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OP-ED COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION |
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State
Rep. Jesse White
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The more pessimistic among us are quick to point to government as a place where nothing good ever happens, where every program is a cesspool of waste and where everyday people are forgotten. But some programs fill an essential need for real people. LIHEAP is one of those programs.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families pay their heating bills. LIHEAP is a grant. You do not have to repay it. To receive help you don’t have to be on public assistance. You don’t need to have an unpaid heating bill. You can either rent or own your home.
LIHEAP offers both cash and crisis grants. Families may apply for cash grants or crisis grants. Cash grants help families pay their heating bills. The grant payment is sent directly to your utility company or fuel provider, and it will be credited on your bill. (In some cases, the check may be mailed to you directly.) Crisis grants help households who have an emergency and are in immediate danger of being without heat. Emergency situations include a fuel shortage that many leave you without heat, having utility service shut off, having broken heating equipment (like a furnace) or leaking lines.
You can apply online at: www.compass.state.pa.us, or request an application by calling the Statewide LIHEAP Hotline at 1-866-857-7095 or by stopping by any of my offices in Cecil, Burgettstown or Washington. To apply, you will need the names of people in your household, the dates of birth for all household members, Social Security numbers for all household members, proof of income for all household members and a recent heating bill.
Unfortunately, the income guidelines have changed dramatically this year. Last year, a single person making $23,110 could qualify; this year the income ceiling is only $16,245. For a family of two, the maximum income went from $30,221 down to $21,855. Many of my constituents want to know why the income guidelines changed, so I did a little research.
Two factors affected LIHEAP funding for this year. One is reduced federal LIHEAP block grant funding, and the other is state reserves that are no longer available. Federal block grant funding to the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) for this year totaled $290 million. While this is less than the $330 million in federal funding from last year, it is more than the $275 million that the Department of Public Welfare anticipated.
The second factor affecting LIHEAP funding for this year is the lack of state Lottery Fund reserves utilized in the past to help provide additional funding for the program. As such, the department decided to scale back on eligibility requirements for LIHEAP and push back the start date of the Crisis Program from November to January.
It’s unfortunate that some people who have relied on LIHEAP in the past may be unable to do so this year, but the program will still help many of our less fortunate friends and neighbors this winter season. If you know anyone who may be eligible for LIHEAP, please make sure they apply so they don’t get left out in the cold this winter.
Jesse White
State Representative
46th Legislative District