might not need to apply for HEAP.SNAP and TA recipients are automatically income eligible for HEAP but are not necessarily an automatic recipient.If you have an ongoing SNAP or TA case, and there have been no recent changes, you might be an auto-recipient for HEAP.Please contact our office before completing an application so we can tell you how to proceed.Submitting unnecessary applications can cause confusion and delays in receiving your HEAP benefit.
Q.I received a HEAP application in the mail that was partially completed.Why did I get this?Do I still need to fill out another application when HEAP opens?
A.If you received a partially pre-filled application, this is an “early outreach” application, and it means you received a HEAP benefit last program year.These applications are automatically sent to qualifying households before the season fully opens to the public.Please complete any blank spaces and gather any necessary supporting documentation.Please return all applications and documentation to our main office (CCE Albany: 24 Martin Road; Voorheesville NY 12186).
Q.Why did my neighbor/friend/family member get an early outreach application, and I did not?
A.There could be several reasons.Not everyone who received a HEAP benefit last year is guaranteed to receive an early outreach application.Typically, households that contain someone who is permanently disabled, over the age of 60 or under the age of 6 receive early outreach applications first.Also, early outreach applications are mailed out in batches, not all recipients get them at the same time.If you have not received an early outreach by 03 November 2025, please contact our office and we can send you a regular application.
Q.Who must be included on my HEAP application?
A.Unlike some other programs, HEAP looks at all household members.Anyone who uses the address as their primary residence must be listed on the application.Additionally, income from all individuals must be recorded; this includes non-taxable forms of income.
Q.How long will it take to receive my regular HEAP benefits?
A.Regular HEAP applications should be processed within 30 business days from the date DSS receives the application.While a determination of eligibility will be made during this time, it might take your vendor slightly longer to receive the actual funds.All vendors will be notified of approved benefits.
Q.I think it has been more than 30 business days, can I fill out another application?
A.No.If you think the processing time has lapsed, please contact our office and we can look for an update.Please DO NOT submit multiple applications.Submitting multiple applications causes confusion among caseworks which can result in delays of processing times.
Q.What do I do if I submitted a HEAP application but have since received a disconnect notice or have less than ¼ tank of fuel?
A.If you have not received a determination regarding your regular HEAP benefit, but since submitting your application you have received a disconnect notice, or are low on fuel, please contact our office.When you speak with us, we will ask questions to verify some information, then work with the DSS to address your emergency.
Q. Someone I know applied for HEAP on the same day as me and has already received notice.Does this mean I was denied or need to apply again?
A.No.Please note that every case is different.There could be a variety of reasons why one case was processed differently than another.If you have any questions, please contact our office.
Q.What is the difference between Regular HEAP and Emergency HEAP?How can I apply for Emergency HEAP?
A.Emergency HEAP opens on 04 January 2027.You can only apply for Emergency HEAP if you have already received a Regular HEAP benefit and you have either a shut off notice or are low on a deliverable (less than ¼ tank or less than a 10-day supply).You can apply for emergency HEAP by calling our office.Most emergency applications can be done over the phone and do not require full application.Please do not complete a full application packet unless you are instructed to do so.Submitting unnecessary applications can cause confusion and delays.
Additional HEAP information, including benefit amounts and income calculation, can be found here:
Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance (OTDA):https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/
Albany County Department of Social Services (DSS): https://www.albanycountyny.gov/heap
Last updated October 15, 2026