Oct. 25—WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) reminded income-eligible families and individuals this week that a new option is available to help them stay connected to essential utility services .

This option will make it easier for households receiving federal heating assistance to qualify for additional utility assistance programs.

Consumers receiving Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) subsidies will now have the option to ask the Department of Human Services (DHS) to share their application information with their energy utilities, who will then help them determine their eligibility and register, by making a direct request. connecting and streamlining access to other utility programs that can reduce monthly bills and improve energy savings.

For the 2024-25 LIHEAP season, data sharing will only apply to participating electric and natural gas utilities.

“By simplifying the enrollment process for energy utility assistance, it is easier for eligible consumers to access the full range of support available to them,” noted Stephen M. DeFrank, president of the PUC. “This process will ensure that more Pennsylvania families have the resources they need to maintain vital public utility services.”

How LIHEAP Data Sharing Will Work

Starting this year, LIHEAP applicants will have the option to check a box on their LIHEAP application that allows DHS to share household income and data directly with the utility selected to receive the LIHEAP grant.

Information will only be shared if the customer has been determined eligible for LIHEAP. This information will help utilities enroll eligible customers in their other assistance programs without requiring duplicate documentation, if the customer provides consent.

Assistance programs available from utilities include:

— Customer Assistance Programs (CAP) — Reduction of monthly utility bills and debt forgiveness for households with qualifying income.

—Weatherproofing Programs—Energy efficiency improvements to help reduce energy consumption.

— Emergency Fund — Grants to help customers pay their overdue energy bills.

Main features of LIHEAP data sharing:

Sharing LIHEAP data is optional and does not impact a household’s eligibility for a LIHEAP grant.

Information shared with the utility will include the names and ages of household members, income, and utility account information, which will be used solely to determine eligibility for the utility’s assistance programs.

Utilities and DHS are required to protect the privacy of household data, which will not be sold or used for any purpose other than determining eligibility for utility assistance programs.

Consumers who do not want their household data shared with their utility can simply leave the box unchecked on the LIHEAP app.

Expand access and reduce barriers

The new data sharing functionality builds on the long-standing relationship between DHS and utilities with respect to LIHEAP. Currently, the new data sharing functionality is only available between DHS and Pennsylvania’s electric and natural gas utilities.

The goal of LIHEAP data sharing is to significantly reduce barriers for households seeking public benefit assistance by allowing them to avoid duplicate documentation processes and expedite eligibility determinations and enrollment for public benefit programs that can provide relief.

“Assistance programs like LIHEAP and individual programs offered by utilities help individuals and families afford supports that help them keep their homes warm and their energy connected – essential to health, well-being be and safety of a person,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. . “We understand that connecting to each of these programs can be confusing and that decentralization may prevent an individual from knowing the extent of available resources. This data sharing partnership will help alleviate some of these barriers and help eligible Pennsylvanians to connect to services more easily.

The 2024-2025 LIHEAP application season officially opens on November 4.

Additional information about LIHEAP is available online, or Pennsylvanians can visit their county help office or contact the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095. Information about utility assistance programs is available by contacting local utilities or the PUC.

Senate Judiciary Committee advances bill to protect pets in domestic violence cases

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Lisa Baker (D-20), proposed legislation this week that would provide additional protections for survivors of domestic violence and their pets.

House Bill 1210 would give judges explicit authority to grant temporary custody of a pet under a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order.

“For many survivors, pets are a crucial part of their support system,” Baker said. “When a survivor feels forced to abandon their pet to escape abuse, they often lose an important source of emotional support during the recovery process. By protecting these animals, we help survivors make decisions that prioritize their well-being and well-being. -be their loved ones – humans and animals.”

Wyoming County Attorney Joseph Peters expressed support for the legislation.

“My office recognizes and is impacted by the fact that Pennsylvania is one of the few states that does not allow pets to be included in PFA orders,” Peters said. “Abusers often use pets as leverage to torment their victims, threatening to harm or kill the animal if the victim leaves.”

If passed, Pennsylvania will join 38 states and the District of Columbia in recognizing the importance of including pets in protective order laws. It now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

PA encourages seniors and people with disabilities to apply for property tax/rent reduction

Treasurer Stacy Garrity this week encouraged seniors and people with disabilities to apply for the Pennsylvania Property Tax and Rent Reduction (PTRR) program as soon as possible. The deadline is December 31.

“This year’s property tax and rent forgiveness program is a huge success,” Garrity said. “We have already made more than 503,000 payments totaling more than $305 million. This money can make a huge difference, especially for Pennsylvanians struggling to make ends meet – and thanks to the great work of the General Assembly and Governor to expand the program. , more people than ever are eligible. I encourage all eligible individuals to apply as soon as possible.

The property tax and rent reduction program benefits Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and individuals with disabilities ages 18 and older. The household income limit for rebates is $45,000 for homeowners and renters. Applicants can exclude half of their Social Security income. Maximum standard rebate is $1,000.

To date, Treasury has processed 504,748 property tax/rent forgiveness payments totaling $306,761,115. Of these, 279,426 (55.4%) were paid by direct deposit. The rest were paper checks delivered via the U.S. Postal Service.

State announces $10 million pilot program to expand affordable housing options

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger this week announced the launch of a new P$10 million mixed-use housing development pilot program to develop mixed-use projects with a residential housing component.

DCED began accepting grant applications from October 23 to December 6, 2024.

Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an executive order ordering Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive housing action plan to address the housing shortage, homelessness and expand affordable housing options – ensuring Pennsylvanians have access to housing that is safe and affordable and attracts more people to live in the Commonwealth. DCED was charged with leading the development of the plan and working with stakeholders across Pennsylvania to identify housing needs and design a strategic response.

“The PA Mixed-Use Housing Development Pilot Program is an important first step toward improving the availability of affordable housing, increasing the number of housing units for our growing workforce, and providing critical support for Pennsylvanians struggling to obtain housing,” said Secretary Siger. “This program and others developed under Governor Shapiro’s Housing Action Plan will improve access to safe, affordable housing, critical to Pennsylvania’s economic growth and essential to the well-being of families and individuals across the Commonwealth.

The pilot program will provide grants to eligible applicants for the development of a site for a mixed-use building as well as the conversion or rehabilitation of existing structures for mixed-use development.

Part of the project must be devoted to the development of rental and owner-occupied residential units.

The $10 million in funding for the PA Mixed-Use Housing Development Pilot Program comes from dedicated PA SITES funding.

Eligible candidates include municipalities; economic development organizations; redevelopment authorities; municipal authorities; industrial development agencies; and for-profit organizations.

Rep. Watro sponsors Veterans Day resolution

A resolution recognizing November 11 as Veterans Day in Pennsylvania, sponsored by Rep. Dane Watro (D-116), passed unanimously this week in the PA House.

“Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the service provided to the courageous men and women who answered our nation’s call; to those who have not returned from the battlefield; to those who returned with the scars of war; and to all those who have worn the uniform. and protected our freedoms and our way of life as Americans,” Watro said. “As a veteran of the United States military, I am proud to be the lead sponsor of House Resolution 544.”

Veterans Day is a federal holiday and was originally known as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day by Congress in 1954.

Contact Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.