Do you have trouble paying your heating bills?  The Pennsylvania Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income people pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants and crisis grants. You need not have an unpaid bill to receive home heating energy assistance. You can receive this money without being in the Cash Assistance program — a family of four with an annual income of up to $35,280 can qualify for assistance. No lien is placed on your property if you receive this help.

LIHEAP applications will be available when the program reopens on November 1.  The Department of Public Welfare may extend or shorten the program depending upon the availability of federal funds.

The fastest way to apply is through COMPASS, the online resource for cash assistance, food stamps, help with child care, health care coverage, home heating assistance (LIHEAP), school meals, SelectPlan for Women and long-term living services.

For more information, please contact Allegheny County Department of Human Services,1-800-851-3838 or contact the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095, Monday through Friday (individuals with hearing impairments may call the TDD number at 1-800-451-5886).

Additional money may be available if you have an emergency situation and are in jeopardy of losing your heat.  Emergency situations include:
–Broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced
–Lack of fuel
–Termination of utility service
–Danger of being without fuel or of having utility service terminated

Assistance with home heating crisis situations is available 24 hours a day; contact the Allegheny County Department of Human Services at 1-800-851-3838.

NOTE:  As of the time this post went up, the links for DHS/LIHEAP weren’t not working; there’s an error message that they are having problems.  Hopefully this will be cleared up soon.