Low-Income Pennsylvanians to Receive Additional Help with Home Energy Bills

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Public Welfare today announced that extra financial help will be provided to Pennsylvanians who received the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, crisis grant during the 2012-13 heating season. 

"This supplemental federal funding will especially assist older adults and people with disabilities in paying their remaining utility bills or give them additional financial support for the coming winter," Beverly D. Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare, said. "Despite the challenges this LIHEAP season, I am grateful for the support we have received from utility companies, our LIHEAP Advisory Counsel and our dedicated LIHEAP staff and for the opportunity to continue to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvanians."

LIHEAP provides grants to eligible low-income households to pay for home heating fuel.  In the 2012-13 heating season, crisis grants were approved for more than 122,000 households, 76 percent of which contain a person who is disabled, age 60 or older, or has a child under five years old. Each of these households will now receive the $200 supplemental cash grant.

"Governor Corbett and I want to make sure that the money goes to those who need it most," Mackereth said. "Now, people who experienced a home heating crisis last winter will get additional support to help them prepare for upcoming heating costs."

The Department of Public Welfare is sending letters to the consumers this week that will receive an additional $200 grant payment in early September. The 2013-14 LIHEAP season is scheduled to begin Nov. 4, 2013.

For more information about the LIHEAP program, visit the department's website at www.dpw.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Carey Miller or Anne Bale, 717-425-7606

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare