New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today announced that households that need help paying their heating bills this winter can begin applying for assistance from the Home Energy Assistance Program on Monday, November 16th. The program provides financial assistance to help low-income and elderly New Yorkers keep their homes warm in the winter months.

The Home Energy Assistance Program is funded by the federal government and is overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Eligible households can receive a one-time benefit of up to $625 this winter depending upon income, household size and heating source. For the upcoming season, a household of four can earn up to $51,792, or $4,316 a month, and still qualify for assistance.

Last winter, 1.48 million households throughout New York State, and over 70,000 on Long Island, received benefits through the program.

Households may also be eligible for an emergency benefit if they are in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off. Applications for emergency benefits will be accepted beginning Monday, January 4, 2016. Households facing an energy emergency should call their local department of social services for assistance.

For more information about the Home Energy Assistance Program, go to http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap. New Yorkers can find contact information for their county department of social services at http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/HEAP-contacts.pdf.