The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that assists low income households in meeting the high costs of heating. As winter approaches, many Western New Yorkers will face rising heating bills. My office can assist you with questions you may have about applying for aid from this program.

The program is structured in a way that higher benefits are provided to those households that have a larger percentage of their income spent on energy costs, contain a vulnerable individual and have the lowest income. Vulnerable individuals are defined as children under the age of 6, adults aged 60 or older, or disabled individuals.

If you need help applying for assistance, please check the sites below, or contact Jeffrey Sheridan at (716)-853-5813.

• NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance:
  http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap/default.asp
• Erie County Department of Social Services:
  http://www.erie.gov/depts/socialservices/heap.asp
• Monroe County Department of Social Services:
  http://www.monroecounty.gov/hs-assistance.php
• Niagara County Department of Social Services:
  http://www.niagaracounty.com/socialservice/heap.asp
• Orleans County Department of Social Services:
  http://orleansny.com/HumanServices/DepartmentofSocialServices/tabid/150/Default.aspx

2010-2011 HEAP Benefit Gross Monthly Income Guidelines

Your total gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following guidelines:

Effective 10/01/10-9/30/11

Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Co-Chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, met with the Administration’s senior official for the Great Lakes to ask that more action be taken to protect the Great Lakes from a looming threat posed by Asian carp.

Slaughter met today in Washington with Cameron Davis, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Senior Advisor for the Great Lakes.

“The Great Lakes represent 20 percent of the world’s fresh water and we need to take care of them,” said Slaughter. “I’m so pleased to have met with Mr. Davis. He represents the Administration’s commitment to the Great Lakes and I have every confidence that we will work together very closely in the future.

 

“I was especially pleased to speak with him about Asian carp which have been detected near the entrance to Lake Michigan. As an invasive species, Asian carp have the potential to disrupt the food chain, hurt our ability to enjoy the lakes and cause damage in the billions of dollars.”