Utilities, Energy & Communications · Surprise rank #449
Heat Included in Your Rent? You Can Still Qualify for Regular HEAP When the Season Opens
Regular HEAP can help eligible New Yorkers with heating costs even when heat is included in rent. The 2025–26 Regular HEAP season closed April 10, 2026, so this card should not be read as an open application today.
Who
Income-eligible New York households that meet HEAP rules, including some renters whose heating cost is included in rent and households that pay a fuel or utility supplier directly.
What to do
Start here: Check the NYS OTDA HEAP page for the next Regular HEAP opening date and current-year rules. When open, NYC residents generally apply through ACCESS HRA; residents elsewhere can use myBenefits or their local social services district.
Eligibility: HEAP uses household income, household composition, heating arrangement and other program rules. Eligibility and dollar amounts are set for each program year.
What you get
New York’s recurring Home Energy Assistance Program Regular benefit provides one heating benefit per program year to eligible households, with the amount based on heating situation, fuel type, income and household characteristics.
Benefit: For 2025–26, regular benefits ranged from small rent-included amounts to base benefits as high as $900 for some directly paid deliverable fuels, with certain household add-ons. Future-season amounts can change.
Possible value: For the closed 2025–26 season, examples included $45 or $50 for some eligible households with heat included in rent, $400 base for direct-pay electricity/natural gas, $635 for certain wood/pellet/coal fuels, and $900 for oil/kerosene/propane, before qualifying add-ons.
Good to know
Important: The 2025–26 Regular HEAP component closed April 10, 2026. Do not send someone to apply for that closed season. Benefit amounts and income limits are program-year specific and must be rechecked when the next season opens.
Availability: 2025–26 Regular HEAP closed April 10, 2026; next Regular HEAP season details should be rechecked before application.
Why people miss it: Renters often think HEAP is only for homeowners or people who receive a separate heating bill.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026