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HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP)

 

What is the HEAP program?

Under the HEAP program, the federal government gives New York State each year a set amount of money to help low-income residents with their heating costs. Benefits are available through the Regular HEAP program. Households facing an emergency may be eligible for some additional HEAP benefits through the Emergency HEAP program. The HEAP program is not an entitlement program. Once the money runs out the program closes.

Who is eligible for HEAP assistance?

Certain households are categorically eligible for HEAP. A household is categorically eligible if one or more persons receive cash public assistance benefits or food stamps. Some SSI recipients are also categorically eligible for HEAP. Eligibility for all other households is based on household size and gross income. The HEAP income guidelines are higher than both the cash public assistance and food stamp income guidelines. There is no resource test for a Regular HEAP benefit. The income limits for the HEAP programs change each year and are announced around October 1st of each year.

The SOPHIA project is LAWNY's Statewide Online Pleading Help and Information Assistant.

SOPHIA is creating online, interactive help for low income people to create answers to legal complaints, create petitions, or get customized legal information via the web.

SOPHIA is also creating demonstration examples of document assembly tools for use by civil legal services advocates.  SOPHIA is funded in part by the Legal Services Corporation's TIG program.

To see an example of this exciting new tool, click [here] to go to Chicago-Kent Law School's site regarding the A2J Author.