National Fuel Gas : Help with Heating Bills Now Available in New York



6363 Main Street, Williamsville, N.Y. 14221

1-800-634-5440 | www.nationalfuelgas.com

RELEASE DATE: Nov. 16, 2016

For additional information, please contact:

Emily L. Ciraolo, 716-857-7861 Help with Heating Bills Now Available

(Nov. 16, 2016) WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - If you need help with your heating bill, National Fuel can help.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is now open. HEAP is a federally funded program that provides assistance to eligible customers to pay their home heating bills. National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel) customers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for assistance as funds are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Grant amounts vary and will be provided only while HEAP funding remains available.

Additional assistance may be available for those with a heating emergency. The maximum regular HEAP grant for customers who use natural gas to heat their homes is $401. HEAP grants are immediately posted to customer accounts when they are received from New York state.

HEAP eligibility is determined using the last four weeks of your gross household income. You may be eligible to receive HEAP benefits if your gross household income is at or below the following income levels:

Household Size	2016-17 Maximum Monthly Gross Income Limit (1)	2016-17 Approximate Maximum Annual Gross Income Limit
1	$2,300	$27,597
2	$3,007	$36,088
3	$3,715	$44,580
4	$4,423	$53,071
5	$5,130	$61,562
6	$5,838	$70,054

(1) Maximum gross monthly income limits are subject to change.

For a list of what is required to apply for HEAP, please visit HEAPhelps.com. All applicants can either apply by mail, in person or online. If your gas is off or you have a shut-off notice, you should apply for the regular HEAP benefit in person. To apply online, please click here. For a listing of HEAP application offices by county, please click here.

(more)

Beginning Jan. 3, 2017, if you received a regular HEAP benefit, you may call your county office to apply for a $350 emergency HEAP benefit. You must have a shut-off notice to apply. Callers should be prepared with their case number, social security number, utility account number, household income and resource amounts (bank account balance, etc).

In addition to HEAP, other programs are available to help individuals who struggle to make their bill payments. National Fuel encourages customers to contact a customer service representative to discuss their personal situations. A quick call can provide information on the following programs: Neighbor For Neighbor Heat Fund is open year round and helps qualified customers who are aged 55 years or older, have a certified medical condition, are disabled, or are currently receiving unemployment benefits to prevent an energy emergency; a Deferred Payment Agreement allows the potential to negotiate a repayment plan in the event of a problem or special circumstance; Special Protections is applicable for households where all residents are aged 62 years or older, 18 years or younger, blind or disabled; and budget plan billing is available for customers who want to have level, predictable monthly payments. Customer assistance is available each weekday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. by contacting 1-800-365-3234.

National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation is the Utility segment of National Fuel Gas Company, a diversified energy company that is engaged in a number of natural gas-related activities. The Utility provides natural gas service to more than 740,000 customers in Western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. To learn more about natural gas safety, visit www.NationalFuelGas.com.

-30-