Did You Know? 
All HEAP Customers receive Application Rights in their HEAP application.  Many customers never read it. Click here to read some excerpts from the form. 

 HEAP Information

Friday, May 15, 2009 has been designated as the closing date for the regular benefit component and the emergency benefit component of the 2008-2009 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

Our HEAP outreach sites in Steuben County located in Corning and Hornell will be closing the week of April 27th.  Pro Action and the Department of Social Services in Steuben County and the Department of Social Services in Yates County will continue to accept HEAP through the close of business on Friday, May 15th.

The heating equipment repair and replacement component of the 2008-2009 HEAP program in both Steuben and Yates Counties will continue to operate until the close of business on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

Attention HEAP Customers

2008 – 2009 Changes!!!

• Pro Action of Steuben & Yates, Inc.
  117 East Steuben Street., Bath, NY  14810
  607-776-2125 or 1-800-553-2033

or

• Steuben County Department of Social Services
  3 E. Pulteney Square, Bath, NY  14810
  607-776-7611 or HELPLINE: 1-800-346-2211

• Corning Community Food Pantry
  39 W. William St., Corning, NY  14830
  Please note that starting the week of March 23, the Corning office will be open on
  Thursdays and Fridays Only, from 8:30 a.m. until Noon

• Office for the Aging - Broadway Mall, Hornell
  Please note that starting the week of March 23, the Hornell office will be open on
  Tuesdays Only, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

If you did not receive HEAP last season you MUST come to an intake for a face-to-face interview.  If you have received a regular HEAP benefit and need to apply for an emergency benefit, you may first call Steuben County Department of Social Services to determine if you are eligible to apply over the phone. 

Internet address: http://www.otda.state.ny.us/otda/heap

Office for the Aging: 607-776-7813 - over 60 years of age

See below for HEAP income guidelines for 2008 - 2009

* For each additional household member add $435.
* Income guidelines are effective from 10/01/08 through 09/30/09.

H.E.A.P. Contact Information

• Steuben County Department of Social Services: (607) 776-7611
• Steuben County Office on Aging: (607) 776-7813
• Yates County Department of Social Services: (315) 536-5168
• Pro Action in Yates County: (315) 536-5515

H.E.A.P. Client Information and Responsibility:

• To allow us to better serve you, come prepared. Bring ALL of the required documentation EVERY TIME you come in!
• Know that your application process can NOT be completed until the Department of Social Services H.E.A.P. Office has received all documents.

Emergency H.E.A.P. Information:

• Applications are processed in emergency date order. CALL YOUR COMPANY FIRST. If the DSS staff is talking to you, they are not working on applications or contacting companies. When your emergency is approved your COMPANY will be the first to know. CALL YOUR COMPANY!
• When you receive a shut-off notice and are unable to make a payment arrangement, come in to apply for your emergency IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait!
• IF YOU ARE OUT OF FUEL OR HAVE BEEN SHUT OFF, please do not assume that the emergency will be resolved immediately. It may take several days to process your application and notify the fuel or electric company. PLAN AHEAD. If your emergency is immediate, you may find it necessary to make other arrangements for housing until such time as your application is completed and your company can be contacted.
• YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY reconnect fees, new customer deposits or membership fees, as these fees are NOT covered by H.E.A.P. You may need to do this before your company will accept a H.E.A.P. benefit and/or reconnect your service. Contact your company to find out if this applies to you.

Things to Be Aware of:

• Be aware of the fact that H.E.A.P. does NOT provide funds to pay anything on past due bills. You are responsible to make payment arrangements for past due bills. A H.E.A.P. benefit is for future bills to give you heating assistance for the upcoming winter months, not for months gone by.
• Fuel customers -- failure to apply early enough could mean missing the regular delivery date for your fuel vendor. This could result in an added cost for a special delivery. Your company can charge an off route delivery fee. This may be as much or more than $150.00. You have to authorize a special delivery. If you are in an emergency, contact your company and find out how much an off route charge is. Find out when they will deliver in your area without an off route charge. If you can wait, tell your company so. Do NOT authorize your company to make an off route delivery if you don't need to.
• Gas and electric customers - make every effort to establish a payment plan in order to avoid receiving a shut off notice from your fuel or electric company.

BRING EVERYTHING EVERY TIME YOU COME IN:

• Proof of date of birth: birth certificate or drivers license for EVERYONE in the household
• Social Security CARD for EVERYONE in the household or an application confirmation letter for Social Security I.D.
• Fuel and Utility bills: CURRENT bill from fuel AND utility company with account numbers. If heat is included in your rent, bring a statement from your landlord. If it is an emergency you must have a Cash on Delivery statement with the date of your last delivery on it or you must have a shut off/termination notice from your company.
• Tenant of Record (1 item of your choice from the following): copy of lease, CURRENT rent receipt with client's name and address and landlord's name, address and phone number; mortgage payment book; deed; homeowners insurance policy, property tax bill.
• Proof of Income: proof of ALL income in the household for the previous four consecutive weeks. Example: pay stub, award letter, child support collection stubs. If you are SELF EMPLOYED you will need business records for the previous three months. Please see an interviewer for more information on this.
• Resources: Bank statements for checking, savings, CD's IRA's, 401K's, any other retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, dividends, etc. PROOF OF INCOME TAX REFUND AND PROOF OF EARNED INCOME CREDIT if received in the last four weeks (if you are self employed you will need this if you received it in the last three months).

Questions:

• If you have questions, call the Steuben County Department of Social Services H.E.A.P. Department at 607-776-7611 or Steuben County Office for the Aging at 607-776-7813. In Yates County call 315-536-5515 or 315-536-5168.
• H.E.A.P. intake locations in Bath, Corning and Hornell all have different hours of operation and some locations close completely early in the season. Please call your local Department of Social Services for hours of operation. All applications are done on a first come first served basis. THERE ARE NO APPOINTMENTS for H.E.A.P.
• AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY? If you can't take care of it yourself and you need help before we are open for business, please be advised that on call workers can NOT authorize repairs or deliveries. You may need to LEAVE YOUR HOME. We are not able to help you with your plumbing or your pets. THESE ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES. WE ARE CONCERNED WITH YOUR SAFETY. If you need assistance with how to handle after hours emergencies or where to go, in Steuben County please call he HELPLINE at 1-800-346-2211.  In Yates County, please call the Sheriff's Department at (315) 536-4438.