The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services recently announced the extension of the application deadline for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program from April 4 to 18.

LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that provides assistance for home heating bills. The program offers cash grants to help reduce a household's monthly heating bill and crisis grants to help with heating emergencies.

Individuals and families are eligible to apply if their incomes are at or below 150% of the federal poverty limit. For an individual, that is a gross income of $22,590 per year, and for a family of four, that is a gross income of $46,800 per year.

Pennsylvanians can apply for the program online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or by phone at 1-866-550-4355. Paper applications can also be submitted at a local county assistance office.

Despite news of federal staffing cuts to the office that oversees LIHEAP, there are currently no changes to this season’s program in Pennsylvania.