Special Protections
We provide special protections programs for elderly, blind, and disabled persons and persons with medical emergencies.
Our special protections programs include:
- Elderly, Blind, and/or Disabled Protection: We will attempt to reach you by phone or in person at least 72 hours before your service is shut off for non-payment.
- Medical Emergency Program: Your account will receive a 30-day protection from service termination for non-payment.
If everyone in your household is elderly, blind and/or disabled, you may qualify for this protection.
If you qualify for this protection, we will attempt to reach you by phone or in person at least 72 hours before your service is shut off for non-payment.
- Annual recertification of your EBD protection may be required
- A form will be sent to you to provide us with your current household make-up along with updated proof for all household members.
- If we do not receive a completed form with updated proof, your EBD protection may be at risk of being removed from your account.
To qualify, your entire household makeup must consist of any combination of the following:
- Elderly: 62 years old or older and if anyone else is in the home, they are 18 years of age or younger.
- Blind: Where the person has a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens or an eye which is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.
- Disabled: Receiving Social Security Disability (SSD), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Military benefits due to a service-related disability.
Ways to apply
Apply Online
Complete the online Protections Application form. You will also need to upload required documentation for each household member.
Online Protections Application
Apply by Mail, Email, or Fax
Download and complete the Protections Application Form (pdf). Send this form, along with required documentation to:
Email: box.NYCMedProof@nationalgrid.com
Fax: 1-315-460-9084
Mail:
National Grid
Collections (Protections)
2 Hanson Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
If you have any questions about these programs, please call National Grid Protections Team at 718-403-2171.
If you or someone in your household suffers from a serious illness or a medical condition that would be worsened by the absence of service, your account may be eligible for this program.
We must receive a completed medical letter from the patient’s medical provider. When you apply for this program, we will send a Certificate of Medical Emergency Form to the medical provider. This form explains what our Medical Emergency Program is and outlines what information the medical letter requires.
If you are approved for a Medical Emergency, your account will receive a 30-day protection from service termination for non-payment.
- This does not provide phone outreach.
- Medical Emergency protection may be extended for 30 or 60 days, depending on the nature of the patient’s condition.
- To renew your Medical Emergency protection, you must first demonstrate an inability to pay for your utility services.
- A financial statement with supporting documents is required before we send a request to the medical professional for an updated medical letter.
Ways to apply
Apply Online
Complete the online Protections Application form. You will also need to upload required documentation for each household member.
Online Protections Application
Apply by Mail, Email, or Fax
Download and complete the Protections Application Form (pdf). Send this form, along with required documentation to:
Email: box.NYCMedProof@nationalgrid.com
Fax: 1-315-460-9084
Mail:
National Grid
Collections (Protections)
2 Hanson Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
If you have any questions about these programs, please call National Grid Protections Team at 718-403-2171.
Our protections programs do not provide free utility service; customer accounts are still subject to collections measures if the bill is not paid. These collections measures may include placing a lien against personal property. We will work with our customers to help them receive any heating assistance grants they may qualify for. We will also help customers maintain a payment plan to pay off any arrears they may have.
Please call our Customer Contact Center at any time for additional information or to apply for a protection: 718-643-4050