Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Paul Tonko on Monday, Nov. 17, demanded that the Trump administration release $400 million in federal funds that 1.5 million New Yorkers are relying on to help heat their homes this winter.
Hochul said that even though the federal government has reopened, the Trump administration has not yet released funds for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
The governor said New York State will be ready to open the program for applications on Nov. 24, but it will only be possible to start accepting applications if the federal government has provided the funds in the coming days.
“It’s shameful that the Trump administration is threatening to make New Yorkers pay more for their heating bills this winter — and I’m demanding the immediate release of federal funds to help 1.5 million New Yorkers heat their homes,” Gov. Hochul said.
“I’ll never stop fighting for affordability, and that’s why my team is also helping millions more New Yorkers enroll in our state program to get monthly energy discounts,” she added.
Amid the ongoing delay in federal funds, Hochul also urged more New Yorkers to enroll in New York State’s Energy Affordability Program (EAP), which provides up to $500 in annual discounts on energy bills.
She said the State’s EAP already serves about one million households statewide, but state officials estimate that about 1.5 million more households are eligible to receive a discount.
New Yorkers can visit ny.gov/EAP to learn about eligibility and enrollment.
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “Households that rely on HEAP, most of whom include someone who is an older adult, young child or an individual with a disability, have already had to wait too long for this vital assistance as colder days and nights become more common.
“The delay by the federal government in releasing federal funding for HEAP has created an unacceptable amount of uncertainty for these households who must wait for financial assistance to help heat their homes during a time of rising energy prices,” she added. “We thank Gov. Hochul for her efforts to secure HEAP funding and help households reduce their energy costs.”
Due to the federal government shutdown, which has now ended after a record 43 days, Hochul said New York’s ability to open its federally-funded HEAP program has been delayed by weeks.
She said this federally funded program cannot begin receiving and processing applications or making payments until the federal government provides New York with the necessary funding.
At Hochul’s direction, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) said it is taking all steps needed to prepare for the opening of the HEAP program for applications on Nov. 24, pending receipt of federal funds, including programming HEAP payments.
If the Trump administration does not release Federal grant funds for HEAP by Nov. 24, the governor warned the program opening will continue to be delayed.
Hochul’s actions ensure OTDA will be ready to open the program for applications within 48 hours of receiving the grant funds, so that New Yorkers can access their heating benefits as soon as possible.
The State’s EAP is separate from federal HEAP. The State’s EAP provides monthly discounts on energy bills throughout the year to households across New York. This program provides up to $500 in annual savings per household.
The governor said eligibility for EAP is based on household income. For example, a family of four is eligible to enroll in EAP if they make up to $80,160 per year in household income. A family of five is eligible if they make up to $92,988 per year in household income.
Hochul said the State’s EAP already serves about one million households statewide, but state officials estimate that aabout1.5 million more households are eligible to enroll and receive discounts. New Yorkers can enroll in EAP directly through their local energy provider.
New Yorkers can visit ny.gov/EAP to learn more about eligibility and steps on how to enroll in the program.
Additionally, Hochul is expanding income eligibility for the State’s EAP in 2026 to ensure that more households across New York can start receiving energy discounts in the coming year.
The governor said the delay in federal HEAP funds also threatened to disenroll many New Yorkers from their State EAP benefits.
The Department of Public Service estimated “this cruel action would lead to tens of thousands of customers being automatically disenrolled from receiving EAP benefits every month without State action.”
Hochul said this is because most residential customers in EAPs are automatically enrolled in the program after their heating utility receives a HEAP grant on the customer’s behalf, which the utility credits to those customers’ utility bills.
Generally, Hochul said most utilities provide that those customers will remain enrolled in the utilities’ EAPs as long as they received a HEAP grant within the preceding 12 months.
She warned that the delay in federal funds for HEAP and concurrent loss of EAP bill discounts would make utility services far more expensive for those customers during the coming winter heating season.
Rep. Tonko said, “HEAP provides a vital lifeline for countless families here in New York and across the nation who are still struggling to deal with rising costs for home heating and other basic necessities.
“The Trump administration’s failure to release funding for HEAP is yet another example of how Republicans have weaponized their government shutdown to hurt the working Americans suffering most from the affordability crisis Republicans created,” he said.
“While New York State is doing everything in its power to mitigate the damage from the GOP’s neglect, federal action remains essential to support families here in our Capital Region and beyond,” Tonko added. “Today, I’m proud to join Gov. Hochul in demanding the Trump administration release these desperately needed funds immediately so New Yorkers can heat their homes this winter.”
