LIHEAP
Helps low-income people pay their heating bills with energy assistance grants
Although winter weather in northwestern Pennsylvania is difficult to predict, some experts forecast a definite chill to your pocketbook in the coming months.
The Energy Information Administration, a federal agency that supplies the short-erm energy and winter fuels outlook for the nation, expects the cost of heating your residence to rise in 2007 - 08.
On average, households heating primarily with natural gas are expected to spend an average of $78 (10 percent) more this winter in fuel expenditures, while households heating primarily with electricity can expect to pay an average of $32 (4 percent) more this winter than last.
For low-income residents of the Commonwealth, however, a program exits to help pay for the high cost of home heating this winter.
LHEAP
The Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income people in the Commonwealth pay their heating bills through energy assistance grants.
LIHEAP applications are only accepted by welfare departments during a certain time of the year. This year all LIHEAP programs are scheduled to open on November 5, 2007. They are scheduled to close on March 21, 2008. The welfare department may extend or shorten the program dates depending upon availability of federal funds.
LIHEAP applications printed from the Internet and submitted to the county assistance offices will be processed beginning on November 5, 2007.
Cash/Crisis Grants
Cash grants are available to assist with your heating bills. You do not need an unpaid bill or to be in crisis situation to receive a cash grant, nor do you need to be on welfare to apply.
Both homeowners and renters who are responsible for their home heating and have a low or fixed income are eligible for the program. Clients living in subsidized housing are eligible for the cash grant only if they pay part or all of their primary heating source directly to a vendor.
If a person is eligible for LIHEAP, a utility/fuel payment will be sent directly to the fuel dealer, and the payment will be credited on the person's bill. In some cases, a check may be mailed to the recipient.
Additional money in the form of a crisis grant is available to individuals if they have an emergency situation and are in jeopardy of losing their heat. Emergency situations include:
* broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed
* lack of fuel
* termination of utility services
* danger of being without fuel or of having utility service terminated
To Apply for LIHEAP
To apply for LIHEAP, call or visit your local welfare office to set up an appointment. If you can't go to the welfare office because you are homebound, call the welfare office for help. Some of the information you will need when applying includes
* Names of people in the household
* Social Security numbers for all household members
* Proof of income for all household members
* Recent heating bill.
You can also go online for LIHEAP application forms at the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare web site at:
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/
Your Rights
If you are not satisfied with the grant amount you receive or the way you are treated, you can request a hearing through the County Assistance Office. You can also contact Northwestern Legal Services to learn if you are eligible for representation by a law worker as you file your appeal.
Although winter weather in northwestern Pennsylvania is difficult to predict, some experts forecast a definite chill to your pocketbook in the coming months.
The Energy Information Administration, a federal agency that supplies the short-erm energy and winter fuels outlook for the nation, expects the cost of heating your residence to rise in 2007 - 08.
On average, households heating primarily with natural gas are expected to spend an average of $78 (10 percent) more this winter in fuel expenditures, while households heating primarily with electricity can expect to pay an average of $32 (4 percent) more this winter than last.
For low-income residents of the Commonwealth, however, a program exits to help pay for the high cost of home heating this winter.
LHEAP
The Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income people in the Commonwealth pay their heating bills through energy assistance grants.
LIHEAP applications are only accepted by welfare departments during a certain time of the year. This year all LIHEAP programs are scheduled to open on November 5, 2007. They are scheduled to close on March 21, 2008. The welfare department may extend or shorten the program dates depending upon availability of federal funds.
LIHEAP applications printed from the Internet and submitted to the county assistance offices will be processed beginning on November 5, 2007.
Cash/Crisis Grants
Cash grants are available to assist with your heating bills. You do not need an unpaid bill or to be in crisis situation to receive a cash grant, nor do you need to be on welfare to apply.
Both homeowners and renters who are responsible for their home heating and have a low or fixed income are eligible for the program. Clients living in subsidized housing are eligible for the cash grant only if they pay part or all of their primary heating source directly to a vendor.
If a person is eligible for LIHEAP, a utility/fuel payment will be sent directly to the fuel dealer, and the payment will be credited on the person's bill. In some cases, a check may be mailed to the recipient.
Additional money in the form of a crisis grant is available to individuals if they have an emergency situation and are in jeopardy of losing their heat. Emergency situations include:
* broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed
* lack of fuel
* termination of utility services
* danger of being without fuel or of having utility service terminated
To Apply for LIHEAP
To apply for LIHEAP, call or visit your local welfare office to set up an appointment. If you can't go to the welfare office because you are homebound, call the welfare office for help. Some of the information you will need when applying includes
* Names of people in the household
* Social Security numbers for all household members
* Proof of income for all household members
* Recent heating bill.
You can also go online for LIHEAP application forms at the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare web site at:
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/
Your Rights
If you are not satisfied with the grant amount you receive or the way you are treated, you can request a hearing through the County Assistance Office. You can also contact Northwestern Legal Services to learn if you are eligible for representation by a law worker as you file your appeal.
posted by Access to Justice at 3:41 PM
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