Updated for the 2026 cooling season.
As summer temperatures climb on Long Island, many lower-income households face a hard choice: endure dangerous heat or strain their budgets to stay cool. New York’s Cooling Assistance program, part of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), helps by providing free air conditioning units and installation to eligible residents.
What the Cooling Assistance Program Provides
The HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit covers the cost of an air conditioner, or in some cases a fan, along with professional installation, so qualifying households can stay safely cool without paying out of pocket. The benefit is typically issued once and is designed for homes that do not already have a working air conditioner.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility is based on household income, which varies with household size, plus a few additional requirements. Priority is given to households that include someone especially vulnerable to extreme heat, such as:
- A child under the age of 6
- An adult age 60 or older
- A household member with a documented medical condition that is worsened by heat
Households already receiving certain public benefits, such as SNAP, often meet the income test automatically. Because the exact income limits and rules are set each year, it is worth confirming the current-year thresholds when you apply.
How and When to Apply
Long Island residents apply through their local county Department of Social Services. The cooling benefit opens in the spring and runs through the summer, but funding is limited and benefits are awarded first-come, first-served, so applying early matters. In past years the program has helped tens of thousands of households across New York State in a single season, and once annual funds are exhausted, applications close until the following year.
Heating Help Too: HEAP for Oil Customers
HEAP is not just for summer. The same program offers Regular and Emergency heating benefits in the colder months, and Domino Fuel is a participating heating oil vendor. If you receive a heating benefit and heat with oil, it can be applied directly toward your delivery. Learn more on our HEAP benefits and how to apply page.
We Are Here to Help
How to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
Whether or not you qualify for cooling assistance, there are practical ways to beat the Long Island heat and keep cooling costs down:
- Service your AC before the heat hits. A quick air conditioning tune-up keeps your system running efficiently and helps prevent a mid-summer breakdown.
- Consider a ductless mini-split. If you do not have central air, a ductless mini-split system cools individual rooms efficiently without ductwork.
- Block the sun. Close blinds and curtains on sunny windows during the hottest part of the day to keep rooms cooler.
- Use fans wisely. Ceiling and box fans make a room feel several degrees cooler and cost far less to run than air conditioning.
- Check on vulnerable neighbors. During heat waves, look in on elderly relatives and neighbors, who are most at risk from extreme heat.
Common Questions About Cooling Assistance
Does the program cover central air conditioning?
The benefit generally covers a window or portable air conditioner and its installation. It is intended to provide basic, safe cooling rather than a whole-home central system.
Can I apply if I rent my home?
Yes. Renters can apply as long as they meet the income and eligibility requirements and are responsible for their own cooling.
What if funds run out before I apply?
Once the season’s funding is exhausted, the benefit closes until the program reopens the following year, which is why applying early in the season is so important.
Whether you are trying to stay cool this summer or warm this winter, Domino Fuel can help you understand your options. Call us at 631-779-3196 with questions about HEAP, cooling assistance, or scheduling service, and we will point you in the right direction.