Overview
- Regular-season applications for New York’s HEAP and Pennsylvania’s LIHEAP opened Monday for the 2026–2027 season, with states accepting online, mail and in-person submissions.
- New York raised benefit levels this season, offering up to $1,086 in regular HEAP help and boosting delivered-fuel payments to $990 for oil/kerosene/propane and $700 for wood, pellets and coal.
- Pennsylvania is granting one-time cash awards that range from $200 to $1,000 and separate crisis grants that run from $25 to $1,000 to cover urgent heating needs.
- Eligibility is based on citizenship or qualified noncitizen status, household size and income, payments go directly to fuel vendors or utilities, and New York will open emergency HEAP applications on Jan. 4, 2027.
- Officials and local groups urge early applications because federal funding is limited and paid first-come, first-served, and rising fuel prices mean more households may seek aid this winter while long-standing program use runs into the millions of recipients.