Nov 27, 2002 1 min read

Applications are now being accepted for the Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP. The program uses federal funds and provides help to low-income families paying home heating bills and also provides emergency assistance if a family runs out of heating fuel, a utility is turned off or equipment breaks down.

The 2002-03 program began on Nov. 12 and applications will be accepted through March 27 for both cash and crisis grants.

For the current year, it has been funded with $93.6 million and is expected to serve approximately 350,000 households.

To qualify families must be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty level, which means a family of four can earn up to $24,435 and qualify.

Crisis grants of up to $300 are awarded for broken heating equipment, fuel shortages, termination of utility service or danger of being without fuel.

Applications should be made to an individual’s county assistance office. To apply individuals must provide the names, dates of birth and social security numbers for each person in the household, as well as proof of household income and copy of a recent heating bill.

For more information about LIHEAP, contact state Rep. Tim Solobay, (D-Canonsburg) at 724-746-3762.