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Department of Senior Services

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For assistance call 858-8526 or email seniorinfo@erie.gov

Finance

Utility Information/HEAP

HEAP Office opens NOVEMBER 2, 2009 for both Regular and Emergency assistance.

Last year, Senior HEAP helped more than 20,000 seniors!

Again, there is an early HEAP application mail out for Senior Citizens who received HEAP in 08-09. If you do not receive an application for 09-10 HEAP in the mail by mid-October, please call 858-1969 for an application. The letter will have a return address of either Erie County Department of Social Services or Erie County HEAP Office. Please complete and mail the application back as soon as possible for quickest service. The early mail-out does NOT include senior citizens in receipt of Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance, as those clients will generally receive the regular HEAP benefit automatically without the need for a mail-in application. Eligibility letters for these clients are usually issued in November or December, and benefits are generally credited to heating bills in December or January.

Eligibility for this federal program is based on household income, not the amount of your utility bill.

2009-2010
HEAP Income Eligibility Guidelines
Regular and Emergency HEAP

Household SizeMonthly Income
1 $ 0 – 2,030
2 $ 0 – 2,654
3 $ 0 – 3,279
4 $ 0 – 3,903
5 $ 0 – 4,528
6 $ 0 – 5,152
7 $ 0 – 5,269
8 $ 0 – 5,386
9 $ 0 – 5,503
10 $ 0 – 5,620
11 $ 0 – 6,029

For detailed information about the Home Energy Assistance Program, or to download an application, please go to http://www.erie.gov/depts/socialservices/heap.asp or call the HEAP Hotline (716) 858-7870.

Please call 858-7870 to request an application, or you may also pick up an application at the district offices of Erie County Legislators. HEAP Outreach locations are also available throughout the County in November-February - click here for an outreach schedule and scroll.

Furnace Equipment Repair/Replacement assistance is available at the HEAP office year round. Clients must appear with proof of home ownership, two contractor bids addressing work that needs to be done, full proof of all resources for all members of HH, ID for all members of HH, proof of monthly income for all members of HH.

For additional information, please contact the HEAP hotline at (716) 858-7870, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Other Assistance Programs may also be available to help with utility costs - call the Department of Senior Services at 858-8526.