Funding is now available to help low-income households that have fallen behind on their utility bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the regular arrears supplement is available to households who are eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program, known as HEAP, and behind on their heating utility bills, but that do not qualify for the utility assistance offered by New York's Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

There is $150 million available for one-time payments to HEAP-eligible households through the regular arrears supplement from now until September 2022, or until funding is exhausted. Secured through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the federal funding will cover all accumulated heating utility arrears up to $10,000 and comes as the end of the moratorium on utility disconnections approaches in late December.

About 83,000 HEAP recipients had fallen behind on their utility bills as of March 2021, with these households owing an average arrears of about $1,370, or roughly $113 million statewide, according to a release from the governor’s office. While the Emergency Rental Assistance Program is providing utility arrears assistance for eligible renters, homeowners and those who do not owe rent arrears do not qualify for this assistance, including customers of municipally owned utilities.

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements to receive a regular HEAP benefit, which vary by income and household size, and be in active collections or otherwise facing disconnection or termination of service. Applicants must also be the utility customer of record or pay a utility directly.

Applications for assistance are accepted at local departments of social services in person or by telephone, with funding provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

In Albany County, residents may apply through the county’s Department of Social Services, at 162 Washington Ave., or by phone at 518-447-7323.

Albany County residents may also apply through Cornell Cooperative Extension at two offices: at Faith Plaza on Route 9W in Ravena, by phone at 518-756-8650, or at 230 Green St., on the third floor, in Albany, by phone at 518-765-3500.

Residents may also apply online for regular heating assistance benefits.