Five years ago, Helena Best was struggling financially.

After a long career as a registered nurse, she had recently retired. She was in her 70s and single. Though she had saved for retirement and lived in an affordable housing community for seniors in Falls Ridge, she struggled to pay her bills.

Heating bills in winter were especially challenging. Best found herself putting off buying food or medications so she could keep her apartment warm.

Then, about five years ago, she applied for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Now, through the federally-funded program, she receives between $300 and $400 each year to help with her energy costs.

“It alleviates the need to worry about putting money aside for the utilities. I can focus on the other things I need,” Best says.

Best is one of more than 35,000 Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) customers and more than 38,000 PECO customers who receive LIHEAP benefits annually. Through PGW, Best’s supplier, the program has paid out more than $10 million to Pennsylvanians this year.

Now, the program is under dire threat, right as residents have days to apply for next year. On April 2, as part of President Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 10,000-employee purge, all 25 federal LIHEAP workers lost their jobs. Although it’s unclear what that will mean for the future of the program, it’s certainly not a hopeful sign for Best — and the other 6.2 million Americans who use the program each year

So far, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) officials say Pennsylvanians should still apply for LIHEAP for the upcoming winter by the April 18 deadline. PECO spokesperson Candice Womer says it’s too early to comment on the federal developments. Like PGW, they still encourage customers to apply for LIHEAP.

What is LIHEAP and how does it work?

Congress created LIHEAP in 1980 as part of the Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act, one of several programs created in response to the energy crises of the 1970s. They made DHHS responsible for distributing annual block grants to states, tribes and territories, who, in turn, would distribute energy assistance funds to individuals who qualify.

In 1981, Congress appropriated $1.6 billion for the program. By 1983, 6.8 million low-income households had signed up. In 2023, the number of LIHEAP households had changed little — approximately 7.1 million — but the price itself had increased. This fiscal year, Congress appropriated $4.1 billion for LIHEAP, reflecting the increases in demand and cost.

Today, LIHEAP provides two different kinds of grants: cash and crisis.

Through the cash grant program, residents like Helena Best can receive monthly assistance of up to $1,000 annually. Eligibility is based on income level and household size. For a household of four, the income limit is $46,800. Statewide, LIHEAP can offer cash grants to about 254,000 households and crisis grants to more than 113,000. A single person needs to make $22,590 or less to be eligible.

“It alleviates the need to worry about putting money aside for the utilities. I can focus on the other things I need.” — Helen Best, LIHEAP recipient

It takes four to six weeks for a LIHEAP application to be approved. Once approved, the credit is paid directly to your energy provider (so in Philly, typically PECO or PGW). We’re currently on the 2024-2025 application cycle, so funds applied for by April 18 will cover November 2025 into April 2026 — if, that is, there are enough government workers to make that happen.

“It helps families to keep their heat on during the coldest months,” says Nyisha Chapman, manager of community partnerships at PGW. “It reduces financial stress and ensures our vulnerable residents, specifically our seniors and our low-income households, stay safe and warm.”

LIHEAP’s crisis grants provide funds fast — within 10 days — to people with emergent needs: leaky heating lines, a lack of fuel, overdue payments risking shutoff, the kinds of things that cause greater emergencies, like freezing pipes or death. (Even moderately cold weather can be deadly. A study found that between 1999 and 2022 people who died as a result of cold weather increased from 0.44 deaths per 100,000 to 0.92 deaths per 100,000 people. And, researchers say these numbers are likely undercounts, because the cold is not frequently listed on death certificates.)

we’re messaging it in every possible way to make sure that every resident who qualifies has the opportunity to apply.” — Shannon Mowery, Pennrose

In recent years, LIHEAP extended beyond the winter. Since 2022, PA has piloted a companion LIHEAP cooling crisis program, providing free window air conditioning units and repairs. Last year, the program was so popular, funds ran out.

Both cash and crisis grants come with no strings attached, but misconceptions abound. To be clear: The government sets aside enough money for everyone who needs LIHEAP to take advantage, so signing up doesn’t take money away from needier households, and you don’t need to be behind on your energy bills in order to receive benefits. The other obstacle to receiving LIHEAP: Not knowing it exists.

“There’s multiple barriers to why people maybe aren’t receiving the applications or the information about it,” says Shannon Mowery, Vice President of Community Impact at Pennrose, the management company that operates Helen Best’s development.

Getting Philadelphians to apply for LIHEAP

Over the years, energy companies have worked to get the word out. PGW and PECO conduct TV, radio, in-person events, mail and social media campaigns. (If you receive paper energy bills, you’ve likely seen LIHEAP’s notices.) Pennrose and other affordable housing groups also share information about the program. Pennrose does this both digitally and through a physical, mailed newsletter.

The program itself also stays in touch with past LIHEAP recipients, texting when the application period re-opens, November through April 18, 2025.

“The goal is really that we’re messaging it in every possible way to make sure that every resident who qualifies has the opportunity to apply,” Mowery says. This includes word of mouth. “Once you have one resident who applies and talks about how great the savings are, typically then you’ll see an uptick as to how many people are applying in that community.”

To apply, residents complete a short, eight-part form (online or by mail) that asks for household size, income and expenses. If people need help applying, they can visit one of 16 Neighborhood Energy Centers. At Pennrose, onsite community impact coordinators help residents with their applications, who, Mowery says, “are really there to help break down any barrier for that family to access the application or to fill it out. They’ll sit there with them, fill it out with them, help gather the information they might need.”

Best encourages her neighbors, especially other seniors, to apply. She has reassured them that getting LIHEAP doesn’t interfere with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security or veterans’ benefits. Plus, “It’s not really complicated applying for it. It’s pretty simple and it’s pretty quick,” Best says.

The future of LIHEAP

Two days after the elimination of LIHEAP’s entire staff, it’s hard to guess what’s next for the program. Congress has already approved $4.1 billion in LIHEAP funds for fiscal year 2025, some of which have been dispersed to states already. It’s unclear, however, what will happen to the rest, including monies that fund summer cooling programs. A DHHS spokesperson told the New York Times the layoffs are just “reorganization” and that the agency will comply with federal law — which includes paying LIHEAP benefits.

Ninety percent of LIHEAP funds are disbursed to states at the start of the program each year, so funds for the 2024-2025 season would come to PA later this year. The final 10 percent would be paid in February or March of 2026.

But leaders from the educational and policy organization National Energy Assistance Directors Association told the Times the move could kill LIHEAP, which has already come under threat.

“We’re focused on helping Philadelphians before this year’s deadline.” — Nyisha Chapman, PGW

In February, DHHS clarified that President Trump’s early spate of executive orders did not pause LIHEAP distribution. But the mere mention of a potential disruption created immediate worry that the program would be affected by a government shutdown — as it was by budget delays in 2024. Back then, PA had to pause distribution of LIHEAP cash grants. (Crisis grants were unaffected.) And, Governor Josh Shapiro stepped in to provide $21 million from PA coffers to close the gap.

Last month, Congress averted a potential government shutdown, passing a bill funding the federal government through the end of September — right before it starts to get cold and LIHEAP benefits are most needed. Things are tenuous.

“I can’t project the future of LIHEAP right now,” Chapman says. “We’re focused on helping Philadelphians before this year’s deadline.”

What should you do?

She says despite the uncertainty, people should still apply for LIHEAP — and let elected officials know it’s important to protect the program.

Chapman says applying for LIHEAP can help people find other programs they might be eligible for, like PGW’s Customer Responsibility Program, which offers up to a 50 percent reduction in energy bills for eligible, low-income households. PECO has similar offerings, like their Customer Assistance Program, which allows people to pay a percentage of their income for their utility bill, rather than paying based on usage.

“The impact is great and the benefits are substantial, especially because most customers that apply for the LIHEAP program are also eligible for other programs,” Chapman says. “If you’re getting a discount of up to 50 percent off your bill on top of getting a [LIHEAP] assistance grant, it could potentially cover your bill through the whole heating season.”

HELP PROTECT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN PHILADELPHIA