Man, what’s with the heatwave-like weather lately? 🥵 All we know is that we had to kick the AC on early and our wallets aren’t happy. In fact, we just saw one try to bust out of someone’s pants pocket and escape. 🏃💨
Winter may be a distant memory for most of us in PA, but the sting of those sky-high bills left us with some major freezer burn. 🥶 If you qualify for assistance through the LIHEAP program and haven’t applied, you now have some extra time to get on it. 👊
Here’s Five Fast Facts on PA’s LIHEAP and the new application deadline:
- ⏳ Buying Time - PA residents have an extra month to apply for help with heating costs. The state extended the deadline for its LIHEAP program to May 8, just after winter protections on utility shutoffs expired. That change leaves some households at risk of losing service if they’re behind on bills.
- 🔌 Gas Me Up - Many households paid more to heat their homes this winter because natural gas prices went up faster than inflation. Utilities are now asking for additional rate increases, including a proposed 11% hike. Some customers have already seen their bills rise by about $6 a month.
- ♨️ Better Late Than Never - The LIHEAP season got off to a late start due to last fall’s federal shutdown. Even with the delay, more than 233,000 households received help. The average benefit came out to about $282.
- 📋 The Fine Print - LIHEAP helps people with lower incomes pay for heating. To qualify, households must earn below 150% of the federal poverty level (about $23,940 for one person or $49,500 for a family of four). The money can also help cover past bills, turn utilities back on, or fix heating systems.
- 🚨 Crisis Cash - LIHEAP offers two types of help: cash and crisis grants, and households can apply for both. Cash grants, ranging from $200 to $1,000, are applied directly to utility bills, even if a household isn’t behind. Crisis grants, from $25 to $1,000, are reserved for emergencies like avoiding shutoffs or fixing heating systems.
🔥Bottom line: Need to apply? You can do it online through COMPASS or in person at local assistance offices, including neighborhood energy centers in Philadelphia. Make sure you have proof of income and a recent heating bill handy. Rather chat on the phone? Call 1-866-857-7095.
Got any fresh energy-saving tips as we head into summer?
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