More Pennsylvania families will stay warm this winter with additional federal funding allocated to the  Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program– better known as LIHEAP – which opens November 3, Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman said this week.

"LIHEAP plays a critical role in the lives of low-income families all across Pennsylvania," said Secretary Richman. "With additional federal funding we will be able to help many more families who are struggling with sharply rising household costs, helping them to stay warm and safe."

For the 2008-09 season, a family of four with an annual income of up to $44,443 can qualify.

With the increased federal funding, the Governor also directed DPW to increase the minimum cash grant amount to families from $100 to $300, while raising the maximum crisis grant from $300 to $800.

LIHEAP provides cash grants to help low-income households pay for home heating fuel and crisis grants to address heating emergencies. During the 2007-08 LIHEAP season, nearly 541,000 families were helped through cash grants and more than 184,000 families received crisis assistance.

Cash grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Crisis grants are provided to resolve heating emergencies, such as furnace failures or unexpected fuel shortages. In addition to proof of income and household size, applicants must provide a recent bill or a statement from their fuel dealer verifying their customer status and the type of fuel that they use.

Applications for LIHEAP are available at county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

For more information, visit DPW's LIHEAP webpage.

NewsClip: PA Offers Heating Aid

10/31/2008