Philadelphians have until Friday to apply for a benefit to help pay off heating bills, which soared this winter due to prolonged periods of freezing temperatures.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, provides grants of between $200 and $1,000 to homeowners and renters. The money does not need to be repaid and is sent directly to a utility provider to be credited to the participant’s account.
LIHEAP crisis grants, of up to $1,000, are also available to those without natural gas service or who have received a 10-day shut-off notice, according to Philadelphia Gas Works. People can apply for both benefits at the same time.
Households earning up to 150% of the federal poverty line, or $23,940 a year for an individual and $49,500 for a family of four, are eligible for LIHEAP.
PGW says more than 29,000 households have successfully applied for the benefit this season, receiving nearly $8 million.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration extended the deadline from April 10 to May 8 because funding was still available. LIHEAP usually opens in November but began a month later due to the federal government shutdown.
Residents can submit an application by going to pgworks.com/liheap or compass.dhs.pa.gov; texting “WARM” to 77037; or visiting one of the city’s 16 energy centers.
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Keywords
Philadelphia,
LIHEAP,
heating assistance,
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Philadelphia Gas Works,
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Josh Shapiro,
utility bills,
low income programs,
Pennsylvania