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GUEST COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone |
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LIHEAP grants help seniors, families during winter months
By state Rep. Tom Caltagirone
As temperatures continue to drop this winter, more and more local residents may be facing the burden of home-heating costs in these tough economic times.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income families with their heating bills. LIHEAP assistance is a grant; you do not have to repay it. In addition, you don’t have to be on public assistance or have an unpaid heating bill to receive assistance. And, it doesn't matter whether you rent or own your home.
LIHEAP offers both cash and crisis grants. Cash grants help families pay their regular heating bills. The grant 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 with emergency heating situations, such as a fuel shortage that may leave you without heat, utility service termination, a broken furnace or leaking lines.
It is my pleasure to inform you that LIHEAP is increasing cash grant amounts by $100 and extending the program through April 2 because of the state's efficient management of the program. The Department of Public Welfare, which administers the program, expects these changes will allow an additional 80,000 households to receive help paying their heating bills this winter. DPW also expects cash grants to average $326.
To apply, visit www.dpw.state.pa.us and type "LIHEAP" in the Keyword search box. You also may request an application by calling the statewide LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095, or stop by my Reading office. To apply, you will need the names of every person living in your household, their dates of birth, Social Security numbers and proof of income, and a recent heating bill.
If you can't benefit from this program, but know someone who can, please pass along this information so they don’t get left out in the cold this winter.
Rep. Caltagirone represents the 127th Legislative District in Berks County. His office is located at 645 Penn St., 2nd Floor, Reading. The phone number is 610-376-1529.