PA 2025-26 LIHEAP Program Delayed Due To Federal Government Shutdown

PENNSYLVANIA —In a move impacting hundreds of thousands of families across the state, Pennsylvania is delaying the start of the 2025-26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program by at least one month.

The program, which was supposed to begin on November 3, not will not begin until at least December 3.

The reason: Because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, the state Department of Human Services has not yet received its allocation of this year's LIHEAP funds.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Department of Human Service in 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 winter months.

On average, Pennsylvania receives more than $215 million every year for LIHEAP – in 2023, the Commonwealth received $216 million and in 2024, $229 million. The state is unable to backfill such costs.

“The LIHEAP Program helps more than 300,000 Pennsylvania families heat their homes during the colder months – and is especially critical for older adults and low-income families. Inaction from the Republican-controlled Congress now threatens access to this assistance,” Human Services Secretary . Val Arkoosh said in a statement.

Once the federal shutdown ends and DHS receives the funding needed to begin the LIHEAP season, the department will begin accepting LIHEAP applications. The department will continue to process already-received preseason applications for LIHEAP and other benefits during the shutdown.

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

Many electric and gas companies also offer utility assistance programs for qualifying customers, and these programs are available in addition to LIHEAP.

Additionally, Pennsylvania's annual winter utility shutoff moratorium runs from December 1 through March 31 and prevents utilities – including electricity and gas-related services – from being shut off for customers of regulated utility companies at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. While the moratorium will prevent utility shutoffs during the coldest months of the year, it does not cancel a customer’s outstanding home heating bills, so LIHEAP funding is still necessary for people who need home heating assistance.

LIHEAP is not the only program being adversely affected by the shutdown.

Earlier this week, the state announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not be paid in November.

The federal government shutdown began on Oct. 1 after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running. The Senate rejected the Republican's proposal, which fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill.

Democrats insisted the resolution reverse the Medicaid cuts in Trump's mega-bill passed this summer and extend tax credits for health insurance premiums through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.