Financial Assistance for Air Conditioners - 2022 Cooling Assistance Program

Note: Medicaid also may sometimes pay for an air conditioner.  See article. 

HEAP-funded air conditioners are available in limited supplies to low income people in NYS who meet income and other requirements. In 2022 a qualifying medical condition exacerbated by heat is no longer a requirement to access this benefit. The 2022 HEAP cooling assistance program is available beginning May 2, 2022 through August 31, 2022. The program will help with purchasing & installing the air conditioner, up to a cost of $800. Units are provided on a first come, first serve basis.  

More detailed information can be found here: https://access.nyc.gov/programs/cooling-assistance-benefit/

ELIGIBILITY 

Applicants must meet the following eligibility standards:

• U.S. citizen or satisfactory immigration status
• Does not have a working air conditioner which is newer than five years
• Received a regular HEAP benefit OR live in subsidized housing with heat included in rent
• Receive SNAP/TA/SSI OR meet certain income requirements (listed on website)

Certain other restrictions apply.  More information can be found in local commissioner's memorandum 20-LCM-11 and attachments.

WHERE TO APPLY

This article was authored by the Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program of New York Legal Assistance Group.