Nov 13, 2008 — The cost of heating oil is coming down. But across the Northeast, it's too little and too late to help many residents pay their home heating bills. Last Monday, New Yorkers began applying for federal funds from HEAP, the Home Energy Assistance Program. It's the counties, though, that process the paperwork, verify each applicant's eligibility and distribute the money. As Jonathan Brown reports, the number of people seeking help is up dramatically.