HARTFORD, Conn. — Jacqueline Chapman, a retired school aide, relies on a modest $630 monthly Social Security check. She’s still recovering from the loss of federal food aid, but recently discovered that the assistance for heating her Philadelphia apartment might also be in jeopardy.
“I feel like we’re living in scary times. It’s hard to relax when you have so much to manage with very little money. There’s just not a lot you can do,” remarked Chapman, who is 74 years old.
Chapman depends on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, which allocates $4.1 billion to help low-income families with their heating and cooling expenses.
As temperatures start to dip nationwide, some states are warning that funding for the program might be delayed due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has now reached its fifth week.
This funding delay affects nearly 5.9 million households that qualify for federally funded heating and cooling assistance programs, leaving many in a difficult position. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also faces challenges, with many Americans struggling to buy groceries as funds dwindle and energy prices rise.
“If we don’t address this issue soon, countless poor families will face severe hardships,” said Mark Wolf, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. This organization oversees the LIHEAP program, which serves all 50 states, D.C., U.S. territories, and federally recognized tribes.
“These programs are vital for income support, but they’re approaching a crisis,” Wolf noted, adding that similar situations haven’t been seen in recent history.
States Alert Applicants on Funding Delays
Established in 1981, LIHEAP assists households in managing utility and fuel costs, and it’s received bipartisan support for many years.
The states administer the program and receive federal funding based on a formula that considers local weather, energy prices, and low-income demographics.
LIHEAP was expected to receive funding by the start of the new budget year on October 1, but recent proposals suggested cuts, leaving states without allocations until a full spending bill is passed.
States like Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Minnesota have reported LIHEAP program delays because of the government shutdown.
In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration indicated that over $200 million in federal subsidies anticipated to support heating bills for about 300,000 low-income households would not be available until at least December, pushing the timeline back from the usual November.
Similarly, Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program is processing applications, but federal funding might be delayed by a month, affecting heating cost payments to beneficiaries.
“This delay could have severe consequences as winter approaches,” said the state’s Commerce Department, noting they serve 120,000 households, including vulnerable populations like seniors and young children.
In Connecticut, though they currently have enough funding to cover heating bills into late November or December, uncertainty looms if the shutdown persists. Lawmakers are deliberating on whether to use state budget reserves to alleviate the potential impacts.
“Moving further into the heating season will only heighten risks for those relying on these resources,” commented Rhonda Evans of the Connecticut Community Action Association, noting that over 100,000 households were assisted last year.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attributed the shutdown and LIHEAP payment delays to Congressional Democrats, asserting the administration’s commitment to reopening the government.
Once the government reopens, the agency will act swiftly to manage the annual allocation, though the spokesperson didn’t clarify if past decisions might affect timing.
Wolf, advocating for state program directors, anticipates possible delays extending to January, emphasizing the uncertainty about approval for state plans and fund distribution.
Low-Income Families Encounter Rising Challenges
Chapman could qualify for additional aid to prevent gas utility shutoffs this winter. However, about 9% of LIHEAP recipients who rely on deliverable fuels, like propane and kerosene, often lack such protections.
Wolf mentioned that electric and natural gas companies are usually regulated and instructed not to shut off services during this waiting period, but the same cannot be said for smaller oil and propane suppliers, especially common in the Northeast.
“You can’t just tell a heating oil dealer to keep supplying low-income customers on a promise of future payment,” he noted.
Mark Bain, 67, a resident of Bloomfield, Conn., shares similar concerns. He first sought assistance for his heating oil needs three years ago after feeling desperate that winter.
“I remember that time—I felt helpless, just trying to breathe through the gas fumes,” Bain recounted. Dependent on Social Security and a small pension, he began receiving $500 in aid this year but mentioned his oil tank is only half full and hopes that he’ll be able to request more funding in time.
Bain optimistically said he could manage, even without assistance this year. “I’d just turn the heat down to about 62 degrees, maybe throw on an extra blanket, and make it through,” he mentioned. But it’s a tough position to be in.
