The opening of the annual Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will be delayed in Pennsylvania until December due to the federal government shutdown, according to state officials Wednesday. According to a release, the program will be delayed until Dec. 3 because the Department of Human Services has not yet received its federal allocation for 2025-2026 LIHEAP funds.”Without action from the White House or the Republican-controlled Congress to reopen the federal government or release LIHEAP funding to states, DHS will be unable to open the LIHEAP season as previously scheduled on November 3, 2025,” the release said. LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by DHS through which benefits are distributed directly to a household’s utility company or home heating fuel provider on behalf of qualified Pennsylvanians who need help paying their home heating bills during the winter months.The release said that, on average, Pennsylvanians receive more than $215 million every year for LIHEAP. In 2023, the commonwealth received $216 million, and in 2024, $229 million. Once the government shutdown comes to an end and DHS receives the funding needed to begin the LIHEAP season, DHS will start accepting new applicants. Already received preseason applications for LIHEAP and other benefits will be processed during the shutdown. In both cases, payments are on hold until federal funding is released to Pennsylvania. The release said for immediate needs during the shutdown, Pennsylvanians can use PA Navigate at pa-navigate.org/ to help find resources. Local help, the release said, is also available by calling 211 or visiting www.pa211.org. Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

Pennsylvania —

The opening of the annual Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will be delayed in Pennsylvania until December due to the federal government shutdown, according to state officials Wednesday.

According to a release, the program will be delayed until Dec. 3 because the Department of Human Services has not yet received its federal allocation for 2025-2026 LIHEAP funds.

“Without action from the White House or the Republican-controlled Congress to reopen the federal government or release LIHEAP funding to states, DHS will be unable to open the LIHEAP season as previously scheduled on November 3, 2025,” the release said.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by DHS through which benefits are distributed directly to a household’s utility company or home heating fuel provider on behalf of qualified Pennsylvanians who need help paying their home heating bills during the winter months.

The release said that, on average, Pennsylvanians receive more than $215 million every year for LIHEAP.

In 2023, the commonwealth received $216 million, and in 2024, $229 million.

Once the government shutdown comes to an end and DHS receives the funding needed to begin the LIHEAP season, DHS will start accepting new applicants.

Already received preseason applications for LIHEAP and other benefits will be processed during the shutdown.

In both cases, payments are on hold until federal funding is released to Pennsylvania.

The release said for immediate needs during the shutdown, Pennsylvanians can use PA Navigate at pa-navigate.org/ to help find resources.

Local help, the release said, is also available by calling 211 or visiting www.pa211.org.

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