Governor Corbett announced Friday Pennsylvania families who need help paying home heating bills will have extra time to apply for the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The federally funded program originally slated to close on March 29 will now accept applications for help till April 26, 2013.
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“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.”
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.
As of March 15, 2013 in Bucks County 5,517 Cash grants have been approved and 1,413 Crisis grants approved according to Department of Public Welfare (DPW) data.
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Applicants can apply for a LIHEAP grant online at www.compass.state.pa.us.
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.
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For more information on the LIHEAP program, or to download an application, visit the Department of Public Welfare website at www.dpw.state.pa.us and click on “For Adults,” or call the toll-free hotline at 1-866-857-7095.
