Heating Equipment Assistance for Seniors

This year, the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) program is only available to homeowners age 60 or older. If you qualify, HERR assists homeowners without working heating equipment. To get started, contact your county’s Department of Social Services and ask for help with furnace replacement through the HERR program.

If you are a homeowner less than 60, there are some other funds available to help you replace a heating system, but the process is less straightforward. In this blog post, we hope to help make this process as easy as possible.  

First, you must apply at your county’s Department of Social Services for Temporary Assistant (TA) also known as Public Assistance (PA). The application may be found here: Application Link. In Section 1, check the box “Emergency Assistance Only (EMRG)” and in Section 5, check “Fuel or utility Shutoff.” 

We recommend that you bring a folder with copies of your important documents including all forms of income including other assistance award notifications, citizenship or residence information, social security numbers and information on other assets such as vehicles, venmo, cashapp, savings and retirement accounts, etc. You may also need your photo ID, birth certificate, and deed. 

We recommend going to your DSS office in person as the office is required to provide an interview within 24-36 hours of your visit to the office. Alternatively, you can call your office for guidance about their process or apply online at MyBenefits. If you go in-person, DSS will give you an in-person interview more quickly, so filling out or dropping off your application in person is best if possible.  

If you are denied Temporary Assistance, but your household income falls below 60% of the state average, you can work with an energy advisor at the Clean Energy Hub to apply for EmPower+. This program can pay up to $6,000 for heating system replacement. Anything above that amount would need to be financed or otherwise paid for by the applicant. 

These programs are taking an average of 3-5 weeks to restore heat. Your county DSS office or an energy advisor can help you to find warming stations closest to you. 

To contact the Capital Region Clean Energy Hub and connect with an energy advisor, see our contact page here: https://www.cleanenergycapitalregion.org/contact.