Every year, New Yorkers have to pay a lot for heating bills in the winter. This year, though, a new stimulus check might help them with this problem. The government offers a benefit to help those who need it the most by easing the financial burden of having to pay to keep their homes warm during very hot weather.
This protects people’s health and keeps important energy services running. People who are vulnerable in a city with one of the highest cost of living in the country can get a stimulus check for up to $996 through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
A new stimulus check worth around $900 will reach New York residents
People can use this stimulus check to pay for fuel, utilities, and repairs or replacements of their heating equipment. They can get it even if their rent covers heating. Starting on January 2, 2025, people can also apply for emergency benefits for the years 2024–2025.
Eligibility is based on things like income, resources available, and type of emergency. Remember that the HEAP stimulus check is only given to households that meet certain requirements for size and yearly income.
The type of heating also affects how much help is given. The top annual income for each household size from 2024 to 2025 is shown below:
- 1 person $47,890
- 2 persons $62,570
- 3 people $68,312
- 4 people $76,681
- 5 people $83,470
Also, people who live in New York should know that the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will only pay for the following heating sources:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Oil and kerosene
- Propane
- Coal
- Wood and wood pellets
How will residents receive the $900 stimulus check?
The company that provides the main source of heat for a household gets regular payments from homes that pay directly for heat, based on how much they use. The HEAP program says that each household may be able to get a regular payment if:
- A family member can be either a qualifying non-citizen or a US citizen.
- Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income recommendations for your household size, as shown in the table below.
- You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits,
- You receive either Temporary Assistance (TA) or Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone).
How much are the regular HEAP amounts available this year?
| HEAP benefit amount | Living situation |
| $21 | Qualifying households whose rent includes heat and who reside in group homes or government-subsidized housing. |
| $45 or $50 | Households that qualify if their rent includes heating expenses. |
| $900 + applicable add-ons | Qualifying homes that pay the vendor directly for their heating costs and whose primary source of heat is oil, kerosene, or propane. |
| $635 + applicable add-ons | Households that qualify if they pay the vendor directly for their heating expenses and whose main source of heat is wood, wood pellets, coal, corn, or another deliverable fuel. |
| $400 + applicable add-ons | Eligible households that use natural gas or electricity as their main source of heat and who pay the vendor directly based on their actual usage. |
Also, the base regular benefit will go up by $61 if the household’s gross income is less than Tier 1. The household must have a gross income of at least 130% of the federal poverty line for the size of the household on the date of the application or at least one adult member must regularly receive TANF, SNAP, or SSI assistance.
It is important to remember that Tier I eligibility is based on the house and the group’s gross income. Lastly, the stimulus check or base regular benefit amount will be raised by $35 if there is a vulnerable person in the family. A vulnerable person is a household member who is 60 years or older, younger than six, or has a long-term disability.
Also See :- Stimulus Check: How to access the $800 for low-income citizens