Resources

Child Health Plus

Depending on your family’s income, your child may be eligible to receive Children’s Medicaid or Child Health Plus–free or low-cost health insurance to New York children under the age of 19.

Learn More

Cooling Assistance

$15 million is available through the Home Energy Assistance Program to provide air conditioner units and installation to eligible low-income households to help stay cool during the summer. Eligible households include someone who has a documented medical condition exacerbated by extreme heat, households with young children, or older adults.

Learn More

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The EITC helps income-eligible workers and families get a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe—and potentially increase your refund.

Learn More

Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program

EPIC helps income-eligible seniors, 65 and older, supplement prescription drugs. To qualify, individuals must be eligible or already participate in the Medicare Part D drug plan.

Learn More

Lifeline Program

The Lifeline Program provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers—ensuring you have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family, and emergency services.

Learn More

Medicaid

Medicaid provides health coverage to income-eligible adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. This program is funded jointly by the federal government and New York State.
 
Learn More

Regional Clean Energy Hubs

NYSERDA’s Regional Clean Energy Hubs help residents, businesses, and affordable housing owners access the benefits of the clean energy economy, find ways to reduce energy use and costs, and get information on making informed energy decisions. Each Hub is a team of trusted, knowledgeable, community-based organizations in and from your region of the State. Find your local Hub to get started.
 
Learn More

Summer Consumer Protections

Major electric utilities provide residential customers with special protections and shut-off procedures during summer and/or periods of extreme heat. Assistance is available to help low-income customers with the purchase and installation of air conditioner or fan during the summer season through the HEAP Cooling Assistance program. To find out more about hot weather-related utility consumer protections, visit the “Extreme Heat Protections” page on DPS’s website.
 
Learn More

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of qualifying, income-eligible families—so you can more easily afford and purchase healthy food.

Learn More

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families — Family Assistance (FA)

FA provides cash assistance to eligible families that include a minor child living with a parent (including families where both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative.

Learn More

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families — Safety Net Assistance (SNA)

SNA provides cash assistance to eligible families who are not eligible for the Family Assistance (FA) program—like single adults, childless couples, children living apart from any adult relative, families of persons found to be abusing drugs or alcohol, and more.

Learn More

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Disability Programs

Administered by the Social Security Administration, these Federal programs provide assistance to people with disabilities—and pay benefits to you and certain members of your family, like cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Learn More

School Tax Relief (STAR) Program

STAR offers property tax relief to eligible New York State homeowners. If you are registered for the STAR credit, the Tax Department will send you a STAR check once a year to pay your school taxes.

Learn More

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

WAP helps reduce heating and cooling costs for income-eligible homeowners and renters. Through WAP, you can receive free weatherization services, insulation of attics and walls to reduce heat loss, heating system repairs or replacement, and more.

Learn More

Winter Consumer Protections

The Home Energy Fair Practices Act approved by the New York State Public Service Commission (DPS) provides residential natural gas and electric customers with special protections and shut-off procedures for circumstances where customer health and safety may be threatened by lack of service. Between November 1 and April 15, your provider must make a special effort to communicate with customers to determine whether terminating heat-related service will result in serious impairment to your health or safety. To find out more about cold weather-related utility consumer protections, visit the “Consumer Protections and Outreach” page on DPS’s website.

Learn More