HEAP outreach to be in Boston

Erie County Legislator John J. Mills announced that a Home Energy Assistance Program Outreach will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Boston Town Hall, 8500 Boston State Road in Boston. Interviews will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. All applicants will be interviewed.

HEAP is a federally-funded program to assist Erie County residents with their heating bills. The outreach will be administered by the Erie County departments of social services and senior services and is open to all income-eligible households.

“Many families are finding themselves applying for HEAP for the first time and the process can be overwhelming,” Mills said. “There have been a lot of news reports about benefits being cut and now residents have valid concerns. Through these outreaches, the county is ensuring that those who qualify for assistance are receiving help with the HEAP process.”

Applicants are requested to supply the following documentation:

- One form of identification for all household members (birth certificates, license or Social Security card).

- Proof of income received within the last 30 days for all household members (pay stubs, Social Security or pension award letters, proof of child support, rental income, unemployment benefits, worker’s compensation, etc.).

- Current heat and electric bills.

If an applicant is missing information, he or she may be allowed to mail the information in order to complete the application process.

For more information, call the HEAP Hotline at 858-7644. HEAP 2012 income guidelines can be found online at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap.

For more information or assistance, contact Mills’ legislative office at 858-8850 or email john.mills@erie.gov.