HARTFORD, Conn. (RTW News) — Jacqueline Chapman, a retired school aide, finds herself in a precarious financial situation as the federal government shutdown extends, potentially affecting her monthly $4.1 billion Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits. With temperatures beginning to drop, Chapman is not alone; millions of low-income households face uncertainty as they rely on heating assistance to stay warm during winter months.
Chapman, who receives a modest $630 monthly Social Security check, expressed her concerns, saying, I feel like I’m living in scary times. It’s not easy to rest when you know you have things to do with limited accounts, limited funds.
LIHEAP is designed to assist families with heating and cooling costs, and funding complications are troubling lawmakers and community leaders alike. As of now, nearly 5.9 million households served by LIHEAP see their support at risk due to the continued government shutdown.
States like Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Minnesota have begun warning applicants about delays in funding, with Pennsylvania predicting that payments will not begin until at least December. This situation raises alarms as experts anticipate that the consequences will be profound for the nation’s poor families.
Mark Wolfe, the executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, noted that families are potentially heading toward a crisis as essential income supports may all disappear at once. He pointed out that LIHEAP has historically received bipartisan support but is now facing complications due to the government shutdown.
The program was created in 1981 and assists families in covering utility bills. However, without immediate congressional action to finalize appropriations, states have not received their expected funding allocations and cannot process payments.
The impact, even if it’s temporary, on many of the nation’s poor families is going to be profound if we don’t solve this problem,” said Wolfe. As families brace for the cold winter ahead, it remains uncertain how long the shutdown will last and how quickly assistance can be restored.
Chapman, who receives a modest $630 monthly Social Security check, expressed her concerns, saying, I feel like I’m living in scary times. It’s not easy to rest when you know you have things to do with limited accounts, limited funds.
LIHEAP is designed to assist families with heating and cooling costs, and funding complications are troubling lawmakers and community leaders alike. As of now, nearly 5.9 million households served by LIHEAP see their support at risk due to the continued government shutdown.
States like Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Minnesota have begun warning applicants about delays in funding, with Pennsylvania predicting that payments will not begin until at least December. This situation raises alarms as experts anticipate that the consequences will be profound for the nation’s poor families.
Mark Wolfe, the executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, noted that families are potentially heading toward a crisis as essential income supports may all disappear at once. He pointed out that LIHEAP has historically received bipartisan support but is now facing complications due to the government shutdown.
The program was created in 1981 and assists families in covering utility bills. However, without immediate congressional action to finalize appropriations, states have not received their expected funding allocations and cannot process payments.
The impact, even if it’s temporary, on many of the nation’s poor families is going to be profound if we don’t solve this problem,” said Wolfe. As families brace for the cold winter ahead, it remains uncertain how long the shutdown will last and how quickly assistance can be restored.
