Application window shortens for LIHEAP
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
By: Tom MacDonald
tmacdonald@whyy.org
Pennsylvania's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is set to impose restrictions that could limit the program. The proposed changes could leave some people out in the cold.
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Pennsylvanians will only be allowed one month to apply for assistance, down from five months last year. Applicants can now apply for either heat or electricity aid, but not both. Donna Row is a division director of the Department of Public Welfare, which administers the program.
Row: We must plan the program based on the president's proposed budget since an appropriations act has not been signed into law as yet. Pennsylvania's share of that amount would be 142-point six million dollars compared to the 249 million dollars we had last year.
The state is basing it's funding on federal budget proposals. Philadelphia Consumer Advocate Lance Haver says the Obama Administration wants to keep the funding at the higher level given out last year. He's worried people will miss out on the grants because of the short application window.