HOME HEATING AID PROGRAM TO OPEN

 HARRISBURG, OCT. 31 – State Sen. Connie Williams announced that the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) would open for applications on Nov. 6^th.

 "Once again, the program has expanded income guidelines, so that more people will qualify," Williams said. "Temperatures have already begun to drop, marking the beginning of the home heating season. Pennsylvania families should not have to worry about being able to afford to stay warm this winter. And thanks to LIHEAP they won't. Before families consider potentially unsafe alternative heating methods, I hope that they will look at LIHEAP to see if they qualify."

 The income eligibility for the 2006-07 LIHEAP season has been expended from 135 percent to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. This means that a family of four with an annual income of up to $30,000 can now qualify for LIHEAP. With the income eligibility change, about 67,000 more families will qualify this year. This is above the 385,000 families that were eligible last year.

 Applications for LIHEAP cash and crisis grants are available online at www.compass.state.pa.us and at Williams' offices. The federally-funded cash grant program is designed to help families pay their home heating bills. Cash grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and heating region. People do not have to be on public assistance to qualify, nor do they have to have unpaid energy bills. Those who qualify for either or both types of LIHEAP grants will not have a lien placed on their home.

 The crisis grant component provides additional money of up to $300 to people if they have an emergency situation or are in jeopardy of losing their 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 energy emergency situations is available 24 hours a day. For more information, people should contact their local County Assistance Office. In Delaware County, call the dedicated LIHEAP number at 610-447-3099 and in Montgomery County call 610-272-1752.

 Constituents with questions about LIHEAP or program guidelines may also call either of Williams' district offices in King of Prussia at 610-992-9790 or in Havertown at 610-853-5433. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare also has a LIHEAP Hotline that is manned Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. at 1-866-857-7095.