Programs News

Harrisburg, PA- Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh reminded the residents in Pennsylvania who have low incomes and need heating bill assistance to cover the cost of heating bills by applying to the Low Income Home energy assistance program before the end of the day on April 5, 2024. The Shapiro administration is encouraging Pennsylvanians to apply for cash or crisis assistance. The applications will only be accepted and considered who applied till April 5, 2024. Even after the application period closes, the approved cash and crisis payments will continue to be distributed.

Secretary Arkoosh said, “The LIHEAP season will remain open until April 5 so if you or someone you know could benefit from this resource, I encourage you to apply today. LIHEAP helps some of our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians stay warm and safe in their homes. We look forward to restarting Cash payments soon and provide Pennsylvanians the peace of mind of knowing that their heat will not be shut off.”

While the Commonwealth was waiting for the authorization from the Congress for the $21 million in federal LIHEAP funding that was delayed by federal budget negotiations, the Department of Human Services paused Cash payments in March. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will receive the remaining LIHEAP allocation and will restart Cash payments soon due to the continuing resolution at the end of last month. The LIHEAP cash payments will be resumed by the Department of Human Services for the remainder of the 2023-2024 LIHEAP season. The crisis payments made via LIHEAP will ensure that the individuals do not lose their essential home energy services. While the cash grants are paused, DHS has been accepting and reviewing all applications for LIHEAP.

Low income home energy assistance is a federally funded program administered by the Department of Human Services to help people with home heating bills via cash and crisis grants so that low income people and households in Pennsylvania can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to apply while the LIHEAP season remains open through April 5, 2024.

The Low-income home energy assistance program assistance is distributed directly to people who meet the income limits, are at the risk of losing their heating utility service terminated, have broken heating equipment, already had their heating utility service terminated, and the ones who have run out of or have less than two weeks of fuel, propane, wood and coal. For the 2023-2024 season, the minimum low income home energy assistance program crisis grant is $25 and the maximum crisis grant is $1000.

Pennsylvania residents can apply for Low-income home energy assistance programs and other public assistance programs online at the official website of the Department of Human Services or by submitting a paper application to the local county assistance office by fax, mail, or in person. The best part is that Pennsylvanians do not need to know their eligibility to apply for these programs. The ones who have applied earlier for assistance but got denied can also reapply now if they have experienced a change in the circumstances. The 2023-2024 LIHEAP season will close on April 5, 2024.

Visit the official website for more information regarding the LIHEAP assistance.