The federal government shutdown has forced New York state to delay the opening of a program that helps low- and moderate-income residents pay their heating bills each winter.

The application period for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) was due to begin Nov. 3 in the National Grid service area in Upstate New York.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday the program will be delayed at least until mid-November because of the lack of federal funding. The state received more than $360 million last year for the federal heating aid program.

Now that aid is in jeopardy as the federal government shutdown entered its 22nd day Wednesday – the second longest in history – with no end in sight.

Hochul’s office said the state notified county social services agencies about the delayed start to a program that helped more than 1.5 million households last winter, including 52,000 in Central New York.

The funding lapse comes 10 days before New Yorkers typically start applying for the aid, providing time for residents to receive a fuel delivery before the coldest weather settles into the state.

The state usually distributes one HEAP benefit per season to eligible households and provides emergency HEAP benefits to those in danger of running out of heating fuel or having utilities shut off due to unpaid bills.

Utility customers qualified for aid last year if their annual incomes were no higher than $39,874 for a single person, or $76,681 for a family of four.

Regular HEAP benefits ranged from $400 to a maximum of $996, depending on a household’s heating fuel and other factors.

Due to high demand, New York burned through its federal allocation by late January this year. The money normally lasts through mid-March.

As of December, National Grid had 234,000 Upstate residential customers who were at least 60 days behind on their bills, owing a total of $309 million.

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