ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – A reminder – apply now for heating energy assistance this winter.

On December 1, following a funding delay due to the government shutdown, HEAP applications officially opened in New York.

If eligible, you can apply in person at the Tompkins County Department of Social Services or online at www.mybenefits.ny.gov. Older adults, including those who receive SSI or SSD and do not receive food stamps, can have their paperwork processed through the Tompkins County Office for the Aging (COFA).

Applications are open through April 7, 2026, or until funding is exhausted.

In related news, older adults can still safeguard your house for the winter.

COFA still has NYSEG energy-saving kits free of charge for eligible residents. Each kit comes with outlet and switch gaskets, door sweeps, spray foam, and window insulation. You can pick them up during business hours, Monday through Friday, at the Office for the Aging on West State Street in Ithaca.