The most useful $800 in your apartment this summer might come from a city program most New Yorkers don’t realize they qualify for. The HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit — the summer companion to the heating assistance program — opened for 2026 applications on April 15 and will stay open until August 31, 2026, or until funds run out. In past years, the funds have run out earlier. This is genuinely first-come, first-served money.

The benefit pays for one of the following: a window or portable air conditioner, an installation, or a fan — up to $800 total — or up to $1,000 toward replacing an existing wall sleeve unit. Delivery and installation are usually included in that figure for window units in NYC. You don’t pay anything out of pocket if your unit and installation come in under the cap.

What changed for 2026

The big policy change this year: the automatic age qualification dropped from 60 to 55. If your household includes anyone aged 55 or older with a heat-sensitive condition, you now qualify on the medical/age track even if your income is too high for SNAP-based qualification. New York State made this change as part of broader 2026 OTDA program updates.

The other change is timing. Trump-administration cuts to federal LIHEAP funding (the source money behind HEAP) have made the 2026 cycle smaller in dollar terms than 2025, which is why advocates are urging eligible households to apply now, not in July. Coverage in City Limits reported the funding squeeze when applications opened in April.

Who qualifies

You qualify if your household meets all three of the following:

1. You meet income guidelines — or you are automatically eligible because your household receives SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Code A SSI. The OTDA publishes annual income limits at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap; check the current cooling guidelines page for your household size.
2. At least one household member is age 55 or older, under age 6, or has a documented medical condition worsened by heat (asthma, COPD, heart disease, MS, etc.).
3. You don’t already have a working AC — or your existing AC is more than five years old. You also can’t have received a HEAP-funded AC in the last five years.

Renters and homeowners both qualify. If you rent, you do not need landlord permission to apply, though installation typically requires building access.

What you actually get

• One air conditioner per household — typically a 5,000 to 8,000 BTU window unit, or a comparable portable unit if your window can’t accommodate one. The benefit covers up to $800 total including installation.
• $1,000 cap if you have an existing wall sleeve (the rectangular hole in older NYCHA and pre-war buildings) and need a sleeve-fit replacement.
• Free delivery and installation in NYC through HEAP-contracted vendors. You don’t shop and submit a receipt — the city sends a unit.
• A fan instead of an AC if your apartment can’t accommodate either. This is rare but available.

How to apply

NYC residents have four ways to apply. The fastest is online.

1. Online via ACCESS HRA. Go to access.nyc.gov and click through to the Cooling Assistance application. You’ll create or log in to your ACCESS HRA account. The full application takes about 25 minutes.
2. ACCESS HRA mobile app. Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play. You can scan documents directly with your phone — useful if you don’t have a printer or scanner.
3. By phone. Call HRA’s HEAP line at (718) 557-1399, Monday–Friday. The same number handles eligibility questions and required documents.
4. In person. Walk into any HRA Benefits Access Center. Bring your documents.

What documents you need

• Photo ID for the head of household
• Social Security numbers for all household members applying
• Proof of address (lease, utility bill, or recent mail)
• Proof of income for the prior month (pay stubs, benefit award letters, Social Security statements) — unless you’re automatically eligible through SNAP/TA/SSI
• If you’re qualifying through medical condition: a signed letter from a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner stating the heat-sensitive condition. The HEAP Medical Documentation form (available on the ACCESS HRA site) is the standard format.

If you don’t qualify for HEAP, here’s the backup

The state runs a separate Essential Plan Cooling Program through NY State of Health for people enrolled in the Essential Plan health insurance program with documented heat-sensitive conditions. Eligibility runs differently and there’s no income cap inside the program. Apply through your Essential Plan account.

For ongoing summer electricity costs, ConEd’s Energy Affordability Program (EAP) provides a monthly bill credit — up to $135/month for income-eligible households under the enhanced 2026 tier. EAP and HEAP can be stacked: HEAP gets you the AC, EAP keeps the bill manageable when you actually run it.

Action Steps

• Apply this week if you qualify. Go to access.nyc.gov/programs/cooling-assistance-benefit/. Funding is finite and 2026 funding is tighter than 2025.
• If you’re age 55+, pay close attention. The eligibility threshold dropped this year. You may now qualify when you didn’t last year.
• If you have a heat-sensitive medical condition, get the medical documentation form signed by your provider before you start the application. This is the single most common reason applications stall.
• Stack with EAP. If you receive SNAP, TA, or SSI, you’re likely already auto-enrolled in ConEd’s Energy Affordability Program. Confirm by logging into your ConEd account or calling 1-800-75-CONED.
• Don’t wait for a heatwave. Installation lead times in July and August stretch to several weeks. April–June applications get installed faster.
• Track your application. Use the ACCESS HRA app to check status. If the application stalls more than 30 days, call (718) 557-1399.

HEAP Cooling Assistance is one of the highest-dollar, lowest-friction benefit programs the city runs. The application is short, the documentation requirements are reasonable, and the unit shows up at your door. If you or anyone in your household checks the boxes — age, medical condition, or income — this is the kind of program designed to actually be used. Use it before the funds run out.

Will

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