What Is HEAP Cooling Assistance, and Does It Cover a Mini Split in NYC?

No. HEAP Cooling Assistance does not cover mini splits. The program covers window air conditioners, portable air conditioners, existing wall-sleeve units, and fans only. Ductless mini split heat pumps and central air systems are explicitly excluded from the benefit.

If you applied for heap cooling assistance mini split nyc funding and received a window AC instead, that is the program working as designed, not an error. The limitation is federal: HEAP is funded by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and administered in New York City by the Human Resources Administration (HRA) via ACCESS HRA. LIHEAP rules restrict the cooling component to portable cooling equipment, and New York has not extended it to ductless systems. The good news is that the same income eligibility that qualifies you for HEAP almost always qualifies you for a better program that can pay for a full mini split install at no cost.

What Does HEAP Cooling Assistance Actually Cover in 2026?

The 2025-2026 Cooling Assistance benefit opened April 15, 2026, and closed June 5, 2026, first-come, first-served until funds were exhausted. For the 2027 season, the application window is expected to open again in spring, confirm current dates at access.nyc.gov or by calling HRA at 718-557-1399, as dates shift with federal funding.

The benefit covers the unit, labor, materials, removal of the old unit, and any minor repairs needed for a safe installation. One unit per household. No additional HEAP cash benefit is issued.

Who Qualifies for HEAP Cooling Assistance in NYC?

You must meet both an income test and a vulnerability test. Households receiving SNAP, Temporary Assistance (TA), or Code A SSI are automatically income-eligible and skip the income calculation step.

Vulnerability Requirement (at least one of the following)

• A household member age 55 or older with a heat-sensitive medical condition (the threshold dropped from 60 to 55 for the 2026 cycle)
• A household member age 60 or older
• A child under age 6
• Any household member with a doctor-documented condition worsened by extreme heat

Equipment Disqualifiers (you are ineligible if)

• You already have a working air conditioner that is less than five years old
• You received a HEAP-funded AC within the past five years
• Your existing unit is operable (vendors must not install if an on-site inspection finds a working AC under five years old)

How to apply: online at access.nyc.gov, by phone at 718-557-1399, or in person at an HRA Benefits Access Center. Because funds are distributed first-come, first-served, apply as early in the season as possible.

What Is the Essential Plan Cooling Program, and Is It Different from HEAP?

Yes, it is a separate program. The Essential Plan Cooling Program (EPCP) is for New York State of Health Essential Plan members who have persistent asthma. There is no income cap inside the program beyond Essential Plan enrollment itself. It covers a window AC, portable AC, or fan, one unit per person every five years. If you received a HEAP-funded AC in the past five years, you are not eligible for EPCP, and vice versa.

EPCP still does not cover mini splits. It is a useful backup for Bronx, Brooklyn, and upper Manhattan households dealing with asthma and polluted air corridors, but the equipment covered is the same category as HEAP.

Why Does the Window AC Disqualifier Trap So Many NYC Seniors and Families?

Thousands of NYC households are caught in a cycle: they received a HEAP window AC in 2022 or 2023, so they are ineligible for a new HEAP benefit until 2027 or 2028. Meanwhile, that window unit costs significantly more to run than a mini split heat pump, and HEAP provides no help with electricity bills. The five-year rule is real, but it is also the reason these exact households are ideal candidates for EmPower+.

There is also a building-safety dimension unique to New York City. Window units require an open window opening, which conflicts with NYC’s Window Guard Law for apartments where children under 11 reside. A wall-mounted mini split indoor head eliminates the window-opening entirely, sidestepping that compliance issue. For a detailed breakdown of how window guard rules interact with cooling equipment in NYC apartments, see our guide on Window Guard Law, Air Conditioners, and NYC Mini Splits.

Does HEAP Help Pay the Running Costs of My AC?

No. HEAP buys and installs the unit, then the program is done. Your monthly electricity bill is your responsibility. This matters because a standard window AC running through a New York City summer can add $80 to $120 per month to your Con Edison bill, depending on unit size and usage.

If you receive SNAP, TA, SSI, HEAP, or Medicaid, you are likely already automatically enrolled in Con Edison’s Energy Affordability Program (EAP). As of summer 2026, the EAP offers discounts of up to $187 per monthly bill cycle for qualifying customers. A separate Enhanced Energy Affordability Program (EEAP) launched January 2026 for households above traditional income cutoffs, offering credits of up to $135 per month for customers below the NYC Area Median Income who do not otherwise qualify for the legacy EAP. Log into your Con Edison account or call 1-800-75-CONED to confirm your enrollment status.

How to Get a Free Mini Split Through EmPower+: The Path HEAP Declines Don’t Tell You About

NYSERDA’s EmPower+ program is the funding vehicle that can pay for a complete ductless mini split heat pump installation at no cost to qualifying households. The same income level and public assistance receipt that makes you HEAP-eligible typically makes you EmPower+ Tier 1 eligible.

EmPower+ Tier 1 Eligibility for NYC Households (2026)

All five boroughs use the same NYC Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds. A household at or below 60% AMI qualifies for Tier 1, which covers 100% of approved project costs up to $14,000 with zero out-of-pocket expense. No loan, no lien, no repayment.

• 1-person household: income up to $68,063
• 2-person household: income up to $77,775
• 3-person household: income up to $87,488
• 4-person household: income up to $97,200

If your household receives HEAP, SNAP, TANF, or SSI, you likely qualify for Tier 1 without needing to calculate income against those figures. EmPower+ then sends a NYSERDA-vetted contractor to assess your home, confirm eligibility, and install qualifying equipment. You pay nothing upfront.

Why a Mini Split Beats a Window AC for Long-Term Outcomes

A ductless mini split heat pump delivers roughly 2.5 to 4 times the heating or cooling energy it consumes, because it moves heat rather than generating it. A window AC has a coefficient of performance near 1.0 by comparison. For a senior or low-income NYC household spending two-thirds of the year heating a Bronx or Brooklyn apartment with electric baseboard heat, replacing that with an inverter-driven heat pump through EmPower+ can cut annual heating costs substantially while also providing summer cooling from the same wall-mounted head. The $800 HEAP window AC helps this summer. The EmPower+ mini split helps every month for fifteen years.

Note: EmPower+ and NYS Clean Heat utility rebates cannot be stacked for the same installed measure. Income-eligible households should go through EmPower+, which is the more generous program at this income level. Once your EmPower+ mini split is installed, pairing it with the Con Edison heat pump rate plan can reduce your per-kilowatt cost further during heating and cooling seasons.

Step-by-Step: How to Get a Funded Mini Split as a Low-Income NYC Household

1. Confirm HEAP status first. If you have not received a HEAP-funded AC in the past five years and you meet the vulnerability and income tests, apply for HEAP Cooling Assistance at access.nyc.gov or call 718-557-1399. You can hold a HEAP window AC and still pursue EmPower+ for a heat pump, HEAP does not disqualify you from EmPower+.
2. Check EmPower+ income eligibility. Use the income table above or the NYSERDA eligibility tool at nyserda.ny.gov. Receiving SNAP, SSI, or TA is effectively automatic qualification for Tier 1.
3. Contact a NYSERDA-approved EmPower+ contractor. AirSync is an NYC-based installer that works with the EmPower+ program. We walk you through income verification and NYSERDA approval before any work begins. There is no upfront cost for Tier 1 households.
4. Schedule the home energy assessment. EmPower+ starts with a no-cost audit of your apartment or 1-4 family home. The assessor identifies qualifying measures, which can include the mini split, insulation, air sealing, and electrical work.
5. Confirm Con Edison EAP or EEAP enrollment. SNAP and SSI recipients are often auto-enrolled. Verify by logging into your Con Edison account so the monthly bill credit is active before your first summer running the new system.

For co-op residents in HDFC or Mitchell-Lama buildings, board approval and an alteration agreement are typically required before installation. See our dedicated guide on mini splits in HDFC co-ops for the approval process and which rebates apply to those buildings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming HEAP rejection means no funding path. A HEAP decline because you have a working AC under five years old is not a dead end. Those households are EmPower+ candidates.
• Waiting for HEAP funds and missing EmPower+. EmPower+ is not first-come, first-served in the same seasonal way. Apply through a contractor whenever your household meets the income test.
• Stacking EmPower+ and NYS Clean Heat for the same unit. You can only use one program per installed measure. Choose EmPower+ if you qualify; it is the better deal at low income levels.
• Skipping Con Edison EAP enrollment. If you receive SNAP, TA, SSI, or HEAP and are not enrolled in EAP, you are leaving monthly bill credits on the table every single month.
• Using HEAP funds on a wall-sleeve unit and blocking EmPower+. HEAP and EmPower+ serve different equipment categories, so they do not directly conflict, but spending your HEAP benefit on a wall-sleeve replacement when your building could support a mini split condenser on the roof or rear facade means you may have missed the better long-term option.
• Assuming you need to own your apartment. EmPower+ covers renters in buildings with 100 units or fewer, as long as you are responsible for paying your own utility bills.
• DIY installation to save money. EmPower+-funded work must be performed by a NYSERDA-approved contractor. Attempting a self-install voids program eligibility and creates DOB permit exposure, see our breakdown of why DIY mini split installs in NYC go wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does HEAP cover a mini split in NYC?

No. HEAP Cooling Assistance covers window air conditioners, portable ACs, wall-sleeve units, and fans only. Ductless mini split heat pumps are not covered under any component of New York’s HEAP program. The restriction comes from federal LIHEAP guidelines that govern how the cooling benefit can be spent.

I got a free window AC from HEAP. Can I still get a free mini split?

Yes, in most cases. Receiving a HEAP-funded window AC does not disqualify you from EmPower+, which operates under separate NYSERDA funding. The five-year rule applies within HEAP itself (and between HEAP and EPCP), but EmPower+ has no such restriction tied to HEAP receipt. If your household income falls at or below 60% of NYC’s Area Median Income, or you receive SNAP, SSI, or TA, you can apply for a no-cost mini split heat pump through EmPower+ regardless of your HEAP history.

What is the income limit for EmPower+ Tier 1 in NYC in 2026?

For a single-person household in any of the five NYC boroughs, the 2026 Tier 1 income limit is $68,063 per year. For a two-person household, $77,775; for a family of four, $97,200. Households receiving SNAP, SSI, TANF, or HEAP benefits are typically auto-eligible for Tier 1 without needing to verify income against those figures. Contact a NYSERDA-approved contractor to confirm.

What is the Essential Plan Cooling Program and who qualifies?

The Essential Plan Cooling Program (EPCP) is a separate, state-administered benefit for New York State of Health Essential Plan members who have persistent asthma. It provides one window AC, portable AC, or fan per eligible person every five years, with no income cap inside the program beyond Essential Plan enrollment. It does not cover mini splits. If you received a HEAP-funded AC in the past five years, you cannot also receive an EPCP unit during that period.

Can a renter in a Brooklyn or Bronx apartment get a free mini split through EmPower+?

Yes, if the building has 100 units or fewer and the renter is responsible for paying their own utility bills. EmPower+ covers both homeowners and renters. The program sends a vetted contractor to assess the unit, and if a heat pump qualifies, the installation cost is covered up to $14,000 for Tier 1 NYC households. Landlord permission is typically required for the physical installation, so coordinate with your building owner or super before scheduling the assessment.

How do I apply for HEAP Cooling Assistance in NYC?

Apply online at access.nyc.gov, by calling HRA at 718-557-1399, or in person at an HRA Benefits Access Center. The 2025-2026 season opened April 15, 2026, and closed June 5, 2026. Confirm the opening date for the next cycle at access.nyc.gov, as dates change year to year based on federal appropriations. Apply as early in the season as possible, funds are distributed first-come, first-served and historically run out before the official closing date.