From the Energy Programs Department:
HEAP Application Rights
You have the right to be told if your application is approved or denied within 30 business days of the date that the HEAP certifier receives your complete and signed application.
**Processing time for applications will not begin until program opens in November.**
You have the right to request a conference and/or a fair hearing if it has been more than 30 business days since the HEAP certifier received your signed and completed application (or it has been more than 30 business days since November 1st if the certifier received your application prior to November 1st and you have not been told of the eligibility decision).
If you would like a conference you should ask for one as soon as possible. At the conference, if it is discovered that a wrong decision was made or if, because of the information you provide, the decision is changed, corrective action will be taken.
You may ask for a conference by calling
Steuben County Department of Social Services at (607) 776-7611 or in
This is ONLY for requesting a conference. It is not how you ask for a fair hearing. If you ask for or have a conference, you are still entitled to a fair hearing.
You can request a fair hearing from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance by calling toll free: 1-800-342-3334 or by writing to:
HEAP - Energy Fair Hearing Section
NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Office of Administrative Hearings
If you request a fair hearing, NYS will send you a notice of the time and place of the hearing. You have the right to be represented by legal council, a relative, friend, or other person, or to represent yourself. At the hearing, your attorney or other representative will have the opportunity to present written and oral evidence to demonstrate why the action should be taken, as well as the opportunity to question any persons who appear at the hearing. Also, you have the right to bring witnesses to speak in your favor. You should bring to the hearing any documents that may be helpful in presenting your case.
If you need free legal assistance,
you may be able to obtain such assistance by contacting your local Legal Aid
Society or other legal advocate group. You may locate the nearest Legal
Aid Society or advocate group by checking the yellow pages under "lawyers" or by
calling (607) 776-4126 in
You have the right to review your case
record. Upon your request, you have the right to free copies of documents
that we present into evidence at the fair hearing.
Also, upon request, you have the right to
free copies of other documents from your case record that you need
for your fair hearing. To request such documents or to find out how you
may review your case record, call (607) 776-7611 in
If you want additional information about your case, how to request a fair hearing, how to gain access to your case file and/or additional copes of a document, you may call Steuben County Department of Social Services at (607) 776-7611 or in Yates County call (315) 536-5168.
Si necesita alquien que hable espanol, comuniquese con la linea directa de NYS OTDA al 1-800-342-2009.