The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins accepting applications Monday, offering financial aid to eligible families in the Susquehanna Valley to help with winter heating costs.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will begin accepting applications tomorrow for its 2026-2027 season, providing financial assistance to eligible families in the Susquehanna Valley to help them stay warm during the winter months.
Residents may qualify for the program based on their annual income, household size, and fuel type. According to the state’s website, a family of five earning less than $58,000 annually is eligible for assistance. The website compares several income amounts to the number of residents per home.
Aileen Green, a local resident who has benefited from LIHEAP for about three years, shared her experience with the program.
“Sometimes working paycheck to paycheck doesn’t give you enough,” Green said.
As winter approaches, Green said she feels the financial strain of rising utility costs.
“All these bills and everything just keeps getting higher,” she said.
Green, who lives with her four sons, explained how unpredictable utility costs can be.
“Next month’s bill is going to be 120, you don’t know how cold it is going to be or how much are you going to use,” Green said. “Then next month the bill is like 300, and then the money you thought you had for that bill, now you don’t have enough. So, I think that’s it’s really helpful.”
The program offers a one-time cash grant that is sent directly to the recipient’s utility company. Applications for LIHEAP will remain open through the spring of 2027.