CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - One state program could save you hundreds on your heating bill this winter. The program known as HEAP can keep money in your pocket while still keeping your home warm. Heating prices for oil and electricity have gone up significantly since the pandemic. This puts residents of western Massachusetts in a tight spot, especially during the coldest month of the year. 22News spoke to one Agawam resident who's felt the recent spike in cost. "My heating prices went way up and even I'm in the local Facebook forums and everybody's complaining about the energy prices about electrical problems," says Antony Menovshchikov. "A just constant thing that keeps popping up on my feed." The Home Energy Assistance Program pays for a portion of your heating bill between October and March. There's a wide range of benefits, depending on your income, which could be as much as $1,050 of savings. You can either apply online or at a local provider. Clare Higgins is the Executive Director at one of these providers. She told 22News that a home with no heat can lead to a dangerous environment, "The need for heat is a health and safety issue, right? When people don't have good heat, they may do things, like use their stove to heat their house make other decisions that could be dangerous." While applications open in October, you can still apply for this winter. Local News Headlines Holyoke Mall secures three-year loan extension Local 5th graders learn about weather and journalism Westfield police seeking help in identifying individuals suspected of package theft State program offers winter heating bill relief WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.