Senate News Update
From Senator Jane Earll
January 9, 2006

Help Available for High Gas Bills 

The citizens of Northwestern Pennsylvania know a thing or two about getting through the winter months.  For many of our neighbors, however, the winter is more than an inconvenience; it means struggling to pay for heat, or even doing without.

This year, with energy prices up sharply, the problem is even worse. 

If you know of a family in need, please tell them about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP can help families and older citizens make it through the winter months without losing their home heating. 

LIHEAP provides the following types of assistance: 

• Cash grants.
• Crisis grants for families dealing with broken heating equipment, leaking lines, a fuel shortage, or the threat of utility service termination.
• Weatherization help.

Homeowners and renters are eligible for help through LIHEAP. Households with an income that is less than 135% of the federal poverty income guideline can receive cash and/or crisis grants. That means an income at or less than $12,920 for an individual and $17,321 for a couple. For a family of three, the household income cutoff is $21,722; for a family of four it's $26,123.

To apply for LIHEAP, call the Erie County Assistance Office at 814-461-2002. If you have Internet access, you can apply electronically via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) Web site at www.compass.state.pa.us.

The Cash and Crisis components are tentatively scheduled to close on March 23rd, 2006, or when the funds are depleted, whichever occurs first.  Please apply as soon as possible if you feel you may need assistance.

Applicants will be required to submit the following information:

• Names of people in household.
• Social Security numbers for all household members.
• Proof of income for all household members.
• Recent heating bill.

Last year the LIHEAP program assisted 350,000 households statewide, and legislation was recently passed in Harrisburg to provide additional state funding for LIHEAP this winter, the first time that has ever been done.  In addition, many utilities offer assistance plans. Check with your heating fuel and electricity supplier for details.

A new toll-free number, 1-866-550-4355, provides Commonwealth residents with immediate information about restoring utility services, paying their heating bills, fixing residential heating systems and locating available shelters in the area.  The hotline also offers advice for those individuals wishing to help their neighbors get through the winter.

Additional information concerning heating help and energy saving tips is available at www.staywarmpa.com.

Heating costs are up this year, but you can only set a thermostat so low when you have older family members or young children in the house. Families with eligible incomes should apply to LIHEAP and look into to other assistance programs offered by their utility company.

As always, if you have any questions on this or any other state government matter, please do not hesitate to contact my office directly at (814) 453-2515.