The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides one-time grants to help families afford their heating costs. Within the past year, LIHEAP has helped more than 310,000 Pennsylvanians pay their heating bills, restore their heating service, or prevent their heating service from being shut off. LIHEAP has helped families with seniors, young children, or people with disabilities.
This summer, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will hold three virtual public hearings on its proposed LIHEAP State Plan. Attend these public hearings to let DHS know why LIHEAP is important to you and how DHS can improve the program. Tell your story or share the following talking points:
- DHS should extend the LIHEAP season and spend all LIHEAP funds. DHS often ends the LIHEAP season with millions of unspent funds. This past season ended on April 10 with over $20 million in unspent funds. DHS should extend the LIHEAP season at least through the end of April or until all LIHEAP funds are spent.
- DHS should make it easier for people to get LIHEAP. For years, LIHEAP approval rates have declined, increasingly due to paperwork errors and burdensome application requirements. DHS should continue the flexible verification policies implemented during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure that eligible families receive the funding they need.
- DHS should increase grant amounts. Low-income families in Pennsylvania spend too much of their monthly budget on energy costs. DHS must increase LIHEAP grant amounts and issue in-season supplemental grants to help low-income families in the face of such an enormous burden.
Make Your Voice Heard! Talk About why LIHEAP is Important to you at these public hearings
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Call: 1-267-323-8737 Pin- 250868485#
Click here to join the June 30 hearing Pin-250868485#
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Call: 1-267-323-8737 Pin- 762311199#
Click here to join the July 7 hearing Pin- 762311199#
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2020
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Call: 1-267-323-8737 Pin- 616385010#
Click here to join the July 9 hearing Pin- 616385010#
