Low-income Pennsylvania families in need of heating assistance will benefit from larger crisis grants and an extended application deadline for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman said today.

“Many low-income families are still feeling the financial effects of the rising cost of heating their homes and keeping their loved ones warm,” said Richman. “For that reason, we are pleased to have sufficient funding available that allows us to continue providing for the heating needs of families across Pennsylvania.”

Crisis grants will be increased to $400 and the program extended to March 30, 2007. LIHEAP recipients who have already received $300 in crisis benefits can now apply for an additional $100 if they experience another home heating emergency.

Cash grants are designed to help families pay their home heating bills and are based on household income, family size, fuel type and heating region. This year, a family of four with an annual income of up to $30,000 can qualify for assistance. In addition to verification of income and household size, applicants must provide a recent energy bill or a statement from their fuel provider stating the type of fuel they use and their customer status.

Federally funded, LIHEAP helps low-income households pay for a variety of home heating fuel sources and furnace repairs during the winter months. Since the application period for the current program year opened last November, the program has provided cash grants to more than 304,000 families and it has helped nearly 83,000 families in crisis.

Crisis grants are approved for families with heating emergencies, such as mechanical breakdowns or unexpected fuel shortages. In most counties, individuals seeking crisis grants should contact their county assistance office. Residents of the nine counties listed below are encouraged to contact the appropriate agencies.