Gov. Tom Corbett announced Friday Pennsylvanians who need assistance paying home heating bills now have additional time, through April 26, to apply for financial help through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly referred to as LIHEAP. 

“Each year we work to set our budget for the LIHEAP program in anticipation of the upcoming heating season,” Corbett said.  “At the beginning of each season there are many unknowns, including the severity of the weather and fuel prices, but through running an efficient program and via prudent planning, we are now able to extend the program by nearly a month.”

The federally-funded program was slated to end March 29, but the application deadline has been extended through April 26.

To-date, the LIHEAP program has received 485,689 applications for cash assistance to help low-income households pay for home heating fuel and utility bills. It has also received 86,551 applications for crisis grants, which assist with heating emergencies such as a furnace failure, unexpected fuel shortages or utility terminations.

Cash grants are based on household income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. In addition to proof of income and household size, applicants must provide a recent bill or a statement from their utility company or fuel dealer verifying their customer status and the type of fuel used.

Applicants can apply for a LIHEAP grant online.

LIHEAP applications are also 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 on the LIHEAP program, or to download an application, visit the DPW LIHEAP webpage, or call the toll-free hotline at 1-866-857-7095. 

3/25/2013