Advocate Alert!

Make Sure Your Clients Aren't Losing Out on This Year's HEAP Renters Benefit

October 1, 2008

Author: Cathy Roberts

We learned from OTDA recently that almost $1 million dollars in HEAP renters benefits were expunged last year because households had failed to access the benefit within the required 90-day time period.  That translates into approximately 20,000 low-income households losing out on their $50 HEAP benefit!

A big reason may be that these households were unaware that they had gotten the benefit, since they had not applied for HEAP.  Temporary assistance and food stamp recipient households are issued a regular (non-emergency) HEAP benefit through OTDA's HEAP autopay system – these households do not have to go through the "normal" HEAP application process. 

Even households who read their HEAP acceptance notice and realized they had gotten the renters benefit may not have understood what to do, especially if they were food stamp-only households and had never redeemed cash benefits on their EBT card.

Accordingly, we wanted to ask advocates to help ensure that no one is losing out on their $50 HEAP renters benefit this winter!  Here are some pointers, courtesy of OTDA (GIS message 04 TA/DC 030): 

• the $50 HEAP renters benefit will be automatically issued to food stamp recipient households who live in private housing (not public or subsidized) AND whose heat is included in their rent.

• It is provided as a $50 cash payment and can be accessed through the household's EBT benefit card, using the same PIN the household uses to redeem their food stamp benefits.

• While the $50 payment is a HEAP benefit, it does not have to be applied toward heating or utility expenses.  The money may be used in the same manner as any other EBT cash benefit.

• As with any other public assistance cash benefit, households can get or use the cash HEAP benefit at any ATM or store where EBT cash benefits may be redeemed.  Look for the QUEST logo, like the one on the back of the EBT benefit card, to identify such stores and ATMs.

• Some QUEST ATM locations impose a surcharge of a $1.00 or more for EBT cash withdrawals.  Before withdrawing any cash, look for a sign or message on the ATM that informs you about the surcharge.  To find the location of surcharge-free ATMs and POS (point-of-sale) devices in your area, call 1-800-289-6739.

• Most ATMs dispense cash in $20 increments, which means that the entire $50 may not be withdrawn from an ATM.  Withdrawing the cash at an in-store customer service desk or checkout line POS device probably is the best option.

• The $50 benefit must be at least partially redeemed within 90 days of its issuance or it automatically will be expunged from the EBT cash account.

• Households whose HEAP benefits are expunged due to non-redemption can request to have the benefits restored, as long as the request is made before September 1, 2009.

• Call the customer service number on the back of the card, 1-888-328-6399, for any questions or problems related to using the benefit card or PIN.

• Households who aren't sure whether they got a HEAP renters benefit should check the balance on their EBT benefit card, either by calling the EBT customer service hotline (1-888-328-6399).  Additionally, if the person is using their food stamp benefits at the grocery store, they can check their receipts to find the remaining balance in their EBT account – the HEAP payment would show up as $50 cash benefit.

• OTDA has an updated EBT brochure, available in 9 different languages, which may also be helpful to clients.  You can download the brochure at http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/ebt/publications.htm

Also, OTDA will be issuing a new $1 HEAP cash renters benefit this year, to food stamp households in public/subsidized housing who don't pay separately for heat, and also to group home residents receiving food stamps.  The $1 HEAP payment allows these households to receive the level 1 heating/cooling food stamp standard utility allowance which in turn maximizes their food stamp monthly benefit.  The same pointers listed above about the $50 HEAP renters benefit would also apply to the $1 HEAP renters benefit.

Questions? Contact Cathy Roberts at croberts@empirejustice.org, or call her at 518-462-6831, x 112.