Heating Assistance/LIHEAP

The Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income people pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants and crisis grants. You need not have an unpaid bill to receive home heating energy assistance. You can receive this money without being in the Cash Assistance program -- a family of four with an annual income of up to $44,443 can qualify for assistance. No lien is placed on your property if you receive this help.

How to Apply

Apply for LIHEAP Online!

The fastest way to apply and to check to see if we made a decision about your application is by applying through COMPASS, the online resource for cash assistance, Food Stamps, help with child care, health care coverage, home heating assistance (LIHEAP), school meals, SelectPlan for Women and long-term living services.

For more information, please contact your local County Assistance Office or contact the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095, Monday through Friday (individuals with hearing impairments may call the TDD number at 1-800-451-5886).

You can also download a paper application:

LIHEAP Application (PDF download)
LIHEAP Application (espanol) (PDF download)

Crisis Grants

Additional money may be available if you have an emergency situation and are in jeopardy of losing your 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 home heating crisis situations is available 24 hours a day; in most counties, you should contact your local County Assistance Office. However, residents of the nine counties listed below are encouraged to directly contact their local agencies that operate the crisis component in their areas:

• Allegheny - Allegheny County Department of Human Services,1-800-851-3838
• Carbon - Carbon County Action Committee, (610) 377-6400
• Centre - Central PA Community Action Agency, (814) 765-1551, or Millheim Family Service Center, (814) 349-5850
• Lackawanna - Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency, (570) 963-6836;
• Lancaster - Community Action Program of Lancaster County, (717) 299-7301;
• Luzerne - Commission on Economic Opportunity of Luzerne Co., (570) 826-0510
• Philadelphia - Energy Coordinating Agency, (215) 587-0060;
• Wyoming - Commission on Economic Opportunity of Wyoming Co., (570) 836-4090
• York - Community Progress Council of York County, (717) 846-4600, ext. 249.

General Information about LIHEAP:

LIHEAP Eligibility Information
LIHEAP Brochure - English (PDF download; you can also apply online using COMPASS)
LIHEAP Brochure - Spanish
LIHEAP Benefit Amount Table: shows benefit amount based on user selected county and fuel type.
LIHEAP Policy Handbook
LIHEAP 2009 Final State Plan

The Department of Public Welfare may extend or shorten the program depending upon availability of federal funds.

Additional Low Income Energy Programs

You may be eligible for other energy assistance programs for low income households in addition to the LIHEAP program.

Visit the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for information on energy programs available for low-income households.

If you live outside of Philadelphia, visit the $1 Energy Fund at www.dollarenergy.org or contact your utility company for information on programs that may help you pay your utility bill.

If you live in Philadelphia, visit the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF) at www.uesfacts.org or call (215) 972-5170 for information on a program that may help you pay your utility bill.

Information on the LIHEAP Advisory Committee

General Information for the Advisory Committee