By Susan Haigh and Marc Levy, The Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. — Jacqueline Chapman, a retired school aide living in Philadelphia, depends on a $630 monthly Social Security check to make ends meet. She recently faced the loss of her federal food aid benefits and is now worried about the assistance she receives for heating her apartment.
Chapman relies on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a $4.1 billion program that helps low-income households cover heating and cooling costs. However, with the federal government shutdown entering its fifth week, funding for LIHEAP is being delayed in some states.
The delay in LIHEAP funding is particularly concerning as millions of households served by the program are also facing postponed benefits through programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps Americans purchase groceries.
Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, expressed concern about the potential impact on low-income families if the funding issue is not resolved soon.
States Warn of Funding Delay
LIHEAP, established in 1981, provides assistance to families for utility bills and fuel costs. States manage the program and receive federal funding based on various factors. However, due to the lack of a full spending bill for the current budget year, states have not received their new allocations.
States like Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Minnesota have announced delays in their LIHEAP programs due to the government shutdown. In Pennsylvania, for example, heating bill payments for low-income households are expected to be delayed until at least December.
As temperatures drop, the delay in LIHEAP funding could have serious consequences for households that rely on the program. Connecticut, for instance, has set aside enough money to cover heating bills through November or December but faces uncertainty if the shutdown continues.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees LIHEAP, attributed the funding delay to the government shutdown and expressed commitment to resolving the issue once the government reopens.
Challenges for Low-Income Families
Many LIHEAP recipients, like Mark Bain from Connecticut, rely on the program to cover heating oil needs. However, the delay in federal funding could leave households vulnerable as winter approaches.
Electric and natural gas companies can be instructed not to shut off services while waiting for LIHEAP funds, but the situation is more complicated for deliverable fuels like heating oil, especially in the Northeast.
Mark Bain, a retiree living in Connecticut, shared his experience of relying on LIHEAP assistance for home heating oil and the uncertainty he faces this winter.
Despite the challenges, individuals like Mark Bain are finding ways to cope with the situation, whether by conserving energy or seeking alternative solutions.
Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Associated Press writers contributed to this report.
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