HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Jacqueline Chapman is a retired school aide who relies on a $630 monthly Social Security check to get by. She was navigating the loss of her federal food aid benefits when she learned the assistance she receives for heating her Philadelphia apartment may also be at risk.
“I feel like I’m living in scary times. It’s not easy to rest when you know you have things to do with limited accounts, limited funds. There isn’t too much you can do,” said Chapman, 74.
kAmr92A>2? C6=:6D @? E96 Sc]` 3:==:@? {@H\x?4@>6 w@>6 t?6C8J pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2>[ H9:49 96=AD >:==:@?D @7 =@H\:?4@>6 9@FD69@=5D A2J E@ 962E 2?5 4@@= E96:C 9@>6D]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E6>A6C2EFC6D 368:??:?8 E@ 5C@A 😕 2C62D 24C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ D@>6 DE2E6D 2C6 H2C?:?8 E92E 7F?5:?8 7@C E96 AC@8C2> 😀 36:?8 56=2J65 3642FD6 @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^8@G6C?>6?E\D9FE5@H?Qm7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E D9FE5@H?k^2m[ ?@H 😕 :ED 7:7E9 H66<]k^Am
kAm%96 2?E:4:A2E65 56=2J 4@>6D 2D 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 d]h >:==:@? 9@FD69@=5D D6CG65 3J E96 7656C2==J 7F?565 962E:?8 2?5 4@@=:?8 2DD:DE2?46 AC@8C2> 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^8@G6C?>6?E\D9FE5@H?\7@@5\=:?6D\D?2A\e3dd6a4a`4_`hg7bb_h7b2cd2dd7bb3eQm8C2AA=:?8 H:E9 E96 DF556? A@DEA@?6>6?Ek^2m @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D9FE5@H?\D?2A\H:4\9625\DE2CE\554g2d7e33e3ch`d_77cfg626h5cdc5dQm36?67:EDk^2m E9C@F89 E96 $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2>[ @C $}p![ H9:49 96=AD 23@FE ` 😕 g p>6C:42?D 3FJ 8C@46C:6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D9FE5@H?\D?2A\H:4\9625\DE2CE\6e`fe5aegb7fc3f_“5ge`3cg2cf5b7`Qm|@?6J 😀 CF??:?8 @FEk^2m 7@C @E96C D276EJ ?6E AC@8C2>D 2D H6== 2?5 6?6C8J AC:46D 2C6 D@2C:?8]k^Am
kAm“%96 :>A24E[ 6G6? :7 :E’D E6>A@C2CJ[ @? >2?J @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D A@@C 72>:=:6D 😀 8@:?8 E@ 36 AC@7@F?5 :7 H6 5@?’E D@=G6 E9:D AC@3=6>[” D2:5 |2C< (@=76[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6252]@C8^RiOiE6IEl%96Ta_}2E:@?2=Ta_t?6C8JTa_pDD:DE2?46Ta_s:C64E@CD[E96:CTa_962E:?8Ta_2?5Ta_4@@=:?8Ta_3:==D]Qm}2E:@?2= t?6C8J pDD:DE2?46 s:C64E@CD pDD@4:2E:@?k^2m[ H9:49 C6AC6D6?ED DE2E6 5:C64E@CD @7 E96 AC@8C2>] r@>>@?=J 42==65 {xwtp![ :E D6CG6D 2== d_ DE2E6D[ E96 s:DEC:4E @7 r@=F>3:2[ &]$] E6CC:E@C:6D 2?5 7656C2==J C64@8?:K65 EC:36D]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 2C6 :>A@CE2?E :?4@>6 DFAA@CED E92E 2C6 2== A@E6?E:2==J 9625:?8 E@H2C5 2 4=:77 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[” (@=76 D2:5] “p?5 x 42?’E A@:?E E@ 2 D:>:=2C E:>6 😕 C646?E 9:DE@CJ H96C6 H6’G6 925 E9:D]”k^Am
k9am$E2E6D 2C6 H2C?:?8 2AA=:42?ED 23@FE 2 7F?5:?8 56=2Jk^9am
kAm{xwtp![ 4C62E65 😕 `hg`[ 2DD:DED 72>:=:6D 😕 4@G6C:?8 FE:=:EJ 3:==D @C E96 4@DE @7 A2J:?8 7@C 7F6=D 56=:G6C65 E@ 9@>6D[ DF49 2D 9@>6 962E:?8 @:=] xE 92D C646:G65 3:A2CE:D2? 4@?8C6DD:@?2= DFAA@CE 7@C 564256D]k^Am
kAm$E2E6D >2?286 E96 AC@8C2>] %96J C646:G6 2? 2==@E>6?E @7 7656C2= >@?6J 6249 J62C 32D65 @? 2 7@C>F=2 E92E =2C86=J E2<6D :?E@ 244@F?E DE2E6 H62E96C A2EE6C?D[ 6?6C8J 4@DED 2?5 =@H\:?4@>6 A@AF=2E:@? 52E2]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A AC@A@D65 K6C@ 7F?5:?8 7@C E96 AC@8C2> 😕 9:D 3F586E[ :E H2D 2?E:4:A2E65 E92E r@?8C6DD H@F=5 7F?5 {xwtp! 7@C E96 3F586E J62C E92E 3682? ~4E] `] qFE D:?46 r@?8C6DD 92D ?@E J6E A2DD65 2 7F== a_ae DA6?5:?8 3:==[ DE2E6D 92G6 ?@E 8@EE6? E96:C ?6H 2==@42E:@?D J6E]k^Am
kAm$@>6 DE2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 z2?D2D[ !6??DJ=G2?:2[ }6H *@C< 2?5 |:??6D@E2[ 92G6 2??@F?465 E96:C {xwtp! AC@8C2>D 2C6 36:?8 56=2J65 3J E96 8@G6C?>6?E D9FE5@H?]k^Am
kAmx? !6??DJ=G2?:2[ s6>@4C2E:4 v@G] y@D9 $92A:C@’D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? D2:5 :E 42??@E 7C@?E E96 Sa__ >:==:@?\A=FD 😕 7656C2= {xwtp! 2:5 :E 925 6IA64E65 E@ 96=A A2J 962E:?8 3:==D 7@C D@>6 b__[___ =@H\:?4@>6 9@FD69@=5D] xE 😀 AC65:4E:?8 A2J>6?ED H:== ?@E 8@ @FE F?E:= 2E =62DE s646>36C[ :?DE625 @7 }@G6>36C[ 2D 😀 4FDE@>2CJ]k^Am
kAm|:??6D@E2’D 6?6C8J 2DD:DE2?46 AC@8C2> 😀 AC@46DD:?8 2AA=:42E:@?D 3FE E96 DE2E6’D s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46 D2:5 7656C2= {xwtp! 5@==2CD H:== =:<6=J 36 56=2J65 3J 2 >@?E9] %96 286?4J 5@6D ?@E A=2? E@ A2J C64:A:6?ED’ 962E:?8 3:==D F?E:= E96 D9FE5@H? 6?5D]k^Am
kAm“pD E6>A6C2EFC6D 368:? E@ 5C@A[ E9:D 56=2J 4@F=5 92G6 D6C:@FD :>A24ED[” E96 286?4J D2:5] %96 AC@8C2> D6CG:46D `a_[___ 9@FD69@=5D[ 3@E9 9@>6@H?6CD 2?5 C6?E6CD[ E92E :?4=F56 >2?J @=56C 25F=ED[ J@F?8 49:=5C6? 2?5 A6@A=6 H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmr@??64E:4FE 92D 6?@F89 >@?6J E@ D6E 2D:56 E@ A2J 962E:?8 3:==D E9C@F89 2E =62DE E96 6?5 @7 }@G6>36C @C s646>36C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 8C@FA E92E 96=AD 25>:?:DE6C {xwtp!] qFE E96 AC@8C2> 7246D F?46CE2:?EJ :7 E96 D9FE5@H? A6CD:DED] r@??64E:4FE =2H>2<6CD 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8 4@G6C:?8 E96 4@DE E6>A@C2C:=J H:E9 DE2E6 3F586E C6D6CG6D]k^Am
kAm“%96 D:EF2E:@? H:== 86E >F49 >@C6 A6C:=@FD 7@C 7@=@G6 =2E6C :?E@ E96 962E:?8 D62D@?[” D2:5 #9@?52 tG2?D[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r@??64E:4FE pDD@4:2E:@? 7@C r@>>F?:EJ p4E:@?] |@C6 E92? `__[___ 9@FD69@=5D H6C6 D6CG65 =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAmp DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D[ H9:49 @G6CD66D E96 2DD:DE2?46 AC@8C2>[ 3=2>65 E96 7656C2= D9FE5@H? 2?5 E96 56=2J 😕 {xwtp! A2J>6?ED @? 4@?8C6DD:@?2= s6>@4C2ED 2?5 D2:5 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 😀 4@>>:EE65 E@ C6@A6?:?8 E96 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am
kAm“~?46 E96 8@G6C?>6?E C6@A6?D[ pru H:== H@C< DH:7E=J E@ 25>:?:DE6C 2??F2= 2H2C5D[” E96 DA@<6DA6CD@? D2:5[ C676CC:?8 E@ E96 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? 7@C r9:=5C6? 2?5 u2>:=:6D[ 2? 286?4J H:E9:? ww$] %96 DA@<6DA6CD@? 5:5 ?@E 5:C64E=J 2?DH6C H96E96C E96 E:>:?8 4@F=5 36 27764E65 3J E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D 62C=:6C 564:D:@? E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^962E:?8\2DD:DE2?46\99D\=2J@77D\<6??65J\ECF>A\h`6cee4cdg24g_c3_hg36__gef2ha`_eQm7:C6 H@C<6CD H9@ CF? E96 {xwtp! AC@8C2>k^2m]k^Am
kAm(@=76[ 7C@> E96 8C@FA E92E C6AC6D6?ED DE2E6 AC@8C2> 5:C64E@CD[ AC65:4ED E96C6 4@F=5 36 56=2JD :?E@ y2?F2CJ] w6 ?@E65 E96C6 2C6 BF6DE:@?D @G6C H9@ H:== 2AAC@G6 DE2E6DV AC@8C2> A=2?D 2?5 9@H E96 >@?6J H:== 36 C6=62D65 H96? :E 364@>6D 2G2:=23=6]k^Am
kAm“~?46 J@F’G6 7:C65 E96 DE277[ E9:?8D ;FDE D=@H 5@H?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
k9am{@H\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D 7246 >@F?E:?8 @3DE24=6Dk^9am
kAmr92A>2?[ E96 C6E:C65 D49@@= 2:56[ >2J 36 6=:8:3=6 7@C 2 AC@8C2> E9C@F89 96C 82D FE:=:EJ E@ AC6G6?E 36:?8 D9FE @77 E9:D H:?E6C] qFE E96 C@F89=J hT @7 {xwtp! C64:A:6?ED H9@ C6=J @? 56=:G6C23=6 7F6=D DF49 2D 962E:?8 @:=[ <6C@D6?6[ AC@A2?6 2?5 H@@5 A6==6ED[ EJA:42==J 5@ ?@E 92G6 DF49 AC@E64E:@?D]k^Am
kAmt=64EC:4 2?5 ?2EFC2= 82D 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 FDF2==J C68F=2E65 3J E96 DE2E6 2?5 42? 36 E@=5 ?@E E@ D9FE A6@A=6 @77 H9:=6 E96 DE2E6 H2:ED E@ C646:G6 :ED D92C6 @7 E96 {xwtp! >@?6J[ (@=76 D2:5] qFE :E 😀 5:776C6?E H96? :E :?G@=G6D 2 D>2== @:= @C AC@A2?6 4@>A2?J[ 7F6=D >@C6 4@>>@? 😕 E96 }@CE962DE]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F’C6 2 962E:?8 @:= 562=6C[ H6 42?’E E6== E92E 562=6C[ ‘{@@<[ 4@?E:?F6 E@ AC@G:56 962E:?8 @:= E@ J@FC =@H\:?4@>6 4FDE@>6CD @? E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ J@F’== 86E J@FC >@?6J 324<[’” (@=76 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|2C< q2:?[ ef[ H9@ =:G6D 😕 q=@@>7:6=5[ r@??64E:4FE[ H:E9 9:D D@?[ 2 DEF56?E 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r@??64E:4FE[ DE2CE65 C646:G:?8 7:?2?4:2= 2DD:DE2?46 7@C 9:D 9@>6 962E:?8 @:= ?665D E9C66 J62CD 28@]k^Am
kAm“x C6>6>36C E96 7:CDE H:?E6C 367@C6 x 6H 23@FE E9:D AC@8C2>] x H2D 56DA6C2E6] x H2D @? 7F>6D[” D2:5 q2:?D[ H9@ 😀 C6E:C65 2?5 C6=:6D @? :?4@>6 7C@> $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 2?5 2 D>2== 2??F:EJ] “x H2D 42==:?8 2C@F?5 E@ >J D@4:2= D6CG:46D A6@A=6 E@ 7:?5 @FE H92E x 4@F=5 5@]”k^Am
kAmw6 92D 366? 2AAC@G65 E9:D J62C 7@C Sd__ 😕 2DD:DE2?46 3FE 96 92D 2 92=7 E2?< @7 @:= =67E 2?5 42??@E 42== 7@C >@C6 F?E:= :E 😀 ?62C=J 6>AEJ] qJ E92E A@:?E[ 96 😀 9@A:?8 E96C6 H:== 36 6?@F89 7656C2= >@?6J =67E E@ 7:== :E] w6 EJA:42==J ?665D E9C66 56=:G6C:6D E@ 86E E9C@F89 2 H:?E6C]k^Am
kAmq2:?D D2:5 96 42? “86E 3J” :7 96 5@6D ?@E C646:G6 E96 96=A E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAm“x H@F=5 EFC? E96 962E 5@H? E@ =:<6 ea W568C66DX 2?5 E9C@H @? 2?@E96C 3=2?<6E[ J@F @H[ ;FDE E@ 86E E9C@F89[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm{6GJ C6A@CE65 7C@> w2CC:D3FC8[ !6??DJ=G2?:2] pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD HC:E6CD $E6G6 z2C?@HD<: 😕 |:??62A@=:D[ y@9? w2??2 😕 %@A6<2[ z2?D2D[ 2?5 y24< sFC2 😕 q:D>2C4<[ }@CE9 s2<@E2[ 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.