Free air conditioners for eligible New Yorkers

[caption id="attachment_4544" align="alignleft" width="300"] HEAP Funding Assistance For Air Conditioners[/caption]

The Cooling Assistance Component of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) began on May 1.  This means that New Yorkers can now contact their local department of social services to see if they qualify for assistance.

This is a valuable program for New Yorkers who are experiencing serious medical issues that can be complicated by high heat and temperatures.  

Eligibility for the program is determined by:

1.   LIHEAP low-income guidelines. (For a four-person household, the maximum gross annual income to qualify is approximately $48,000.).  See the HEAP income guidelines below for more info.

2.   Having at least one household member who has been diagnosed with a chronic or acute medical condition which is aggravated by exposure to extreme heat situations/
3.   A doctor providing written documentation (dated within the last six months) that air-conditioning assistance is critical to prevent a heat emergency.

Households that have a working air conditioner or have received one from the State in the last 10 years are not eligible.

HEAP cooling assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis beginning May 1. Local departments of social services will be accepting applications for assistance. To find out how to contact your local department of social services, please click here.

2013-14 HEAP Income Eligibility Guidelines