New York lawmakers and taxpayer advocates are calling for legislation that would create a “benefit matching” system aimed at connecting households in the state with help paying their utility bills.
The proposal, supported by state Sen. Kevin Parker and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, is aimed at automatically enrolling eligible households in utility energy assistance programs.
AARP New York and the Public Utility Law Project point to data showing that 1.1 million households in the state are not receiving benefits to help pay their utility bills despite being eligible. In total, 1.2 million households are in arrears on their utility bills, totaling $1.7 billion.
The legislation comes as households also struggle with the broader impact of rising inflation, which affects gas, groceries and other necessities.
“Rising utility costs are creating hardship for families across our state,” Solages said. “Many of these same families receive public assistance, but they do not receive energy assistance at home simply because they have not completed the additional documentation. By leveraging technology and shared data, this bill will ensure that low-income people are automatically enrolled in HEAP, saving New Yorkers countless dollars on utility bills.”
New Yorkers who receive assistance under the federal Home Energy Assistance Program are automatically enrolled in their utility company’s assistance program. But low-income utility customers not enrolled in the program must do so on their own.
“This is a simple solution that would help more than one million low-income New York households pay their utility bills,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “There really isn’t a good reason not to pass this bill, especially since New York City is already successfully implementing this combination of reasonable benefits. Ultimately, the state should apply this concept to more benefit programs. Enacting the Parker-Solages bill would be a great first step.”
