LIHEAP Can Still Help

Although winter is already here, you can still apply for help if you are having trouble keeping up with your home heating bills.

The Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income people pay their heating bills through energy assistance grants. The official deadline for this year’s cash and crisis grants is March 23, but the availability of federal funds can either shorten or extend the deadline.

Cash grants are available to assist with your heating bills. You do not need an unpaid bill or to be in crisis situation to receive a cash grant, nor do you need to be on welfare to apply. Both homeowners and renters who are responsible for their heating bills and have a low or fixed income are eligible for the program. Clients living in subsidized housing are eligible for the cash grant only if they pay part or all of their primary heating source directly to a vendor.

If a person is eligible for LIHEAP, a payment will be sent directly to the utility/fuel dealer, and the payment will be credited on the person's bill. In some cases, a check may be mailed to the recipient.

Additional money in the form of a crisis grant is available to individuals if they have an emergency situation and are in jeopardy of losing their heat. Emergency situations include:

• broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed
• lack of fuel
• termination of utility service
• danger of being without fuel or of having utility service terminated

To Apply for LIHEAP

To apply for LIHEAP, call or visit your local welfare office to set up an appointment. If you can't go to the welfare office because you are homebound, call the welfare office for help. Some of the information you will need when applying includes

• Names of people in the household
• Social Security numbers for all household members
• Proof of income for all household members
• Recent heating bill.

You can also go online to download the application forms for LIHEAP at the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare web site at: www.dpw.state.pa.us

Your Rights
If you are not satisfied with the grant amount you receive or the way you are treated, you can request a hearing through the County Assistance Office. You can also contact Northwestern Legal Services to learn if you are eligible for representation by a law worker as you file your appeal.