HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins accepting applications for cash grants today. Crisis grants will be available on Jan. 4, 2010. 

LIHEAP helps low-income people pay their heating bills through home energy assistance grants and crisis grants. Cash grants are awarded based on household income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Crisis grants are provided in the event of a heating emergency, including broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced, lack of fuel, termination of utility service or danger of being without fuel or of having utility service terminated. In most counties, assistance with home heating crisis situations is available 24 hours a day.

Applications are also available from local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. LIHEAP cash grant applications are available online at www.dpw.state.pa.us/servicesprograms/liheap/.  The site also contains links to all county local assistance offices, where you can apply in person.

Income eligibility for cash grants is listed below by household sizes and income limits.