The Department of Public Welfare announced this week Pennsylvania is extending the deadline for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to April 28.

Earlier this year, at a time when home heating costs were skyrocketing, Pennsylvania increased the income threshold for LIHEAP grants from 135 percent of the federal poverty level to 150 percent, allowing 67,000 more Commonwealth families access to the LIHEAP benefit.

In addition, the Rendell Administration and the General Assembly recently doubled from $300 to $600 through the first-ever appropriation of state funds to the LIHEAP program.

In most counties, individuals seeking crisis grants should contact their local County Assistance Office (CAO). However, individuals in the nine counties listed below should contact the following agencies that operate the crisis component in their area:

· Allegheny – Allegheny County Department of Human Services, 1-800-851-3838;

· Carbon – Carbon County Action Committee, (610) 377-6400;

· Centre – Central PA Community Action Agency, (814) 765-1551, or Millheim Family Service Center, (814) 349-5850;

· Lackawanna – Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency, (570) 963-6836

· Lancaster – Community Action Program of Lancaster County, (717) 299-7301;

· Luzerne – Commission on Economic Opportunity of Luzerne County, (570) 826-0510;

· Philadelphia – Department of Licenses and Inspections, (215) 686-2590;

· Wyoming – Commission on Economic Opportunity of Wyoming County, (570) 836-4090; and

· York – Community Progress Council of York County, (717) 846-4600.

The federally funded LIHEAP helps low-income households pay for a variety of home heating fuel sources and furnace repairs.

To learn more about applying for heating assistance, call 1-866-857-7095 or visit a local CAO or www.compass.state.pa.us.

NewsClip: Energy Assistance Program Deadline Extended to April 28

4/14/2006