Heating benefits are available

TRI-COUNTY AREA--A second emergency heating benefit is available for households who have exhausted both the regular and first emergency HEAP benefits and who are in a heat or heat-related energy emergency, as defined by HEAP, and who meet the eligibility guidelines for Emergency benefit assistance.
You may be eligible for an emergency HEAP benefit if:
• Your electricity is necessary for your heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut-off or scheduled to be shut off or
• Your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or
• You are out of fuel, or you have less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or have less than a ten (10) day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn, or other deliverable heat source.
and
• Your income is at or below the current income guidelines as posted in the table below or you receive Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) or Code A Supplemental Security Income.
• The heating and/or electric bill is in your name and
• Your household's available resources are:
- less than $2,000 if no member of your household is age 60 or older; or
- less than $3,000 if any member of your household is age 60 or older.
Emergency Heat and Heat-related HEAP Benefit Amounts for 2018-2019
Type of Emergency, Amount
Heat Related Domestic (electric service required to operate heating equipment) $140
Natural Gas Heat Only$350
Natural Gas Combined with Heat Related Domestic $490
Electric Heat Combined with Heat Related Domestic $490
Non-utility heating fuel (oil, kerosene, and propane) $675
Non-utility heating fuel (wood, pellets, coal, corn, etc.) $525
The HEAP Clean and Tune benefit opened April 2, 2018 and remains open.
Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $400. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.
You may be eligible for a benefit if:
• You are the homeowner
• Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted on the table
• Your primary heating equipment is more than 12 months old
• Your primary heating equipment or chimney has not been cleaned within the last 12 months
• You do not have a service contract with your vendor that includes clean and tune services.