Federal Shutdown Freezes Heating Help: Older New Yorkers Face Dangerous Winter Without HEAP

November 3, 2025 | Association on Aging in New York |

Albany, NY — 11/3/2025 — As temperatures begin to drop across New York, the ongoing federal government shutdown has put the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) on hold — threatening the safety and well-being of hundreds of thousands of older adults who rely on the program to keep warm during the winter months.

HEAP provides critical financial support to low-income households for home heating costs, energy emergencies, and equipment repairs. In 2024, nearly 1.8 million New York households received HEAP benefits — almost one million of them include a vulnerable person, such as an older adult, young child, or person with a disability.

With HEAP funding frozen amid the federal shutdown, local social services agencies have suspended new applications and payments until the federal budget is approved.

“This shutdown isn’t just a political standoff — it’s a public health emergency for older New Yorkers,” said Becky Preve, Association on Aging in New York. “When temperatures fall and the heat turns off, lives are on the line.”

The Stakes for Older New Yorkers

  • Most HEAP recipients live on fixed incomes, with the average Social Security payment around $1,700 per month.
  • Winter heating costs can exceed $300 per month, leaving many to choose between heat, food, or medication.
  • Older adults are more susceptible to cold-related illness, respiratory distress, and hypothermia, especially in homes with poor insulation or outdated heating systems.

Regional Impact Snapshot

Even a brief delay in HEAP funding will ripple across New York’s regions:

RegionHouseholds Receiving HEAP                At-Risk Older/Disabled Households
New York City            965,000+                          ~480,000
Hudson Valley              97,000+                          ~50,000
Capital Region              65,000+                          ~31,000
Finger Lakes              91,000+                          ~45,000
Western NY            128,000+                          ~63,000
Central NY              58,000+                          ~27,000
North Country              35,000+                          ~18,000

*Nearly half of all HEAP households statewide include someone aged 60+ or living with a disability.

Immediate Consequences of the Shutdown

  • New HEAP applications and benefit payments are suspended statewide until federal appropriations resume.
  • Fuel deliveries are delayed, increasing the risk of emergencies for older adults in rural areas.
  • Energy shutoffs expected to rise as bills come due without federal support.
  • Local agencies strained, fielding thousands of calls from seniors who fear losing heat.

Call to Action

Advocates urge Congress to immediately restore federal funding and end the shutdown to release HEAP allocations before winter temperatures fall further.

“Every day of delay increases the risk of cold-related deaths among seniors,” said Becky Preve, Executive Director of the Association on Aging in New York. “

About the Association on Aging in New York

The mission of the Association is to support and enhance the capacity of New York’s local Area Agencies on Aging and to work in collaboration with the aging network to promote independence, preserve dignity, and advocate on behalf of aging New Yorkers and their families.