HEAP benefits increase with frigid temperatures
NORWICH – Freezing temperatures in the last month have had thousands of county residents adjusting their thermostat and no public assistance program has felt a greater impact than HEAP.
For the month of January alone, the Chenango County Department of Socials Services estimates an increase of 34 percent in the number of regular Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits compared to this time last year. According to DSS Deputy Commissioner Daniel Auwarter, the department accepted more than 685 applicants for regular HEAP benefits between Jan. 1 and Jan. 14, 2014 – a considerable increase from the 512 households that received regular HEAP benefits from Jan. 1 to Jan. 13, 2013.
“The cold weather has brought more folks in for HEAP applications this year,” said Auwarter. “We have definitely seen an increase in the number of people who are in need of (heating) assistance, and I think the colder weather is a lot to blame for that.”
Moreover, the number of emergency HEAP benefits – available to county residents who have already received regular HEAP assistance – have also gone up. Year to date, Auwarter said more than 4,362 regular HEAP benefits and 368 emergency benefits have been authorized by DSS, totaling $2.1 million allocated for HEAP assistance since the program opened in November.
Each year, Chenango DSS administers the federally funded HEAP program for income-eligible households. HEAP provides financial assistance to subsidize heating costs and heating equipment repair or replacement. Federally mandated outreach and alternative certification services are provided through collaboration with the Chenango County Area Agency on Aging and Opportunities for Chenango.
Auwarter said DSS is currently accepting both regular and emergency HEAP applications, and will continue to do so until the regular HEAP program closes Feb. 1, and emergency HEAP closes on March 17.
“For HEAP programs, it is more a matter of program dates for opening and closing than it is an allocated amount for counties,” added Auwarter, citing the misconception among many residents that the county will “run out” of HEAP funding. That often leads to an increase in applications each year, he added. “In reality, the program is operated based on the dates the state gives us.”
While the Chenango County Department of Social Services may not be directly affected financially by the growth in HEAP benefits this heating season, low temperatures did encourage state and federal officials to push for additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program earlier this year. In response to record low temperatures and extreme weather throughout Upstate New York, federal funding for the state-administered program was increased to $3.4 billion, up $169 million from 2013.
With more cold weather forecasted over the next week, that extra funding could go a long way to ensure low income households will be able to pay their heating bill, said Auwarter.
“We ask that people prepare and anticipate their heating needs and if possible, identify a crisis before it happens,” he added.
For more information regarding HEAP, residents 60 years of age and older may contact the Chenango County Area Agency on Aging at 337-1770. Residents under the age of 60 can contact Opportunities for Chenango at 336-4327. Additional information is available online at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap.
For the month of January alone, the Chenango County Department of Socials Services estimates an increase of 34 percent in the number of regular Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits compared to this time last year. According to DSS Deputy Commissioner Daniel Auwarter, the department accepted more than 685 applicants for regular HEAP benefits between Jan. 1 and Jan. 14, 2014 – a considerable increase from the 512 households that received regular HEAP benefits from Jan. 1 to Jan. 13, 2013.
“The cold weather has brought more folks in for HEAP applications this year,” said Auwarter. “We have definitely seen an increase in the number of people who are in need of (heating) assistance, and I think the colder weather is a lot to blame for that.”
Moreover, the number of emergency HEAP benefits – available to county residents who have already received regular HEAP assistance – have also gone up. Year to date, Auwarter said more than 4,362 regular HEAP benefits and 368 emergency benefits have been authorized by DSS, totaling $2.1 million allocated for HEAP assistance since the program opened in November.
Each year, Chenango DSS administers the federally funded HEAP program for income-eligible households. HEAP provides financial assistance to subsidize heating costs and heating equipment repair or replacement. Federally mandated outreach and alternative certification services are provided through collaboration with the Chenango County Area Agency on Aging and Opportunities for Chenango.
Auwarter said DSS is currently accepting both regular and emergency HEAP applications, and will continue to do so until the regular HEAP program closes Feb. 1, and emergency HEAP closes on March 17.
“For HEAP programs, it is more a matter of program dates for opening and closing than it is an allocated amount for counties,” added Auwarter, citing the misconception among many residents that the county will “run out” of HEAP funding. That often leads to an increase in applications each year, he added. “In reality, the program is operated based on the dates the state gives us.”
While the Chenango County Department of Social Services may not be directly affected financially by the growth in HEAP benefits this heating season, low temperatures did encourage state and federal officials to push for additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program earlier this year. In response to record low temperatures and extreme weather throughout Upstate New York, federal funding for the state-administered program was increased to $3.4 billion, up $169 million from 2013.
With more cold weather forecasted over the next week, that extra funding could go a long way to ensure low income households will be able to pay their heating bill, said Auwarter.
“We ask that people prepare and anticipate their heating needs and if possible, identify a crisis before it happens,” he added.
For more information regarding HEAP, residents 60 years of age and older may contact the Chenango County Area Agency on Aging at 337-1770. Residents under the age of 60 can contact Opportunities for Chenango at 336-4327. Additional information is available online at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap.
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