Erie County Legislator would like to encourage all County senior residents to apply as early as possible for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit. This is a federally funded program designed to assist seniors with the rising cost of energy.

Due to the anticipated high cost of energy this winter, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has directly mailed HEAP applications to all senior citizen and disabled clients in Erie County who received HEAP assistance last season (Nov.'05- May '06). The HEAP application will arrive in a 9 1/2 x 6 inch envelope and have a return address of Erie County HEAP, 291 Pearl Street, Buffalo, 14202. Note this is not the same envelope HEAP applicants are accustomed to receiving their application in during previous seasons.

Senior citizens and disabled clients are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to apply for the upcoming winter before the HEAP assistance program opens to the public in November. Senior Citizens and disabled clients who did not receive HEAP assistance last season may call the HEAP Hotline @ 858-7870 and request an application to mail in for assistance. Eligibility guidelines are based on household size and monthly maximum income and are as follows:

Senior Citizen and disabled applicants have this opportunity to complete and mail in applications as soon as possible. This will initiate the processing to heating companies before the anticipated increase in volume of clientele in November.

"I strongly encourage applicants to not wait until the middle of winter when their energy bills begin to climb." Kennedy said, "Waiting will only lead to delay of services and payments."

Applicants are encouraged to not wait for new income information, such as yearly Social Security award letters, or yearly tax statements reflecting bank interest income for the year. The same income information provided on last season's application is acceptable if it is the most current information available. If in doubt, applicants should always claim the lower of the two income amounts listed on Social Security award letters; the amount of Social Security received after the Medicare deduction. Seeing that HEAP is based on monthly income, if the lower amount is not stated on the application, the benefit may decrease.

"With the anticipated cold winter we have ahead of us, I recommend everyone to take the appropriate precautions to keep warm," Kennedy said.

If you have any further questions or nee assistance completing the HEAP applications you may contact the Senior Citizen HEAP hotline at 858-7870. Anyone wishing to know more about the services and information provided by the Department of Senior Services, they should contact Senior Services Information and Assistance at 858-8526, or visit www.erie.gov/depts/seniorservices.

"As always, if you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 824-6180," Kennedy said.

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