Winter weather may be breaking soon, but those eligible for home heating assistance in Pennsylvania will have until April 26 to apply for the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
LIHEAP provides cash grants to help utility customers with heating bills and crisis grants to help them cope with emergency situations.
The program, administered in the commonwealth by the Department of Public Welfare, has funds remaining and is able to extend eligibility. The original program deadline was Friday.
Of the $157 million budgeted for Pennsylvania, there remains $46 million in cash support and $13 million for emergency crisis assistance.
There are 37,000 fewer applicants this season compared to last season, said Anne Bale of the state Department of Public Welfare. Local numbers are close to last season. Lackawanna County program participants are 6,531 compared to 6,574 last season. In Luzerne, this season's count was 12,265 compared to 13,012 last season.
The intensity of winter often dictates how widely used the program is, she said. An early or frigid winter sometimes required that the program be closed early. But typically, the state can extend the deadline a few weeks.
"Interest in the program is weather-dependent and while this winter was cold, it was not too terribly bad," Ms. Bale said. "I would also surmise that an improving economy may have reduced demand."
Whether people heat with electricity, oil or natural gas, they may still be eligible. Also, an applicant doesn't have to have unpaid utility or heating oil bills. The criteria is solely income-based. For example, a household of four with an annual income of up to $34,575 would be eligible. For a household of two, $22,695 annually is the maximum allowable income to qualify. The amount of the grant depends upon the type of heat used and the income level.
Applicants should bring proof of income and household size, and a recent bill or a statement from their fuel dealer or utility verifying their customer status.
State officials said prudent planning and running an efficient program allowed them to extend the deadline by nearly a month.
Eligible customers can apply online for LIHEAP funding at www.compass.state.pa.us. They also can apply in person at county assistance offices or call the statewide toll-free hot line at 1-866-857-7095 with questions.
Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com