Financial Assistance Programs

While we celebrate with our loved ones this holiday season, we should not forget those who struggle financially every day, including the holidays. With that in mind, below is a list of financial assistance programs offered in New York. Please pass this information on to anyone you know who may be in need. Happy Holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – This program offers assistance to low-income working people, senior citizens and the disabled. It provides electronic benefits to be used like cash to purchase food. There are different income limits depending on each person’s situation. For instance, a senior citizen can have an income of $2,265 per month or less and can qualify for SNAP. Please click on the following link to find out more about this program. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | OTDA (ny.gov) or call the OTDA Hotline at (800) 342-3009.

Meals on Wheels – People who are 60 years of age or older can receive cooked meals. If the senior is mobile, then they are served in a group setting (i.e at a senior center). If the senior is not mobile, then they will get food delivered. There is a sliding fee scale, from minimal to no cost. This program also includes pet food delivery, home repair services and transportation services for doctor’s appointments and other needs. Visit Find Meals | Meals on Wheels America or call (888) 998-6325.

Home Energy Assistance Program – This program assists people to heat their homes with electricity, gas, oil, propane etc. Applications open in November every year. The program is based on income and household size and if residents are 6 years of age or under or 60 years of age or older. To be eligible, income for applicants needs to be below 130% of the federal poverty level. For instance, if you are a household of one and your income is below $2,853 per month you will be eligible. Visit Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) | OTDA (ny.gov) or call (800) 342-3009.

• There is also an Emergency HEAP benefit if electric or gas is cut off or there is less than ¼ of a tank of fuel or oil left at a person’s residence.

• There is a Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement Benefit which covers the cost of the repair.

• There is a clean and tune benefit of up to $500.00

• There is a Cooling Assistance benefit, which provides one air conditioner or fan installation – a value of $800 to $1,000.

o When you receive HEAP, Con Edison adds a low-income assistance discount to

the bill. This benefit is for seniors, disabled and people with a medical hardship.

o When you receive HEAP, PSEG offers the Household Assistance Program (HAP)

and the Residential Energy Affordability Partnership (REAP). HAP offers $25

towards your energy bill every month and REAP helps customers save energy and

lower energy bills by providing free efficiency upgrades.

* Also, the NYS Electric and Gas relief program covers past-due balances

accrued on or before May 1, 2022. The program is accepting applications till

December 31, 2022. See the following link for more information: New Electric

and Natural Gas Bill Relief Program – Nassau Suffolk Law Services

(nslawservices.org).

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) – This program helps lower energy costs by making weatherization type repairs (i.e. replacing windows or doors, installing insulation, air sealing of windows etc.) If you are receiving HEAP, you are already eligible for this program. You must call a local provider to apply. Please visit Weatherization Applicants | Homes and Community Renewal (ny.gov) to find a local provider or call (518) 474-5700.

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) - This program helps low income households pay the cost of water and sewer services. The program can assist with past due bills (arrears) of up to a maximum of $2,500 per water or service provider or $5,000 if water and sewer are combined. The benefit is paid directly to the water and sewer vendor(s). Please visit Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) | OTDA (ny.gov) or call (833) 690-0208.

Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline – This program helps low-income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. Income has to be below 200% of the Federal poverty level. The program offers $30 per month towards phone or internet service. The program also offers a one time $100 payment towards a laptop, tablet or desktop. Click on the following links to learn more: Affordable Connectivity Program | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov) or Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov).

Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Exemption – Seniors who are 65 years of age or older and have income of $58,399 per year or less are entitled to a percentage off of their Real Estate Taxes each year. This exemption is in addition to the Star exemption and any veterans or disability exemption that the senior may be entitled to receive. Visit Senior citizens exemption (ny.gov).

Equitable Retention Mortgage Assistance Program (ERMA) – This is a foreclosure prevention program for Seniors. This was initially initiated for reverse mortgage holders and then expanded in 2022 to include regular mortgage holders. The program offers a $25,000 loan to assist with arrears which are leading to foreclosure. An applicant’s income must be below 125% of the area median income. Please visit Home (sustainableneighborhoodsny.org) to apply.

New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund (NYS HAF) – This program helps homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments and going through foreclosure due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. This program offers up to $50,000 towards mortgage arrears. To be eligible, income must be less than 100% of the area median income. Visit New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund (nyhomeownerfund.org) or call 844-776-9423.

New York Foundation for Senior Citizens (NYFSC) – This free home sharing program helps link “hosts” with extra spaces in their homes or apartments with appropriate adult “guests” to share their space. At least one participant must be 60 years or older. The guests must make a monthly contribution towards the household expenses. This program is only available in the five boroughs. This program also offers transportation, discounted Broadway Show tickets, home repair and crisis intervention services. Please visit the following link to learn more: Home Page - New York Foundation for Senior Citizens (nyfsc.org) or call (212) 962-7559.

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) - This is a community service and work-based training program for older workers. It provides subsidized, part-time community service training for unemployed, low-income person’s 55 or older who have poor employment prospects. Visit Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) | Benefits.gov or call (877) 872-5627.

Long Term Care Ombudsman Program – This program offers an advocate and resources for older adults and people with disabilities who live in nursing homes, assisted living or other licensed adult care homes. The program helps residents understand and exercise their rights to good care. Visit Long Term Care Ombudsman Program | Office for the Aging (ny.gov) or call (855) 582-6769.

Office for the Aging – The Office for the Aging is partnering with Elliq Proactive Companion Technology and Animatronic Pets in an attempt to combat social isolation. The Office for the Aging believes these technologies are vital in reducing social isolation, supporting independence, connection and engagement. Elliq is a robotic proactive and empathetic care companion that provides daily check-ins, assistance with wellness goals and physical activities, connection to family and friends, medication reminders and sleep relaxation exercises. Animatronic Pets are produced by Ageless Innovations and Joy for All. They are plush, “lifelike” robotic pets designed to make realistic sounds and motions, providing comfort and companionship to individuals. The Office for the Aging is providing these devices for free to Seniors and has more tech related initiatives in the works for the future. To find out more, please email communications@aging.ny.gov or call (518) 549-8983.

Programs under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – This program provides states with flexibility in operating programs designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic self-sufficiency. For more information on the below programs visit Temporary Assistance | OTDA (ny.gov) or call (800) 342-3009.

• Family Assistance (FA) – This is a temporary assistance program that provides cash assistance to eligible needy families that include a minor child living with a parent or caretaker relative. Eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a total of 60 months in their lifetime.

• Safety Net Assistance (SNA) – This program is for people who are not eligible under FA. Under this program, single adults or childless couples, are eligible to receive cash assistance for a maximum of two years. After the two years, the assistance is in a non-cash form (i.e payments to utilities or to a landlord).

• Emergency Benefits – The Emergency benefit is a category of TANF and this benefit is available to help resolve an urgent need or situation. For instance, if your utilities are being shut off, or you are being evicted, you do not have fuel for heat, or you have little or no food. Eligible persons can get payments to use towards utilities, shelter, fuel, and temporary housing. The sub-categories of this benefit are below.

o Emergency Assistance to Adults (EAA) – this is for persons receiving

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or State Supplementation Program (SSP).

o Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF) – this is for the emergency needs of a

pregnant person or family with a child under 18 years of age (or 19 years of age

and the child is attending a full-time secondary school).

o Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) – this is emergency assistance for

single adults and childless couples.

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – You can receive SSDI if you have an illness or injury that prevents you from working for at least a year or likely will cause death. To receive SSDI you must have work credits, which means you have spent a period of time working and have paid Social Security Taxes. SSI is designed to help aged (65 or older), blind and disabled people who have little or no income and minimal assets. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. In most cases, you will not be able to qualify for Social Security Retirement benefits and SSDI at the same time. However, you may qualify for SSI if your Retirement benefits are very low. To apply for benefits, visit How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits (ssa.gov) or Supplemental Security Income | SSA or call (800) 772-1213.

Medicaid – This program provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Most of our clients know this program provides coverage for long-term care. It pays for the high and continuously rising costs of nursing home care and in-home long-term care. Our firm can not only assist in Medicaid applications but can assist in protecting assets and making clients Medicaid eligible. For assistance with Medicaid planning or Medicaid applications please contact us at info@mavrospanagoslaw.com or call (516) 447-0455.

At Mavros Panagos Law, we care about our clients’ wellbeing and want to assist in anyway we can. We will continue to provide and update this information on various financial assistance programs in New York as we discover more programs in the future.

Contact Us

Eleni Mavros Panagos, Esq.

Mavros Panagos Law

200 Broadhollow Road, Ste. 207

Melville, NY 11747

(516) 447-0455

www.mavrospanagoslaw.com