LIHEAP PROVIDES FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR PGW LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS
Posted on:Nov 04, 2020PGW customers may be eligible for up to $1,000 in free money for their natural gas bills
PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 2, 2020) – Low-income Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) customers facing financial difficulties can apply for a free LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) grant of between $200 and $1,000 beginning Monday, Nov. 2. LIHEAP is a federal grant that helps income-eligible families afford their natural gas bills and maintain heating for their homes as cold weather approaches.
Customers can print a LIHEAP application at pgworks.com/liheap, or call PGW’s Customer Care Team at 215-235-1000, Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., to receive an application by mail. The LIHEAP application period ends on April 9, 2021 or as long as funds remain available.
The grants are based on household size and income, available to both renters and homeowners, and do not have to be repaid. Approximately 135,000 PGW customers are eligible for LIHEAP. Last winter (2019-2020), approximately 58,000 PGW customers received more than $24 million in assistance.
“Philadelphia was among the poorest cities in America even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with even more families in the City struggling financially, PGW urges all eligible customers to take advantage of these free grants,” said Denise Adamucci, vice president of regulatory compliance and customer programs at PGW. “PGW understands that these are difficult times and strongly encourages customers to apply for a LIHEAP grant. Every year, a significant number of eligible households do not apply for LIHEAP. These households miss this opportunity to receive significant financial assistance with their winter bills. PGW wants every low-income household to know that help is available and to apply immediately.”
Since the pandemic began, PGW has aggressively reached out to customers to connect them to payment assistance programs. PGW is now contacting neighborhood organizations, elected officials and other community leaders to educate customers about LIHEAP grants, which are distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
Applicants for LIHEAP assistance must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level to meet the eligibility requirements. Eligibility guidelines are available at pgworks.com/liheap.
LIHEAP grants for PGW customers are applied directly to the "Please Pay" amount of their bill. Customers enrolled in PGW’s Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) can benefit from both their regular CRP discount and the additional LIHEAP grant when paying their bill.
Customers without utility service can apply for both Crisis Assistance and LIHEAP together when calling PGW’s Customer Care Team. Crisis Assistance is a federal grant that is awarded to income-eligible customers.
For more information on LIHEAP, LIHEAP Crisis and additional PGW payment assistance programs, visit pgworks.com/residential/customer-care/payment-assistance.
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