The Department of Public Welfare Secretary this week began accepting applications for Pennsylvania's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for the 2004-05 winter heating season.

The federally funded LIHEAP helps low-income households pay for a variety of home heating fuel sources and furnace repairs in the winter. It is administered by the state Department of Public Welfare. $120 million is expected to be available for this year's program, which will serve about 350,000 households.

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. Families can also apply for LIHEAP cash grants online at COMPASS application website.

People whose income is at or below 135 percent of the federal income poverty level have until March 24, 2005, to apply for both LIHEAP cash grants and crisis grants. The cash grant program is designed to help families pay their home heating bills. Cash grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and heating regions.

In addition to proof of income and household size, applicants will have to provide a recent bill or a statement from their fuel dealer stating the type of fuel they use and their acceptance as a customer.

For more information about LIHEAP, individuals can call DPW's toll-free information line at 1-866-857-7095, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m..

11/12/2004