LIHEAP Delayed Until Dec Impacting More than 300,000 PA Households

The PA Department of Human Services (PADHS) announced that without its federal allocation of funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, (LIHEAP), it must delay the opening of this year’s LIHEAP season due to the federal government shutdown

Scheduled to open November 3 it will be delayed until at least December 3, officials said.

The program helps more than 300,000 Pennsylvania households heat their homes annually. Many of these families live on less than $20,000 each year.

Last spring the Trump Administration fired the staff that administers the program calling it unnecessary in federal budget documents last year.

The federal government allocated Pennsylvania roughly $230 million in LIHEAP funding for the most recent heating season, which stretched from November through April. The program serves over 300,000 Pennsylvania households in a typical year, according to the state Department of Human Services.

Here’s what to know.

LIHEAP helps low-income households pay for heating and energy costs utilities throughout the winter months.

If you or someone you know need food assistance or heating assistance while these programs are stalled, the links below can help:

• Utility Company Assistance Programs
• PA 211 Food Resources
• Bucks County Food Assistance Programs
• Bucks County Opportunity Council Food Pantries List

Just days ago PADHS officials announced SNAP benefits will not be available to recipients beginning in November due to the federal shutdown also. Area non-profits already operating on shoestring budgets with limited resources because of the lack of  an agreed upon state  budget are “bracing for the community pain” about to come their way, a state official told Lower Bucks Source earlier this week.