HEAP is a federally funded program designed to assist low to middle income families and individuals in meeting the costs of home energy. Most HEAP applications are handled by in-person interviews at the Utica Social Services office, located at 800 Park Ave, or the Rome Social Services office, located at 300 W. Dominick Street.  There are outreach services also available for the over 60 and disabled. This is handled by the local Office For The Aging. Through local sites, applications are taken for regular HEAP benefits. Outreach workers are also assigned for home visits for the disabled.

In Rome, in addition to the local Social Services office, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency also takes HEAP applications for both regular and emergency situations.

Mass mailings are done at the beginning of the HEAP season for those over 60, disabled, and under 60 with a vulnerable member in the household who had applied for HEAP in the previous season.

Those in receipt of Food Stamps or Public Assistance are issued an automatic regular payment directly to their heating vendor.

All emergency situations are handled directly by the HEAP office in the Social Services Department.

You will be required to provide supporting documentation. The following is a partial list of possible required information:

• ID
• birth certificates
• marriage certificate
• social security cards
• shelter expenses
• proof of income -last 4 weeks, 2 if biweekly
• proof of resources (emergency HEAP only) such as: bank accounts, stocks, bonds etc.

The federally funded program awards benefits based on income guidelines. For 2012 - 2013 , the maximum allowable income guidelines are as follows:

 Telephone Numbers:

New York State HEAP Program web site:

http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/

Apply for HEAP:

http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/apply/