NY Utility Assistance

[cgr]

On top of HEAP which is availble each winter in NY (and all other states), the following programs are now available as part of the various stimulus funds received by the state.

HEAP Regular Arrears Supplement (RAS) Benefit
$150 million in funding is availble to HEAP-eligible households that have fallen behind on their heating utility bills, but do not qualify for NY's Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Note that households do not need to be enrolled in HEAP currently, but do need to meet the eligibility requirements. Since the program is only for non-ERAP eligible households, it targets mostly homeowners, as well as renters that do not owe rent arrears. Funding will remain availble until September 2022, or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first. Households will have their full balance of heating utility arrears covered by the program, capped at $10,000 in assistance. Applications are available at your local HEAP office.
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#regular-arrears-supplement-benefit

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
LIHWAP is a $69.8 million program that assists households that have fallen behind on water and wastewater bills. It provides funds of up $2,500 for water and/or wastewater, for a maximum of $5,000 per household. Income guidelines are the same as that of HEAP, and payment will be issued to the provider directly. Applications will open on December 1, 2021.
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/

[AsherO]

Thanks for posting. Is this only for heat and water or also for gas and electricity?

[cgr]

Thanks for posting. Is this only for heat and water or also for gas and electricity?

Currently there are no programs for gas and electricity.

[dovy2]

"Your current gas and/or electricity account(s) is/are in active collections, or otherwise facing disconnection or termination due to unpaid arrears."

 "Benefits are based on the amount of unpaid water and wastewater bills owed by applicants and could go as high as $2,500 for each service."

And yet again, only benefits to those who DIDN'T pay their bills..

With a new variant coming around, should I finally stop paying all my bills and let everything go into collections?

[cgr]

The NYC DEP will forgive interest accrued on past due bills for NYC resident & business customers who pay their outstanding water and/or wastewater bills. The program will close on April 30, 2023.
https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/pay-my-bills/amnesty-program.page

NYC's DEP added $30M to the program to assist NYC homeowners that have already received a LIHWAP benefit from the State, with additional forgiveness of up to $5,000 for delinquent water and/or wastewater bills.

https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/077-23/mayor-adams-helps-new-yorkers-save-up-150-million-overdue-water-bills

Additionally, households across the State that received a LIHWAP benefit prior to October 1, 2022 can now be eligible for a second LIHWAP benefit.
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/

[TBD]

Is this only only for interest accrued thru covid or it goes back even years ago?
Is a condo building also eligible or only privately owned?

[cgr]

Is this only only for interest accrued thru covid or it goes back even years ago?
Is a condo building also eligible or only privately owned?

You can look up the account here, and it will tell you if you're eligible for interest amnesty.
https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/pay-my-bills/amnesty-program.page

[cgr]

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
LIHWAP is a $69.8 million program that assists households that have fallen behind on water and wastewater bills. It provides funds of up $2,500 for water and/or wastewater, for a maximum of $5,000 per household. Income guidelines are the same as that of HEAP, and payment will be issued to the provider directly. Applications will open on December 1, 2021.
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/

NYC's DEP added $30M to the program to assist NYC homeowners that have already received a LIHWAP benefit from the State, with additional forgiveness of up to $5,000 for delinquent water and/or wastewater bills.

https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/077-23/mayor-adams-helps-new-yorkers-save-up-150-million-overdue-water-bills

Additionally, households across the State that received a LIHWAP benefit prior to October 1, 2022 can now be eligible for a second LIHWAP benefit.
https://otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/

Just verified the following:
If you pay your unit's water/wastewater bill directly to the utility provider, but the utility bill is not in your name, you can submit documentation showing that previous payments originated from your account to qualify.