What New York state paid through its free air conditioner program
New York state ran a free air conditioner program this year that paid up to 800 dollars toward a window unit, a portable air conditioner, or a fan, and up to 1,000 dollars toward an existing wall sleeve air conditioner unit. The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the state agency that runs it, calls it the Cooling Assistance Benefit, one part of the Home Energy Assistance Program, known as HEAP. It provided one unit per household, installed, and the 2026 season closed on June 5.
Who qualified for the benefit
A household qualified if its gross monthly income, the total money it brought in before taxes, sat at or below a state guideline for its size, or if it already received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Temporary Assistance, or Supplemental Security Income. It also needed one of two extra reasons tied to heat risk, a documented medical condition made worse by heat, or a member who was 60 years old or older or under 6 years old. At least one member needed to be a United States citizen or a qualified non citizen. And the household needed to be missing a working air conditioner, or stuck with one 5 years old or older, and could not have received a HEAP funded air conditioner in the previous 5 years.
New York state publishes an updated income guideline table on its own program page. As read today, the newest table sets the limit at 3,563 dollars a month for a household of 1, rising to 6,852 dollars a month for a household of 4. That is the newest published table, current now, not necessarily the exact number that governed a household applying during the 2026 cooling season, since these guidelines usually rise from one program year to the next.
This is the newest income guideline New York state publishes, current today. It is not necessarily the exact number that governed a household applying during the 2026 cooling season, since the guideline usually rises from one program year to the next.
Show the numbers
| Household of 1 | 3,563 |
| Household of 2 | 4,659 |
| Household of 3 | 5,756 |
| Household of 4 | 6,852 |
Why the benefit paid more for some households than others
The program paid more for a household with an existing wall sleeve air conditioner opening than for one getting a new window unit, portable air conditioner, or fan. A wall sleeve replacement earned up to 1,000 dollars, 200 dollars more, 25% more, than the 800 dollar cap on the other 3 options, a difference this site calculated from the 2 dollar figures the state names in the same sentence of its own program page.
One air conditioner or fan is provided per applicant household. Only a household replacing an existing wall sleeve unit qualifies for the higher tier.
Show the numbers
| Window unit, portable air conditioner, or fan | 800 |
| Existing wall sleeve air conditioner unit | 1,000 |
When the 2026 season opened and closed
The 2026 season opened in mid April. A New York City government page names an exact opening day, April 15, but prints a year beside it that does not match the season it describes, and no other source states a full opening date, so this site checked the state page directly and is naming only the month and year rather than repeating a date it could not confirm. The season closed June 5, 2026, at 5 in the afternoon, a date confirmed on the state page, 2 city pages, and 1 news report.
How to apply for the free air conditioner program
Households inside New York City could apply online, in person, or by telephone, through the city agency that administers the benefit locally. Households elsewhere in the state applied through an online portal the state runs. Anyone who wants the benefit will need to watch for a new season to open, since the 2026 season is closed.