With temperatures dropping, eligible Schuylkill County residents are urged to take advantage of the state Department of Public Welfare's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program before they get stuck in the cold.
"We encourage anyone eligible for the program to look into it, especially with the price of heating oil and the economy right now. Every little bit helps," Georgene Fedoriska, executive director at the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services, said Wednesday.
The federally funded program, also known as LIHEAP, started accepting cash grant applications today.
LIHEAP helps low-income families pay heating bills through a grant that does not have to be repaid. Each year, the program serves 392,349 households statewide.
To receive help, residents do not have to be on public assistance or have unpaid heating bills and can either rent or own their home.
Cash grants are sent directly to the utility company or fuel provider and will be credited on the applicant's bill.
Households without heat may qualify for additional help through the LIHEAP crisis program. The crisis grant addresses heating emergencies, such as a main heating source already being shut off or an unexpected fuel shortage.
The LIHEAP crisis program will open on Jan. 2.
"Even though last year was mild, this year it may be cold," Carey Miller, spokeswoman for the department, said Wednesday. "We don't know what the weather is going to bring and we do encourage people to think about that ahead of time and apply now before they are in a crisis situation."
Last year, 6,904 Schuylkill County residents received $1,836,245 from LIHEAP cash grants while 3,513 received $1,038,124 from crisis grants, according to Miller. During the 2010-11 program, 8,299 county residents received $2,836,589 from cash grants while 4,396 received $1,701,336.
There was a similar trend on the state level as well.
According to Miller, the 2011-12 program gave $142,414,029 to 392,349 state homes through cash grants and $29,110,912 to 106,929 homes through crisis grants. The 2010-11 program gave $218,924,887 to 457,881 households and $44,834,626 to 128,578 homes.
Clients who received LIHEAP last year had the opportunity to apply for the program before today. The DPW sent postcards to previous clients with a pre-registration number giving them access to an online application already filled out with last year's information and only required confirmation.
The DPW noted that this has saved the department about $75,000 as full application packets didn't have to be sent through the mail. Applications are viewed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Apply for LIHEAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us or request an application by calling the Statewide LIHEAP Hotline at 866-857-7095 or TDD for the hearing impaired at 800-451-5886. Applications are also available at the Schuylkill County Assistance Office, 2640 Woodglen Road, Pottsville, or by calling 570-621-3000 or 570-621-3072.
The Schuylkill County Area Agency on Aging also has applications and can provide further assistance by calling them at 570-622-3103.
"If anyone has a problem or are without heat, it is very important to call us," Fedoriska said. "Please contact us and we will send someone out to your home to check on you. We can get hot meals out to you, find you shelter and get you warm."
For more information on LIHEAP visit the DPW's wesbite at www.dpw.state.pa.us. Pennsylvanians suspecting welfare fraud can call 800-932-0582.
INFO BOX
2012-2013 LIHEAP income requirements
Number of people in home Annual income
1 $16,755
2 $22,695
3 $28,635
4 $34,575
5 $40,515
6 $46,455
7 $52,395
8 $58,335
9 $64,275
10 $70,215
For each additional person, add $5,940