The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program that helps low-income households pay their heating bills.
55 Pa. Code § 601.2; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.2
The Department of Human Services (DHS) runs LIHEAP through local County Assistance Offices (CAOs) . DHS also runs the emergency or Crisis program in most CAOs. In some counties community action agencies, county commissioners or city government agencies administer the Crisis program. The Department of Community and Economic Development runs the Weatherization Assistance Program in cooperation with the Federal Department of Energy and Title XXVI.
55 Pa Code § 601.5; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.5
DHS publishes the LIHEAP State Plan annually. The plan outlines program guidelines and parameters such as eligibility criteria, opening and closing dates, and funding levels.
See Cash Assistance Handbook Chapter, 103, General Information.
55 Pa. Code § 601.4; LIHEAP State Plan § 601.4
LIHEAP offers help in three ways:
A single Cash grant to help pay the costs of home heating.
A Crisis grant to help with home-heating emergencies. Crisis grants:
May be requested 24 hours per day, 7 days a week
To a household that is without heat:
Must be authorized within 18 hours after a complete application if there is a medical emergency or a life-threatening situation exists
Must be authorized within 48 hours after a complete application if the applicant is out of fuel, has no heat because of a utility service shutoff
To a household that is in danger if being without heat:
Must be authorized within 10 workdays if the household's fuel supply will run out within 15 days or before the household runs out , whichever is sooner.
Must be authorized within 10 workdays of receiving a completed application of a household has received a shut-off notice or prior to the date of termination, whichever is sooner.
Weatherization grants under the DHS/DCED Crisis Interface Project to fix emergency home-heating problems. DCED also provides non-emergency weatherization services to LIHEAP applicants and recipients. See Chapter 698, Weatherization.
Reissued August 5, 2016, replacing June 21, 2016